The part everyone really goes to a wedding to see...

The Kiss!!

I love this part of weddings, especially mine!!

These pictures are all post-jumping up and down (bummer didn't get pictures of THAT huh?) Seriously, after our officiant said, "You may now kiss the bride" I jumped up and down and threw myself at Nick. Haha!


Notice the missing veil? It fell off when I threw myself at Nick. Oops :-)



I am pleased to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Thompson

Hehe, cheesey grin!

Over the Rainbow - Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole OFFICIAL VIDEO from Mountain Apple Company on Vimeo.

And from there we were out the door to spend a few minutes to ourselves (and get something to drink since we were both super thirsty). I gave Nick his gift at this time, I will explain in my next post. ;-)

After we left, our party trickled down the aisle to head to our reception.

So cute!







Here's an interesting tidbit. Our whole ceremony last only 19 minutes!! So, in all actuallity, we spent about $1,000 for less than half an hour, but I'm not complaining! I was ready to be married and go to a party and the faster the better!!

Note: All pictures were taken by our photographer, Jessica Lemmons, and her assistant. Check out her amazing work here!

Vows, leis, and sand oh my!!

We wrote our own vows to each other (I had mine done before even asking Nick if he wanted to write them) and I really liked how personal it made our ceremony. Not that I have anything against the repeat after me vows, it just wasn't for us.



Nick's vows:

Samantha, it took some time for us to figure out we were going to work well together.
I like that you have a spiritual guide to follow for living your life.
It is an instrumental part of who you are and a part that I will continue to support as we move forward together.
I promise to keep you grounded when your thoughts are running wild.
I apologize for the times when I will kiss you just to make you forget everything you know.
I will always listen to you, I will always laugh with you and I will always be there for you.
Now as we walk the future together, I promise you love and honesty.





My vows:

I have been waiting for this day since I knew God had someone special for me.
He gave me a big heart and you have filled it completely.
My heart belongs to you along with all of the love, honor, and respect it can hold.
I want to spend the rest of my life laughing with you, crying with you, and sharing your dreams.
I will trust you even when I don’t understand, and be honest and faithful to you for the rest of my life.
I look forward to any challenges we encounter because I know we will face them together and come out on the other side stronger than ever.
I love you and will walk beside you, from this day forward, as your wife.

After drying a few MORE tears (had a tissue hid in my hand) we joined our officiant up on the actual stage for our lei and sand ceremonies and to sign our marriage certificate and become legal.


Source: YouTube

Let me explain this section a little bit, the lei exchange was something we wanted to do to recognize his Hawaiian heritage. Normally the bride and groom exchange leis with their families as well, but Nick and I just wanted to do this by ourselves. It was Nick's job to get the leis and he did a great job picking them out. They smelled so good!! Nick's lei was made of Maile and mine of Pikake (my new favorite smell).





(Nick did too, I promise, there just isn't a picture of it)





We stood and just stared at each other and talked while our best man and maid of honor signed.

Love this picture

Note: All pictures were taken by our photographer, Jessica Lemmons, and her assistant. Check out her amazing work here!

Our ceremony

Walked up the two stairs to the stage, being careful not to snag my dress on any corners, and proceeded with the ceremony.


I loved that we got to face each other during the ceremony. I always hold Nick's hand when we're together, so it was neat that we were able to then too.


Besides, who wants to stare at a pastor? I'd rather look at Nick any day! Haha, just kidding.





Don't remember what was so funny here.

The guys behaved nicely despite Nick's warnings.


Group shot


Sanctuary shot





Haha. She was trying to get her mom's attention

And the girls behaved too


Before we said our vows, our officiant read a poem I had picked out.

Union by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment.
At some point, you decided to marry.
From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way.
All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”
Look at one another and remember this moment in time.
Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years.
Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my husband. This is my wife.



After wiping a few tears, it was on to our vows that we had written for each other.

Note: All pictures were taken by our photographer, Jessica Lemmons, and her assistant. Check out her amazing work here!

Look at me! Look at me!

So I mentioned before that I was crying when I heard to music. Well, I got myself under control after a few minutes of deep breathing and watched everyone file into the sanctuary. Then my song started and I started crying again! Ugh!! No time to check the make up, just breathe and hope I look happy and not like Dad is dragging me down the aisle.

And again, you can listen to the song I walked down to while you are looking at pictures and reading.

Source: YouTube


Dang ugly cry face!


Seriously, I was really HAPPY to get married, but it doesn't look like it huh?


In my defense, there wasn't a dry eye in the house, so I wasn't the only one crying!


