Vernon and Jermica ~July 16, 2005~

[jermica]

Thanks everyone for visiting me.

RECAP TIME!!!

FRIDAY
I got up early that morning to drive to Baltimore to get my weave done. It only took about an hour and it was exactly like I wanted it. I had to sleep pretty that night. I returned home and began packing up everything that I needed for the next day. All my projects were complete and Vernon packed my car to drive it all down to my Mom's house. It had been really humid that day and my little curls had started to fall, but the style was still hanging on. I had to pick up my dress before I got to my mom's house and drop off my cake decorations and during this it started to rain. I was lucky because I had my umbrella and my seamstress carried my pretty, bustled dress out to the car for me.

Our rehearsal was scheduled at 6:00pm and all the groomsmen were coming from Annapolis to DC on a Friday evening in the rain so they didn't arrive until 6:30 but they all rode together with the groom so at least they all arrived at the same time. We get to the church and my mom reviews my program and she noticed that I LEFT OFF MY GRANDMOTHER'S NAME. Mind you I designed them and each program had ribbon on the side of them. We had printed only about 75 and when we went to print more, we could not find the paper anymore so we just stayed at 75. Now I would have to reprint all the programs THAT NIGHT and find a different kind of paper to do it with. We didn't leave the church until about 8:00 but all the kinks were worked out regarding the flow of the ceremony. The rain had lifted and we had planned to have the rehearsal at my favorite restaurant Golden Corral which is right across the street from where I live but about 30 mins. from the church. By this time I am stressing about having to print all those programs and stringing them with ribbon. Vernon and I are racing to get to Michaels which is also right across the street from me, (I live near a mall) to purchase more paper and a new aisle runner because they didn't think the one I had would be long enough. (they were right) We ended up just getting cheap cardstock which ended up being the better choice. We got to GC but I didn't eat like I usually do because I had to get them programs done. My mother in-law is quick on her toes and decided to have a program assembly party back at my house. Everyone come over and we get to printing. I was a little afraid because 2 days earlier my printer had fallen off the side of the desk and punctured my black ink cartridge and began leaking (WEIRD b/c no one had touched it for a few days) We printed about 80 programs in assembly line fashion and it actually turned out to be a lot of fun. My bridesmaids got busy, I ws so proud of them. I gave them their gifts with a heartfelt note from me and they all really appreciated what I said to them. We didn't get back to my mom's house until about 1:30am.

[jermica]

SATURDAY

A sista was wide awake at 5:30am. I was so anxious. My mom was up about 6:30 going to get her hair done and my sisters left about 7. They were all done at about 10:00 and they came back to the house with breakfast. While eating they all were asking me why I didn't have pew bows or something for the pews. My first idea didn't work well and so I was through planning so the aisle runner and my tall pew docorations were going to be it. I told them that if they wanted to add something that was fine with me but I was done. That was all they needed to hear. We all jumped in the car and off we were to the PArty City. We got there and we didn't like the selection they had so I suggested going next door to get some tulle from the fabric store and draping the pews with that. We purchased about 20 yards but still felt like something was missing. I then suggested to get flower petals to put in the tulle but OF COURSE they didn't have pink. THe nest best thing, TISSUE PAPER!!! We purchased two packs of fuschia paper and headed to the church. We had be praying all month that the air would be working and it was. (The irony will come later) My mom called the man with the keys and he let us in. At first we were just going to cut the paper in little squares but my mom decided to make hearts so we all did it like that. I came out a lot better than I tought and I was so glad we did it. Now back to the house and it was time to get ready. The makeup lady I wanted to use never called me back so I was left to do it myself. (I can do a mean eye when I want to) Of course it was not looking cute to me and I redid it about 3 times. By this time my MOH and other bridesmaid had arrived and they began to get dress. We were advised for me to have everything on except my dress so that's just what I did. THe limo arrived 10 mins early and I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off looking for my shoes that I just had 10 mins ago. Of course they were sitting right next to me.

We get in the limo and it starts to POUR DOWN RAINING. At this point I didn't care because I was all about getting married to my man. We pull up to the church and the rain hadn't made it to that side of town yet so we were able to go right in without getting wet!!! My mom (who is a deaconess at the church) put my MOH and I in this hot ass room to wait. I couldn't take it so we went downstairs with my other bridesmaids. I finally put on my dress and we pose for a few pics before it was time to line up. The ceremony was supposed to begin at 4:30 but my grandparents had not arrived yet. They walked through the door about 5 mins later. We had already started and they walked in right on time. A few seconds later and we would have began without them!!

The ceremony begins and I am walking down the aisle. I had said previously that I didn't think I would cry, but I hit that aisle and the flood gates open up. I was a mess but still trying to cry pretty. I cried the whole way down, and its a long way. THe ceremony goes off without a hitch and we jump the broom. I was soooo excited!!!!!!!!! We take pics and now off to the reception.

[jermica]

RECEPTION

Now mind you, when I did my invitations, I included directions to the reception location. Everyone seeemed to have used them because they all got there, EXCEPT Vernon's twin sister who was also his best man, and my brothe who decided to GUIDE the limo. We get there and it is sweltering hot INSIDE the place. All that praying we did for the church and we should have been praying for the reception place. We didn't arrive until 7 but that ws okay b/c we had a cocktail hour. They couldn't introduce us until his sister got there and she took about another 30-45 mins to arrive, She doesn't know DC and could not follow any directions they gave her. (My reception location was about 25 mins away but really SIMPLE to get there). SHe finally arrives along with 2 groomsmen who was following her and we are announced. Now we checked with the DJ to see if he had our first dance song, "With You" by Tony Terry and he said yes. OF COURSE he meant NO. So I was starting to fume now. We get seated and then we choose to dance to a Luther Vandross song. You can't really go wrong with him. We danced and about half way through the song, my parents vut in which was good b/c whichever song that was, it was LONG. From here on out everything went fine.

I was presently surprised to see that so many people decided to stay even though it was sooo hot but that place was packed. I kicked my Nina Reena's off and had a good time. My dress got dirty but I didn't care. The DJ totally redeemed himself playing all the jams and he even remixed the Electric Slide. I was soooo tired by the end of the night. Everyone truly partied.

Vernon and I headed home to change and go to the hotel. We booked out room in JANUARY and somehow it was mysterouly cancelled in April and the hotel was booked solid. I had to call my mom and wake her up, get her glasses and read to me my confirmation number b/c I left everything there. (I didn't think I would need all the paperwork) In the end, the man just bumped someone else and we settled in for our 3 hours of sleep because we had a 7am flight to Florida.

Of course we as husband and wife and after a month, it was great!!!

[jermica]

Here is my big day

Me with my two sisters getting ready
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e47926511e00000016108AYtmzls4bNg

All the girls
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e47925d02d00000016108AYtmzls4bNg

Our Wedding Portrait
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf26b3127cce951e78a520b200000085108AYtmzls4bNg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e4792a511200000015108AYtmzls4bNg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e4791c512400000015108AYtmzls4bNg

[jermica]

Reception Pics

this is one of my favorite pics
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e47918512000000015108AYtmzls4bNg

Vernon and his Mom
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e47905d00d00000016108AYtmzls4bNg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df29b3127cce96e4790e513600000016108AYtmzls4bNg