The Adventures of Getting Hitched (pt. 2)
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Lao Tzu
We had three working weekends under our belt, almost everything done with one weekend trip left, October 8-10th, to finish clean up and bench work before the wedding weekend.
With only minor finishing touches left, that in reality could be finished the weekend of the wedding, I decided the kids and I would stay home and sit that weekend out.
Then, Friday October 8th came and as planned Josh headed out that morning to Illinois for work and the finishing clean up at the range (our property).
Thankfully we stayed home because I started feeling off and suddenly knew I would need a weekend of rest. At some point in the afternoon I’d sent a message to Josh telling him that my lungs felt a little funny and if I start to go downhill sick I just wanted to document that with him (not honestly thinking too much of it after that).
I finished my workday then headed off to bed to rest and hopefully ward off what was coming. My throat began to hurt and when I woke up Saturday I could barely swallow, I was exhausted and went back to sleep well after 2 in the afternoon.
I stayed resting and when I woke up worse Sunday, I knew I needed seen as I was positive I had strep throat it was so excruciating to swallow and while I’d felt feverish I didn’t have any other symptoms.
To my dismay a positive Covid test, and negative strep test (the grander bit of that story to come separate). Then the next day, positive Covid test for my youngest Sam.
And just 2 weeks before our planned wedding ceremony…
If all went ok, we would be cleared just in time to still get married based on our symptom start date and pending being fever free for 24 hours.
The pressure was on. In the form of nightmares. While I slept (miserably) through Covid.
Sam and I had to cancel hair appointments as we quarantined, I’d timed them perfectly ahead of the wedding.
And not to mention we had hired a photographer! What if we had to cancel? What if we had to reschedule? I was so excited about our photographer!
It was a non negotiable that I had to have someone to photograph our day.
In every search I performed the same person came up, Sally Grieshaber Photography (if you need photographs in the St. Louis Missouri area or even travel, she is your person).
I was in love with her work as soon as I scoped her Instagram. And bonus, her shooting and editing styles were similar enough to that of mine I knew anything we would print and hang esthetically would go very well. However, I also knew realistically from working the industry that it was likely she was already booked. But I did it afraid, and I reached out to her.
Shouldn't have been surprised, as with everything else, she was only busy earlier in the day and was available by the time we would want her coverage! Heck we only needed a few hours so I would have rearranged all hours that day to suit if need be.
How does that happen?! I know weddings to book a year in advance, it’s how the wedding world works and we just so happen to get the one photographer I wanted and with only 2 months to plan!
(Because my friends, the time was right, and every detail was in alignment!)
A few days in the Covid fever dreams -I came to realize that I was blissfully happy with the preparation that had been done thus far and that it would be everything we ever wanted. There wouldn’t be any more details completed aside from being able to still make it to our place, for our day.
I didn’t care what any of us would wear, who could or couldn’t be there to ensure all felt health safety, all I knew was above all else I wanted to survive and marry my best partner on the day we had planned- we’d waited this long.
Josh and Clara maintained healthy while Sam and I finished out our quarantine sentences and getting over fevers, just in time!
Albeit, the exhaustion was real! I couldn’t endure even a full day of being awake, but thankfully for my perfect partner, I knew everything we needed would be done beautifully and even if that meant I only had enough energy to say the words then to sleep again after.
Thursday October 21st came and by the grace of God we were packed and ready to head up to Illinois for our wedding weekend. With my lack of energy, smell and taste..we hit the road and later arrived safely to the farm!
Friday October 22nd we successfully procured our marriage license at the courthouse!
Wait?! What?! Marriage License! YES!
We headed back to the farm and then quickly decided we would have a little family lunch the 4 of us at our favorite little place in Eldred with the best catfish fritters before the rest of our errands.
Next on the to do list was shopping for lantern oil, food, flannel shirts and a cake!
After we knew we were in the clear to still have our ceremony of love, Josh went shirt shopping which he found himself the coziest black and white flannel. Sure didn't matter to me what he wanted to wear, as long as he felt happy and comfortable.
Then turns out that was a double good choice. We’d been watching the weather for months and it turned out to be a bit chillier than we had anticipated so we were going to update the wedding attire to flannel shirts keeping everyone comfortable and cozy.
It wasn’t ever about the clothes anyway, it was about the people we wanted to celebrate our love with and our care to keep everyone comfortable to also enjoy themselves with us.
Josh’s dad had thankfully agreed to grill some burgers after the ceremony so we just had to get some simple sides to go along with them, oh yes… and the cake, which we had decided to pick from the already made ones in the case. It made sense.
After we found the groceries we went for the cake, to our surprise (although not really), there was an already made cake adorned with black roses which happens to be our favorite color.
Who knew the bigger adventure would be to find lantern oil, for the lanterns we had set up with the benches. My first full day fully upright out of bed and we put some miles in at mall walker speed, my dogs were tired -hip to toes.
As we retired to the recliners for the evening, Kory had sent Josh the typed up ceremony details for review to which I asked Josh to handle the review and decisions therein (just let me know when to be where and I trust you with the rest)!
Soon after he began to chuckle, and I was contemplating that previous ask…
Josh had gotten to the part where it mentions a Unity Candle -he asked me to hear him out and proposed
“What if we had a Unity Lantern?”
We hadn’t planned a Unity Candle or Unity item of any typical variation.
But see, when we were putting the shepherds hooks for the lanterns next to the benches we had one extra shepherds hook. So we bought an additional lantern to hang near where we were to stand simply because we love them.
So now, upon discussion of a Unity Lantern we both lost our shit and obviously agreed yes!
And another detail that has planned itself.
I knew this was truly going to be our best day, in all the perfect minimal details and our closet family.
To be continued…
Again....
Take good care and travel safe,
Sami
PS: Just a few photographs I captured beforehand once all the details were in place
Final touches added, such a great view
Look at it, we just love it here
It still takes my breath away
Unity Lantern indeed