We wrote our own vows but in all the rushing around we left them home! So on the day of we had to write them again!

Because of timing issues we decided to see each other before the ceremony. I was worried that it would take away from the WOW moment at the ceremony but that wasn't the case at all. I was lucky enough to have 2 dresses one for the reveal and my ceremony dress.

Our ceremony was held at the beautiful Fourth Universalist Society also known as Landmark On The Park.  It was the perfect venue for our romantic angel themed wedding.

Our reception was held in the same place as the ceremony. The wonderful staff transformed the room during the cocktail hour. It was everything I dreamed of and more.  Surrounded by all of pur friends and family having a really good time. I didn't want it to end!!

Most of our wedding was DIY because we were on a tight budget but I loved doing all of it! Seeing my vision come to life was the best feeling ever! The table signs were made by my good friend chicbride!

As many of you know we have been trying to have our big day for almost 2 years now.  We had to postpone the wedding twice for a bunch of different reasons.  But this is it!!! God willing we will have our big day!

May 29th, 2010 here we come!

The reception will take place at The Landmark On The Park on Central Park West.  We visited a bunch of venues but none of them compared to this one.  We both love it and are super excited about having our reception here. 

I'm a girly girl so I love the color pink and all things romantic!  So I wanted to bring this romantic feel and look into my reception.  Our colors are pink. ivory and gold.  Here are some inspiration boards that I love.  Please let me know if I have used your pictures so I can give you credit.

These signs were made for me by a very good friend of mine.  Many of you know her as the fabulous Chicbride!

I just love these and they are very special to me because they were made by loving hands.

We are having 2 freinds of ours read something at the ceremony.  I haven't made up my mind yet but so far these are my favorites.

The Irish Wedding Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon the fields.

May the light of friendship guide your paths together.
May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home

"The Art of a Good Marriage II", by Wilfred Arlan Peterson

Across the years I'll walk with you, in deep green forest, on shores of sand,
and when our time on earth is through, in heaven too, you will have my hand.
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In marriage, the little things are the big things:

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is at no time taking the other for granted.

The courtship should not end with the honeymoon, but should continue through all the years.

It is doing things for each other,

not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right partner,

it is being the right partner.

From Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - by Louis Bernieres:

Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.

    Our favor boxes were filled with Hershey's Kisses.

These were our centerpieces. Each table was named after a diiferent angel and we used the feather boas to carry the angel theme throughout the reception. Our menus were also done by us.

I can't wait to see and taste my cake.  It will be 3 tiers.  The top one will be devils food with chocolate ganache and the other tiers will be vanilla with strawberries.  It will be ivory. Here is what the cake will look like:

Here are the bridesmaid dresses that the girls picked.  We are all happy with the dresses because they are flattering to everyone.  They will be this exact champagne color.

Here is the maid of honor dress.  It will be pearl pink which is a very light and romantic color.

Here is the junior bridesmaid dress but it will be in light pink.

The two tinest loves of my life will be my ring bearers.  They will be 7 years old and 2 years old at the time of the wedding.  It should make for some interesting photos.  They will be wearing tan suits.

I really would like my hair to look like this:

I would like my bridesmaids to do one of these styles. It's up to them. If I used one of your pictures please let me know so I can credit you.

I don't usually wear heavy makeup so I really like the natural romantic look.

Louie suprised me with a proposal on Christmas Day. His family was over our house celebrating Mychael's first Christmas. It seems everyone was in on it including my 4 year old, Alexander. I really don't remember all the details but I do know that my son Alex was sick with a really bad cold that kept him in bed. So we were all in the living room saying what we were thankful for and when it was my fiance's turn he said he was grateful for me and the kids and then he knocked on my bedroom door twice. The next thing I know I see Alex come out of the room looking so sick with a red gift box ornament and he gives it to me. When I open it inside was my heart shaped engagment ring!! I immediately started crying and when I look to the side louie is on his knee asking me to marry him. I think I said yes!! I really couldn't of asked for a more special proposal.

We will be doing this as part of our ceremony.

The Rose Ceremony

The Rose Ceremony is simple yet profoundly moving.  The bride and groom exchange two red roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire married life.  The Rose Ceremony also conveys how to use the  rose and its symbolism in difficult times in order to forgive each other. 

"Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward demonstration of your vows of love and respect; and a public showing of your commitment to each other.

You now have what remains the most honorable title which may exist between a man and a woman - the title of "husband" and "wife." For your first gift as husband and wife, that gift will be a single rose.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing - it meant the words "I love you." So it is appropriate that for your first gift - as husband and wife - that gift would be a single rose.

Please exchange your first gift as husband and wife. In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, a marriage ceremony is like this. In some ways, tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - one I hope you always remember - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

_________ and _____________, I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future - whether it be a large and elegant home - or a small and graceful one - that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage - and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love. 

In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words. It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words.

That rose says the words: "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words which cannot be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.

__________ and ________, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure." 

Bride and Groom Entrance: Enter Sandman by Metallica(the song that is played for the Yankees closer)

Bouquet toss: Hit me with your best shot

Cake cutting: I want to grow old with you by adam sandler

Garter toss

Last song: New York New York