Wednesday, January 27, 2010

our wedding: to have and to hold

{wedding, this way}

{here comes the bride}

{my handsome husband}


{can't wait}

{always and forever}

{try not to cry}

{to have and to hold}

{husband and wife}

{with this ring}

{happily ever after}

Our ceremony was the most magical part of the entire wedding... We got married at my parent's horse ranch, which backs to a beautiful mountain preserve. Family flew in from New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and Mexico. It was so wonderful to have our closest family and friends be a part of this special day. Back at the house, my dad and I shared a quiet moment before the ceremony... He closed his eyes and said a prayer for God to watch over and protect our new little marriage and told me what a wonderful man he thought Kiwi was. His voice caught in his throat and I couldn't stop the tears from coming. It was such a beautiful moment, I'll never forget it.

After the tears dried, I felt strangely calm. I took a deep breath and knew I was ready to marry the love of my life. Sea Breeze by Tyrone Wells {our favorite song} played on an acoustic guitar as I walked down the aisle. We were married by a dear family friend who has known me since childhood. Our wedding reading was an excerpt from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

Love has no other desire than to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for your beloved in your heart
and a song of praise upon your lips.

We exchanged rings and sealed the deal with a kiss. As we walked back down the aisle, hand in hand, the sun was just starting to set over the mountains. I couldn't help but be completely overwhelmed by the love I felt for the man at my side. My husband, always and forever.

{all photos by Brittany Strebeck}

11 comments:

  1. your wedding photos are stunning!! congratulations + your day looked so perfect. xo.

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  2. I love the look on kiwi's face when he sees you coming down the aisle. Your whole ceremony is wonderfully magical and laid back all at the same time. And the Kahlil Gibran piece? Perfect!

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  3. i love, love, love the prophet! congrats to you and yours!! you look so beautiful!!

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  4. My Gosh! You made a beautiful bride! I love these photos.

    Thanks for the comment on my picture, I guess they sort of do form a loose looking start of a heart :)

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  5. that last photo is my fave. but i really love them all...that veil, that dress, and that pic of your now-husband smiling when he sees you coming down the aisle...i love.
    ps. i'm thinking about wearing my mom's mantilla veil just during the ceremony, as long as she can find it and it works with the dress.
    i really want to wear a flower though...so did you take off the veil for the reception and just stick in a flower?

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  6. Congratulations!!!
    these photos are precious! you two look like you're walking on clouds.
    it's the best feeling to be married to your best friend =)

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  7. wow wow wow

    your wedding is breathtaking. I am just catching up.

    CONGRATS!

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  8. Your wedding is absolutely amazing!!
    Your wedding reading is beautiful!!

    Congrats!!

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  9. Oh yay, pictures! I absolutely love your veil. It's gorgeous.

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  10. The joy all over your faces is heartwarming. Wow. Wonderful photography and a beautiful wedding.

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