Friday September 19th.
So Friday comes along, and we go to the Church for rehearsal and it was great. Of course, Nelson and I were being Goof balls and crossing our fingers behind our backs during the practice vows… or that could have just been me! J (His mom scolded at me for doing it… but it was just in fun... all very light hearted)
So we had our rehearsal dinner, catered by his parents business… Allbqs (he he, cute name right??)… at the front office of our apartment complex, free of charge (Which was awesome)! It was a very nice meal, and the decorations were beautiful. It meant a lot to Both Nelson and I! So we played for a while and after dinner… I went to stay at my parent's house with all of my Bridesmaids. (All 6 of them: my four sisters, Nelson's sister, and one of my best friends.) And nelson went to stay at his parent's house. (I think we all stayed up a little later than expected but... what can I say... I was pumped... and I think Nelson was too)
Morning of the Wedding: (Saturday September 20th)
So the Morning came, and I was to be back in Lafayette at my Aunt's house by 8:30am to get my hair done by my Cousin. She was going to do 3 of my bridesmaid's hair as well. But… we ran into a hang up. Two of the bridesmaids had to go home before we left and Something was happening at my parent's house that was creating a situation that was going to make us late. I started to panic, and then thought to myself... "This is your day, just go with the flow... You're the Bride... what are they gonna do... start without ya?" We only ended up being about 15 minutes late getting out of the house… but by the time we went to pick up the other girls and were on our way to Lafayette… we were running about a half an hour late.
So we get to my Aunt's house, and get things started! I told my cousin, the hair dresser, that I needed to be at the church by 11am! Things are going well… everyone looks awesome, and I'm last to get ready! So… 11:30am rolls around and my photographer starts calling asking where we are and sounding just slightly annoyed. (I was like, "Let her be pissed, I'm paying her good money to be that way. J) I wasn't going to let it get my down. I was determined to be positive about everything that day!
We girls get to the church, hair and Makeup done, and we begin to get dressed. We then took about 20 million pictures! (I thought that would be a fun part, but it was more irritating!) Then began to wait for 2:30… Wedding hour!
I wasn't really nervous at all. I was actually calming other people down. CRAZY RIGHT?!?!?!?!?! But, I think it was a mind frame thing. I just kept thinking... "This is what I've been waiting for my whole life. Mrs. Nelson Allbaugh... YEAH" (After the ceremony, Nelson told me that he had probably smoked more cigs in the 4 hours of waiting than in his entire life. He told me he paced so much, he probably wore a hole in the tile. He was a little more nervous than I was... hehe)
(You know how everyone tells you to expect at least 5 things to go wrong. This way you're ready for the worst! Well, it never really came. Nothing. Nothing went wrong, nothing was left at home, the worst thing that happened was me being a half an hour late. I was like WOOOO WHOOO!!!!!)
And then before I knew it, it was 2:20pm… and the nerves that I had been waiting for all day finally kicked in. My Dad was there and kept saying things like, 'You need a cig Baby?' Hahahahaha I think it was his way of keeping his mind off of it all. (After all, my Dad does cry during Andy Griffith Shows… so he's emotional, which I think is sweet 
.) And we walked outside (Gorgeous weather) around to the back of the Church, where we waited for the ceremony to start.
So all of my Bridesmaids were already walking down the isle and I start to breathe a little more heavily. My Dad turns to me and says, "Honey, if you want to take a cig break, they'll wait for you. If you're not ready right now, they'll just keep on playing the music until you are." And I said I was ready, but thanks dad. Then he told me, "If you're not ready when we are half way down the isle, just let me know, and we'll just keep on walking toward the door, take a break and we can come back in and start over." I smiled, said thank you Dad, and told him I was really ready. And it was surprising to me because he didn't cry, all day long. And so, my music starts up and the doors fly open, and we are standing there, ready to walk. And I look up at my Dad, and he has these big crocodile tears welling up in his eyes *Pause for an AWE*. It was so sweet! He was trying so hard to be strong for me! I ALMOST lost it. I just grabbed his arm tighter, tears welling up in my eyes and we walked together… holding each other up.
And Finally I saw Nelson's Face. There he was, my Furtue Husband, ready to go! He was glowing. He looked handsome, happy, nervous, masculine, excited, scared, and ready. So, my father gave me away, and Nelson and I were standing there together, at last. The ceremony lasted about 40 minutes. Our Unity candle song was the Prayer and my Dad's choir, the entertainers, sang it. It was beautiful. Nelson and I were both Members of the group and thought it was an awesome idea. And before we knew it, there had rings on our fingers and never ending smiles on our faces, we were Husband and Wife J (*Hushed AHHHHH* and the crowd goes wild*. And back down the isle we went, came back around to let all of our guests out, and then whisked away by a Limo. (After a small Makeout session... he he) We came back to the Church for more Pictures and then went to our reception. (We made a quick stop by the liquor store first, Thanks Charlie J J J)
So we get to the reception Hall and it is gorgeous! My Mother and Father gave us such a wonderful reception. We couldn't have asked for anything better!
Our Wedding Party walked in separately! Everyone had their own theme music, selected for personality by Nelson and Myself. And Nelson and I walked in separately to our own theme music, and met on the Dance floor… and walked to our seats together to our united Theme music, "So Fresh and So Clean"! It was very fun! And not many people have seen it done before. I know… I know… We're Unique!!!!
Our First Dance was to Journey's 'Faithfully'. It was so speacial. It was like we were the only two people in the room. We laughed with eachother, sang to eachother, and danced with eachother, as Husband and Wife for the first time. SWEET!
The Father Daughter Dance was to Joe Cocker's 'You are so beautiful'. And when it was time, my Dad come up to me, tears streaming down his face. And he whispered in my ear.. "I held it together all day, do you think it's ok if I cry now" *Pause for another well needed AWE* and I said "Yeah Dad!" And I began to cry with my Father, and we Danced!
And the Mother Son Dance was to Leanne Walmac's 'I hope you dance'. This is the song his Mother has dedicated to him for a very long time. And she cried and cried (Tears of Joy) while they danced and hugged!
And After all of those special dances, we just partied!! (I'm attaching a webpage of some videos from our day. We played the newlywed game.)
It was the best day of my life thus far. And I'm pretty sure Nelson feels the same way. And I couldn't be more excited to spend the rest of my life with this man, my husband.
So that's it! We had a wonderful time! And I'll have to tell you about the honeymoon at a later date! It was... There are no words! It was magic!
Love ya,
Chris Allbaugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuym3kx70Og&feature=PlayList&p=24814F5F0F7B57A0&index=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jduk49z8NRs&feature=PlayList&p=24814F5F0F7B57A0&index=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFDQIUfsuvQ&feature=PlayList&p=24814F5F0F7B57A0&index=3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxEd56GShc4&feature=PlayList&p=24814F5F0F7B57A0&index=4