Way Back Whensday: Our Wedding

Last week, in my first Raechel-inspired Way Back Whensday post, I shared a little of the story from my twins' early days. I never had a chance to find some old-school photos of Candice (the Dolly Parton-esque picture of her with balloons shoved up her t-shirt is a Becker family classic), so for now I'll have to content myself with some images from our wedding.

Stephen and I will celebrate our fourth anniversary this coming May 21st. (I think. I get it confused with the twins' original due date.) Two states, two pregnancies, three kids, two cats, one dog, three jobs, four homes, and many episodes of Star Trek later, we are still hopelessly in love. Good thing, too, since we consider our marriage contract very binding. We're pretty much stuck with each other.

Given the gravity surrounding our situation, you think he would have figured out that I hate it when he wears his socks two days in a row. Oh, well. At least he's accepted my addiction to high-end coffee.

I wish I could share our engagement story. It is unbelievable, hilarious, and something straight out of the genre that is Chick Lit. Alas, my forever-embarrassed husband has made me vow over our shared complete collection of T.S. Eliot's writings that I will never, ever divulge the details of that evening. Suffice to say, he proposed in London, under the lamplight of a lamp lining a quiet, deserted street.

Besides the gory, embarrassing details that can't ever be shared, it was a perfect moment. Too bad we also didn't have our camera with us. You'll just have to believe me and live forever in suspense.

Anyway, we waited over a year-and-a-half to get married, and it was a long time to wait. When the day finally came, we enjoyed every moment of celebration with our wonderful family and friends who had traveled to Kansas City for the ceremony. After a slow honeymoon in Florida, we returned to reality, which included the task of moving all of our possessions from locations within four separate states to a completely different fifth state. 

Don't ask how this was possible. It is, and of course it happened to us, and of course I have blocked every detail of the time.

Without (much) further ado, here are a few photos from the day. These pictures are all courtesy of my father-in-law and our friend Brennan, who were both so good to snap so many photographs for us that day. I can't share any photos from our hired photographer because they all have "ZUMARE IMAGES" superimposed across their centers. You know how that goes.

My dad married us.

I wonder how uncomfortable this was for him.

As tired and young and zoned-out as we look here,

I included it so you could see the cake.

I loved that cake. I think I got one bite of it.

I bucked the trend of having seven zillion bridesmaids

by asking my cousin, K, my sister, and my (now) sister-in-law

to stand up front with me. They were, and are, pillars of strength.

What wonderful, beautiful women.

(Oh, and trivia: I am carrying the handkerchief

my great-grandmother carried to her children's weddings.)

Baylor just looked at this photo and said "Mama."

I'm so glad he can recognize me from four years ago.

One final bit of trivia: I bought my wedding dress on eBay for $79. It was a cast-off from a wedding store, last-year's model, and worth over $1,000 brand-new. It had hung on a mannequin for a while, and I had the highest bid. Just a couple visits to the seamstress later, and it fit perfectly.

I like to tell that story.

Another one I like to tell is how my mom, sister, and I completely fell in love with our photographer. Seriously, we were like silly, giggling little junior highers around him. Stephen and my dad were so patient and steadfast with us.

Especially my dad, since he was paying the biggest portion of our wedding budget to the object of our shared affection.