It really was a dream come true! The night before the "Big Day" okay the entire week before the big day was the one and only time I stressed out of all the wedding planning.... good thing my mom is the best, extra forgiving, and loves me more then anything!! She did amazing! Everything turned out perfect from the flowers, to all the bridal party dresses and ties, my dress being, the reception, the food, my cake... I mean everything! The day before I was freaking out a little bit that it wouldn't turn out and I was stressing out because I was sick. Stuffy nose and plugged ears. There is nothing I hate more then plugged ears. All day long I was grumpy and stressed. Finally, we were at Wendy Mulcock sometime that afternoon and my mom and Wendy were working on food, I don't remember what I said to my mom, but it wasn't very nice so Taylor said Alicia come with me we are leaving, going to the drug store and Tiffany's to get lunch for everyone at the church. She sat me down in the car and said, "Alicia, cool it.... you are not being you nice and your mother is doing everything for you." She put me in my place, thank goodness for best friends. We went to the church where James, Megan, Darin Leon and my dad were working overtime on hanging lights and when we got their for lunch it look amazing already. After setting everything up that night we went to St. George to enjoy dinner with the bridal party at Pizza Factory. I was so happy to see John!! I hadn't seen him for a couple days and after I saw him all my anxiousness and nerves went away! I got so excited for the next morning!! I didn't want to leave him again, but I knew I had to go get a good nights rest. From being a maid of honor, and a bridesmaid I knew their was no reason to panic the night before. Instead a good night of sleep was what I needed so the only one I let stay in my old room, which turned into Megan's room was me and my sister. We have been through everything together and this is how I wanted it to be. I have no clue what all the other people at my house did that night because I took my sister and went to bed. We talked for about ten minutes she told me that she loved me and she knew it would never be the same, but she knew John made me happy and she would be waiting for me outside the temple in the morning. I remember right before we went to sleep she said, "It's so weird tomorrow you are going to be a married women... you're going to leave the house and the next time I see you, you will be married!" The next morning we woke up before the sun did! Jenn did my hair! She is so talented, and I am so greatful for the friendship I have with her! She not only did my hair and helped my bridesmaids, but she helped watch all my younger siblings that day to make it easier on my mom. I told her when she did my hair, "I don't care how you do it. I know I want it up and full, but whatever you do no one else hair can look like mine or look better then mine!!" She told me, " I promise I won't let that happen even if I have to make theirs look bad!" She was joking, but that is one great friend! I guess I was worried that someone else would look prettier then me, but the time she was done I felt like a princess, a true daughter of a king! I had never felt so beautiful! I rode to the temple with my parents, Maryanne, Chelsi, and Barry since they were all going to the sealing session with me. The car ride was fun! We had some good laughs and first time experiences ;) if you know what I mean? When we got out of the car and arrived at the temple I text John and told him we were there. While my dad opened the trunk and got all of our temple bags out Barry looked at me and said, "John is one lucky guy... you look beautiful, he fell in LOVE with your gorgeous eyes and he is never going to be able to take his eyes off you." Barry is a great friend I am honored to know and I'm so glad he got to be in the temple with me that day since none of my other Cedar City friends were able too! I met the love of my life outside the doors of the temple. He took my hand and we walked in together. The bridal room inside the temple was beautiful! Everything about the sealing was perfect! My mom helped me put on my dress so we could exit out the doors together where everyone would be waiting.
I love these pictures of the kids waiting outside and the girls in their beautiful dresses! I loved my colors they turned out just as I imagined they would!! I didn't even get to see my Bouquet until 2 seconds before we were going to walk outside the exit doors. My jaw dropped when I saw it!! It was unbelievable, breathtaking, and gorgeous! I had found a picture I like online. It was a general idea of what I wanted, but not the colors I wanted and it didn't have a Gerber daisy in it. So, I had no idea how it was going to turn out! Linda Dimick did an incredible job though!! It made the day even more perfect then it already was! She did a great job on all the corsages and boutonniere too!
I'm so glad we had an amazing photographer, Korindi Totten, to capture every moment of that day! There are so many pictures I have now that our priceless. I look at them and see the smile on my face and how happy we were on that day and are now and I don't think my cheeks have ever hurt so bad, but I couldn't stop smiling even if I tried!!
We had so many people waiting for us outside the temple! I am so grateful for all of their love and support! Just being there made that day so much more special! I love the picture of everyone on the stairs! The entire time we were taking pictures my veil kept falling off... it wouldn't stay in my hair for some reason and Jenn kept shoving it back in my head and I kept saying owwww.... eventually we just gave up. It was just for looks anyways. I actually borrowed my sister in-law Shelleys! It was so pretty we just couldn't get it to stay the way she did my hair. Sabrina followed me around the entire day! She was my little shadow, she carried the bottom of my dress everywhere I went! Sometimes I would catch Sevi sneaking up along her side helping as well! I love my little sisters with all my heart! There sweet spirits always lift me up and I'm so glad they were all there for me with a smile on their face! We took a lot of pictures and they wore the dresses I wanted them too even though a couple of them didn't want too!
Chelsi told me the night before my wedding that she was pregnant!!! We were at the church for the last time that night putting together the finishing touches and she pulled me over into the corner and said, "I know you are getting married tommorow and I want all of the spot light to be on you, but I have to tell you.... I'm prenant!!" I screamed so loud I was so excited!!!! Ahhhhhh I was so happy for her! Of course everyone else heard me scream and assumed! She is such a great friend! She took care of all the music the night of the reception!
Our bridal party consisted of my parents, John parents, Megan (Maid of Honor), Brian (Best Man), Brittan, Taylor Cox, Chelsi Stratton, and Sydney Gordin (Bridesmaids), Brandon, Mark, Ryan, and Conner Fowles (Groomsman)
