Our Wedding

Lovely Tonight: The First Dance

During your wedding planning process, have you ever had an incredible epiphany that is absolutely impossible to get out of your mind? For me, it was the song that we used for our first dance. I remember the moment like it happened yesterday: I was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen and my iTunes were on shuffle. All of a sudden, a song by Joshua Radin came on. I had downloaded his album a few months prior, but hadn’t really listened to the songs very closely. However, when the song “Lovely Tonight” started playing, I remember stopping dead in my tracks. My spatula was suspended in mid-air and I was completely entranced with the song. It was perfect. I knew from that moment that it HAD to be featured in our wedding in some way. Initially, I wanted it as a processional song. However, after much consideration, I realized that it would be the perfect first dance song for Justin and me. The words, the melody, everything.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT7mS0a9Rcw[/youtube]

I need you to know this won’t be broken,
And all that we said will not be lost into the dawn.
And you would be the last thing I saw coming,
I’m still surprised.

You are lovely tonight.
You, dear, will guide me into the morning light.
You are lovely tonight.
Lay here beside me – I see the rest of my life with you.

Alone we are fine; but when we’re two, we are eternal.
The moons have aligned our separate lives, here become one.
And you would be the last thing I saw coming,

I’m still surprised.

You are lovely tonight.
You, dear, will guide me into the morning light.
You are lovely tonight.
Lay here beside me – I see the rest of my life with you.


All my life I’ve lived alone without you.
All this time I couldn’t find a way to belong.

And you are lovely tonight.
You, dear, will guide me into the morning light.
You are lovely tonight.
Lay here beside me – I see the rest of my life with you.

Ah, looks perfect, doesn’t it? Oh, I sure could have fooled you! I have a secret: with all of the wedding planning and the crazy schedule before the wedding, Justin and I COMPLETELY forgot to practice our first dance. We had absolutely never danced to this song before the wedding day. Never. And I am being completely honest when I say that it was incredibly awkward. We did the middle school sway…Justin was turning us in a circle too fast, so I attempted to lead…he stepped on my feet.

I made funny faces…

But, even with all its awkwardness, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

*All photos courtesy of Pilster Photography*

Previously…

The girls got ready, then the guys got ready.

I became a bride, but our first look wasn’t what I’d hoped.

We took some photos alone and then with our bridal party.

Everyone hopped on the trolley and we took some family portraits before my cake arrived.

I gathered myself before the ceremony, our bridal party made their way down the aisle, and I followed afterward.

Our ceremony began with some readings and ended with a handfasting ceremony.

My ‘maids helped me adjust my bustle and we entered the cocktail hour.

We had fun in the photo booth then took some photos on the water.

We made our grand entrance.

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