Okay, getting it under control.


All of my pretty girls. :-)


Our officiant


My Nick. He almost lost it too.


And the pass off. Daddy's last unmarried-daughter kiss.


There are some smiles!


Up to the front and let the ceremony begin...

Next time! Haha, yes I'm going to make you wait. Can't overload you too bad and I want this to last as long as possible!

Note: All pictures were taken by our photographer, Jessica Lemmons, and her assistant. Check out her amazing work here!

Dum dum dum dum (think wedding march)

After pictures were over, it was about one hour until go time and I was hustled out of the sanctuary so any early guests wouldn't see me in all of my gloriousness.

Five o'clock rolled around and Nick comes into the room we are waiting in and says, "Don't panic, there is a slight delay because people are still filtering in." Ahem...what!? You mean there are actually going to be people watching!? Seriously, that was my first thought after he said that. I know, that's ridiculous because we actually invited all of these people, but I never expected there to be as many as there were. Apparently the sanctuary was almost completely full and that was when I started getting nervous. Not about getting married, oh no, I had already felt married for about a year by this point (with none of the perks mind you). I was nervous about remembering my vows (which wasn't a big issue since I would have them up front with me) and not tripping while walking up the aisle or on the stairs on the stage.

Take a deep breath, one last hug from my mom and it's down the stairs to the door we would all be entering through. I was concentrating on not falling down the flight of stairs and...I heard the first bars of the first processional song and absolutely lost it. I tried to hold it in, but I was just so overwhelmed and happy to be marrying Nick that I started sobbing!! Thanks to one of my girls, not sure which one, they were all blurry, I was handed a tissue to keep my make up from running down my face. More deep breaths and our processional line is moving forward.

You can listen to the processional song while you read!

Israel kamakawiwo'ole - "What a Wonderful World from Mountain Apple Company on Vimeo.

First up were the grandparents. I only have one picture of Tim (my brother) walking my granny down the aisle.


Next were Nick's parents and my mom. Both of our mothers were to bring our sand up front and put it on the table on the stage for the union sand ceremony. Apparently they forgot about the sand until after Nick's mom was already up front and my mom was halfway down the aisle. Yikes! Mom turned around and grabbed both sand containers and walked back up the aisle.


Crisis averted.


Next up came my maid of honor andbridesmaids, I don't have pictures of all of them either so I will show the ones I have. They were so pretty!




Junior bridesmaid and ring bearer (handled the ring dish very well, even with our real rings on it)


Other junior bridesmaid and flower girl.

I love the interaction between FG and Granny. So cute!

My turn...

Nick looks a little antsy doesn't he? He's had to wait all this time...

And so will you because I will be in the next post. :-D

Note: All pictures were taken by our photographer, Jessica Lemmons, and her assistant. Check out her amazing work here!

I LOVE Etsy!!

More specifically, Paloma's Nest and the lovely ring dishes they make!!



I was about 90% sure about using a dish instead of a pillow, but seeing mine with our date on it? Now I am 190% sure!!



Seriously, if any of you are considering using a ring dish, I highly recommend Paloma's Nest on Etsy. Amazing!

I'm a bad blogger

Okay, I just have to start with something funny, when I first typed the title, is said, "I'm a bag blooger". Oops, my bad :)

Anyway, I haven't posted in a while because nothing is really happening right now. I have got a few smaller things checked off the list:
1. I signed the contract and paid the deposit for the photographer (I'm so excited, I LOVE her work).
2. One of my junior bridesmaids has been asked, one to go (which is Nick's job when he talks to his brother about being a groomsman and kids being in the wedding).

And that's all I've done in the last few weeks, besides having a tooth removed, but that's not really relevant.

I have made a few decisions that I wasn't sure about (did I mention I love lists?):
1. I am going to dye my crinoline to match the red on my dress, so there is an extra pop of color for pictures
2. The junior bridesmaids are going to be just that, not candle lighters like originally planned. The candles will be lit before the ceremony and the two girls will carry bouquets down the aisle after the bridesmaids and stay up there for the ceremony.
3. We are going to do a lei ceremony during the wedding. Nick is part Hawaiian on his mother's side and I wanted to do something traditional to a Hawaiian wedding.
4. I am going to wear two veils for pictures before the ceremony, a fingertip and a cathedral. I am having problems with one decision though, which veil to wear during the ceremony? I love the look of the longer veil, but if I wore that one, I would have to switch veils before the reception. What do you think?

I'm really beginning to hate the phrase "only a year"