Mrs. Fowers

Um... yeah, lots to catch up on. I'm not quite sure where to start, because unless I stay up on this, the story will never get finished. Oh well, I'll start where I start and end where I end.

Alright, just checked the blog and at least I've already written the proposal. To wrap up the engagement stage... ROUGH. Honestly?! I always thought being engaged would be great. You're with the one you love, you know that they're going to be yours, sighs, bliss, love, happiness... NOT!! It was so rough. Urg. I think a lot of it was that we lived an hour and a half away so we couldn't always be with each other. Most of the time when I was with him, I could remember how much I loved him, but it was so easy to forget when we were apart. Ew... and there was a lot of questioning. Luckily I have great friends. I would try to hide things from Katrina, but I'm not very good at not blabbing my whole life to anyone willing to listen, so things would always slip and she was smart enough to point out how very very right Clayton and I were for each other. And thank goodness I listened to her. I would have missed out on so much if I would have "bowed out" of this. Also, can I tell you how incredible Clay-dough is? The poor guy had to put up with all of my roller coaster-ing. One minute I was all "lovie dovie" with him and the next minute I was yelling at him for the same thing that we had always been fighting about. Good thing he's stronger than I am. He never questioned (okay, one time for just a second) and was always VERY VERY VERY patient with me.

Anyway, through all the fighting, all the stress of planning a wedding from two states away, through finishing up my first year of teaching (oh yeah, hopefully I'll get back to blogging about that later), it finally happen. I finished school on May 28, moved my stuff to Clayton's on the 29th, was in Cedar City on the 30th and then home on the 31st. I was super duper nervous to be so far away from Clayton the week before the wedding, but again, luckily I have amazing friends (and family). Rachel came to town on Wednesday and it was SO great catching up with her, and she'd listen to all my stories, and be on my side in all the appropriate places, and calm me down at appropriate times, that I was a-okay with Clayton not coming til the day before the wedding (alright, not a-okay, but close).

June 5, 2010. My new favorite day. Whenever anyone told me to stop stressing about the wedding, I would first respond with "You obviously don't know me" and then I'd tell them "I can stress all I want up until the wedding, that way on the day, I don't have to stress about anything." The first thing I did Saturday morning was go and get my hair done. I didn't like it, but because I was trying so hard not to stress about anything, I tried keeping it in. I tried so hard. But it didn't work. I let Dana know I didn't like it, and then had a slight melt down at home. Oops. But you guys have to know, I tried SO hard NOT to say anything, but I didn't like it THAT much. Okay, again, great friends, great family, it all worked out. Rachel did my makeup and did a fantastic job, and then I just avoided mirrors so I wouldn't have to look at my hair again. Then a quick change, and Mom and I were off to the temple (after I reminded both Joy and Dad of everything they had to bring in the blazer.

I was a little early, and Clayton was a touch late. The kid had to run to the store to buy a long sleeve white shirt. Somehow he over looked that in packing. Smiled that one off and went up to get ready. Other married friends warned me that it's natural to start freaking out in the Bride's room. Um... nope, no freaking out :o) I just waited (there was a lot of waiting to do). Obviously I can't go into too much, but I can say that it was all so beautiful. Walking into the room, I didn't even really notice many of the guests (sorry, I know the guests are reading this). But on my defense, I like never scope out a room when I walk in. Granddad said some beautiful words, and then it was done. We were given to each other for time and all eternity. The feeling in that room was so amazing.

Took pictures outside and Kim was the only one to make any wise cracks about the scaffolding. I think everyone else got the hint not to say something when I jokingly? snapped at Kim for her comment. I didn't realize it at the time, but I got fried while taking pictures. But you know what that means? It was a BEAUTIFUL sunny summer day. No June Gloom (ha Dad, you downer)! Pictures took about an hour, then the family got a small break before going to the reception. Clay-bear and I however, took a few more shots at the Temple and then headed to the beach for some beach shots. I can't wait to see how those all turned out. We all know I'm not super photogenic, so hopefully this guy's a pro at photoshop :o)

After the beach shots, we were off to the reception. Of course it didn't all go perfectly, but it went well and I've gotten compliments on it from so many people. I only wish I had taken the time to enjoy it more. I was so worried about saying hi to everyone and making sure the dance floor got used that I didn't really notice too much of the set up, hardly ate any food, oh yeah, and I was in screaming pain starting at the beach (but luckily only a few select people knew that at the reception :o) My favorite part was the exit. It looked awesome. Everyone lined the stairs that looked out over our car and everyone waved farewell as we drove away. Okay, we only drove a circle around the block because we were coming back to change. And it's a dang good thing we did come back because there were at least four other families that came right as we were leaving. I was out of my dress by time I got to them, but at least I got to see them and thank them for coming.

Then it was off to Del Mar to stay at the Hilton Garden. Now it's okay that people know where it was, but we definitely didn't tell anybody before we went.... just in case. It was a pretty fantastic day, if I do say so myself. Just don't ever use Our Eternal Weddings as your coordinator ;o)