Show Us Your Life - Wedding Ceremony, Flowers & Party

Darren and I were married at St. John's Lutheran Church, just right before Thanksgiving in a fall inspired wedding. My colors were "Espresso", which was basically chocolate brown and "Harvest Gold".

This is the altar, from the very back of the church.

The cross, up close.

We decorated with fall flowers, leaves, pumpkins, gourds and acorns. We had a podium set up in the narthex, with my sign-in book.

My Godmother was the first to sign. She says "May Your Happiness Last a Lifetime".

Across from the sign in book, were our wedding programs, that were handed out by our ushers.

Our Wedding Programs up close. It says "A Journey we begin, hand in hand, heart to heart" and then Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

The flower girl basket (with leaves instead of flower petals), the ring bearer pillow, and some other flowers.

Corsages for the mothers, and aunts.

Sunflower, wheat and leave boutaneers for the groomsmen, ushers and the middle one, with the chocolate rose was Darren's.

The bridesmaid's bouquets.

The bridesmaid's bouquets were wrapped with cream and gold satin ribbon.

Red Roses, for the ceremony.

This is one of the best pictures I have, of my bouquet.

And another good one of my bouquet. I absolutely loved it!

The ring bearer pillow.

Pastor Edd led Darren and the groomsmen up to the altar, and then the bridesmaids came down the aisle to La Primavera (Spring) from Le quattro stagioni (Four Seasons) by Antonio Vivaldi. I walked down the aisle to Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.

The unity candle table.

Our unity candle. A leaf background with our last name inital, and underneath that, our names, wedding date and Ephesians 5:31.

Our Memorial Flower Vase. It says: "In Loving Memory these flowers bloom as a symbol of a life and love remembered."

Both of my sisters and Darren's sister placed a white rose for each of our granparents that are no longer with us, before they took their places on the alter.

Memorial Candle Holder. This was in rememberance of my father. It has his name on the top and then says "In Loving Memory, this light shines as a symbol of a life and love remembered".

My Godmother, reading the scripture.

Asking for the blessing of both families, and saying a prayer for both families as they are united with our marriage.

"Sentimental Journey" by Doris Day (a song my dad loved) played as we remembered our loved ones no longer with us.

Praying, during the ceremony.

Lighting the Unity Candle. "When You Love Someone" by Bryan Adams was playing while we lit the candle.

Our first kiss as husband and wife! Mr. & Mrs. Darren Ray Fountain!

"What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong played during the recessional.

Our entire wedding party.

Me & all the Groomsmen

Darren and all the bridesmaids. In case you couldn't tell - he likes girls, and he really likes cleavage!

Me and a few of my sorority sisters. One bridesmaid, and the rest of the girls were my house party.

Darren and his family.

Darren and I and my family.

Pastor Edd, Darren and I.

Darren and I and the flower girl and ring bearer.

I just love looking back through all of these pictures, and remembering our special day!

Show Us Your Life - Wedding Dresses!

Kelly at Kelly's Korner is hosting "Show Us Your Life: Wedding Dresses" and I love my wedding dress so much, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to show it off!

Darren and I got married on November 17, 2007 (just 5 days before Thanksgiving that year), in a beautiful fall inspired wedding.

When I went to buy my dress in May of that year, I wasn't really looking forward to trying on a bunch of dresses, and luckily for me - it didn't take long to find my dress. It was the second one I tried on, and I "knew" as soon as I put it on, that is the dress I would wear, when I married the love of my life. I know it sounds so corny, but I knew as soon as I put it on, that I had to have it.

Of course, being the practical one, my mother made me try on a few more dresses, just to be on the safe side. I tried on one more there, at David's Bridal and then we rushed down to Alfred Angelo, before they closed, where I completely despised all three dresses that I tried on there. We then rushed back across town to David's Bridal so that I could try "my dress" on one more time, and buy it that very day! It was a total of about 4 hours trying on 6 dresses at 2 different stores, and I walked away with a magical dress.

As luck would have it, the dress was being discontinued. There was only the one dress in all the David's Bridal stores in Texas, and it was in the one store that I went to look at, in my size! I knew right that minute, that was the dress for me!

It makes me very sad that I don't have any pictures of just my dress, or shoes, but I have a couple of good pictures of me in it, so I suppose thats all that matters!

This is my dress, from the back. It "V"ed in the front and in the back. It was a fitted bodice, with a larger skirt and a 16 foot train! You can see the detail work all over the train, and there was detail like that over the bodice. In that threading, there were tiny pearls and a few little crystals every so often, so when the light hit it just right, it sparkled.

A close up of the back, and of my veils. I wore two veils - a blusher, and a veil that matched the beading on my dress. I had bought a pearl and crystal headpiece to wear with them, but unfortunately - I couldn't find it the day before the wedding, so I didn't get to wear it. (I found it when we got back from our honeymoon, in a shopping bag, in my closet).

My dad passed away 7 months before we got married, so I walked alone. I didn't want anyone "taking his place". You can see the blusher veil up close. This is as the ceremony was starting. We had a "blessing of the families". It was really special. This is us walking into the reception. Let me just tell you that 16 feet of train, bustled up is heavy! The tailor put in 32, yes 32! color coded buttons and loops, to bustle that train. She told us that is the most she had ever put on a dress before. A dear friend of mine and my mother had two entire sessions with her, to learn how to bustle it. It had to be done in just the right order, and was so much fabric, it took over half an hour to bustle! I had to post this one because this is Darren's favorite picture from our wedding!

