Five years ago today I was getting so excited for my first trip to Las Vegas. So many changes were about to happen to me. Five months prior, my boyfriend bought a ring. Two months later, he proposed with it and we found out we were going to be parents. A big wedding really wasn't feasable and so my husband to be proposed a small wedding in Vegas and it was set. We found a chapel that would stream our wedding on the internet so that the majority of family and friends who could not make it in person could still experience the occasion. It was so easy to plan. We bought a package through the chapel and tailored it to our needs. Two years prior to all of this, on a crazy whim, I bought a wedding dress and swore to my friend that was with me that I would marry Eric in it. She had given me the "Your insane. He hasn't even proposed yet." look but supported my decision anyway. Well, this dress was a size four and while the top part still fit, my stomach was starting to show. So, my wonderful seamstress aunt, helped me to let it out so it fit.
We boarded the plane and after several hours of flying over nothing but desert and mountains, there finally shimmers an oasis before us.
We met Sheldon, the best man, at the airport and took a shuttle to our pyramid hotel and casino, the Luxor.
There we met up with the three other guests that made up our wedding party. They took off for a ball game and we made final arrangements including going to the Clarke County courthouse to obtain our license and picked up a tux.
We all met back in the spa suite where the boys stayed and the girls went out for dinner.
The next morning we ordered extravagant room service and I went downstairs to the salon and spa to get primped while the girls went shopping. I was the frist to arrive back at the room and quietly slipped into my dress and looked out the window for a while, taking it all in. The busy city below me excited me and yet the enormity of what I was about to do never once gave me the jitters. When my friends returned, Dana did my makeup and we went downstairs to the lobby. As I made my way to the waiting limo, I got cheers and applause which put a big grin on my face. I was getting married!!
We arrived at the Little Chapel of the Flowers where I met with the minister and we discussed the ceremony. I signed my name on the dotted line and Dana signed hers. She then took me by the arm and we took a deep breath and I half hopped, half walked down the aisle towards my smiling groom.
The ceremony in it's entirety took about 8 minutes. During most of that I wore this nervious smile and for the life of my I don't know why. But as soon as I heard the words "pronounce you husband and wife", that expression faded and the happy cheeseball grin returned. After 4 1/2 years with this man, I was now his wife.
Photo time came and went and we went back to the hotel to change and see about dinner. Alas, we made a grave error. When in Vegas on a Saturday night, make reservations. We assumed that with all the restaurants and all the choices, we didn't need to......yeah, you need to. We eventually did find a decent spot at Mandalay Bay and after an almost 2 hour wait. We dropped the most money we have ever spent on a dinner and baby Jason decided to make me throw up a perfectly wonderful $65 steak but it was still a wonderful meal. The night didn't end there. Dana and Brian had a memorable wedding gift in store for us and we made our way up the Las Vegas Strip to see Cirque de Soliel's Zumanity at New York, New York. The show was incredible. Aerialists performing unreal stunts,topless contortionists, and an artisty all it's own. The evening ended with a return to our Egyptian themed paradise and a wonderful first night's sleep with the man I now get to spend the rest of my life with.
(for more pictures and a video, they are on Facebook =)