Looking back through all of these pictures makes me want to go to my closet and put this dress on! I know that some people say that if they could go back or if they were to get married tomorrow, they would buy a different dress or try a different style. Not me! If I had to do it all over again, even 15 years from now - this would be my dress. It breaks my heart that I only get to wear it once!

Favorite Ingredient Friday - Antipasto Pasta Salad

Yesterday, I asked Darren what he wanted for dinner last night and while he was thinking, I mentioned "what about a big salad, or some pasta and fruit, it's so hot out, and I don't want to cook a big meal, and I don't want anything really hot, and nothing sounds good". To which he replied "how about hamburger steak with brown gravy and maybe some green beans and mashed potatoes".

That husband of mine - I don't think he could be a better listener, if he tried. So, of course, I gave in a cooked him his heavy, hot, dinner, and I don't think you can hold it against me if I said a few choice words while I did it.

I'm just saying.

There is nothing I like better in the summer than a little cold pasta. Well, except some cold pasta with a glass of wine (or two) to wash it down with.

I can't help you with the wine, but I can give you a great pasta salad recipe that your family is sure to love!

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Conchiglie (seashell shaped) pasta
• ¼ pound Genoa salami, chopped
• ¼ pound pepperoni sausage, chopped
• ½ pound Asiago cheese, diced
• 1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
• ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente (firm but not hard).
2. Drain, and cool under cold water.
3. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, salami, pepperoni, Asiago cheese, black olives, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and tomatoes.
4. Stir in the envelope of dressing mix.
5. Cover, and refrigerate for at least one hour.
6. To prepare the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, parsley, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
7. Just before serving, pour dressing over the salad, and mix well.

The great thing about this pasta is its super easy! It comes together in no time - you can chop the vegetables, while the pasta cooks (the only thing that requires cooking), and then throw it all in a bowl and let it sit in the fridge until you are ready to serve it. It makes a LOT of pasta so if you are making it just for your family, you might want to half the recipe or even just make a third of the recipe. I know that, that can get very confusing so you might check out this really neat tool that I picked up a couple of years ago at The Container Store. It has saved me more than once. Enjoy!

Midnight Snack

Darren normally eats dinner when he gets home from work, but when we are heading out of town, we wait until we get on the road and we just pick something up. This time, we made it until about 1:30am - right as we were coming in to Nacogdoches. Darren and I decided that we would swing through McDonald's since it was still open. We pull up and Coco went crazy! She was squealing and barking and running back and forth on the seat. At first, we thought she was telling us that she needed to potty. After all, we had been in the car for awhile. So, I get out, in my pajamas no less, to take her potty. We walk across the parking lot to the grass and she just sits down and looks at me. So, I walk a little farther into the grass and she follows me, and then sits down and looks at me. So, I point and keep saying "Coco, go potty", while she continues to sit there and stare at me. Just in case you can't picture this, let me set the stage....it is approaching 2 in the morning, I'm starving, standing out in the grass, in my pajamas, with the sprinklers on, pointing and trying to convince a dog to "go potty". A dog that continues to sit and stare at me and occassionaly turn her head from side to side. So, I admit defeat and we head back to the truck. Where Darren is still waiting for us, in the drive thru line, laughing! Such a supportive husband, isn't he? We get in and Darren gets ready to order and Coco starts barking again and pacing in the seat. We then realize she was trying to tell us that she was hungry! We normally give her fruits and vegetables and the occasional piece of meat that I have cooked at home, but we haven't ever give her "junk", but at 2 in the morning, my lack of sleep and a barking dog made me throw caution to the wind, and I got Darren to order her a small cheeseburger. And to be honest, I have never seen a 4 legged creature so happy about anything, in my entire life. I kid you not. It was like she knew that it was for her. She ran over to my lap and wiggled and shook with excitement, until the bag came and she practically tried to get in it with her cheeseburger. After I got it unwrapped, and held it in front of the a/c vent, trying to cool it off some, Coco could wait no longer and scalding hot or not, she was getting that cheeseburger. She stuck her whole face in the wrapper and was licking all over it. So, I starting tearing it apart, because she gets so excited about food, she tends to forget to chew and I swear that she swallows some of it whole. She layed down, and Darren and I ate our supper. I considered giving her my fries but decided against it, but when I didn't finish my hamburger and started wrapping it up to put in the bag, I must have committed a serious food-foul and she got up and got back in my lap like "give me the cheeseburger, and no one gets hurt". So, I broke apart the rest of mine and she ate it all. When all cheeseburgers in the truck had been completely devoured, she was satisfied and finally layed down in the seat and went to sleep. Nothing like a "midnight snack" to make a fat girl happy :)

"Helping" Darren order!

Waiting for her burger.

Rushing me to get it broken up for her!

Enjoying her dinner!

We did something similar on the way home on Sunday and she enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Then, when we got home, we barely made it outside before she got sick. Needless to say, Coco won't be enjoying anymore cheeseburgers. I believe we will be sticking to fruits and veggies! Shh...Coco doesn't know yet!

Wordless Wednesday!