In the Moment: Waiting

After a brief delay - we were busy enjoying being married, dealing with DIY debris, and celebrating our one month wedding anniversary - which was not planned despite the teaser for the last recap, "Up next, Waiting," we're back.

Immediately after the rabbi signed the Ketubah and we were married, cubes and I went around the Odeon room talking with close family and friends and receiving congratulations.

As mentioned our venue had 22 steps. My grandmother's balance is not what it used to be so she's always surrounded by a family member. I let my uncle know of our plans to have Roland walk both of our grandmothers down the aisle and then introduced them. Once my uncle was satisfied that my gram would be treated like royalty, it was time to introduce Roland to both my gram and cubes' Nan. In the second picture, you can see my gram and Roland getting acquainted.

My Aunt Kristin Congratulates Me while My Uncle Edward and My Mom Niki Look On

While we were milling about, Jessica seized the opportunity to take family portraits. We weren't planning on group photos outside of those of our wedding party as the logistics seemed daunting (this was the part of events I always hated as a photographer) and typically looked as if no one was having fun (plastered fake smiles on brides and grooms and bored family members).

From Left to Right: My Mom Niki, My Gram Marie, and My Dad Paul

From Left to Right: cubes' Mom Robin, cubes' Sister Jamie, cubes, Me,

cubes' Nan Diane, cubes' Sister-in-Law Arwa, cubes' Brother Todd

From Left to Right: cubes' Sister Jamie and cubes' Mom Robin

And best of all, Jessica captured the couple who started it all. (You know the one - The Girl and The Boy who inspired the wish.)

Groomsman Steve and Diva of Honor Ames

Up next, Readying the Chuppah.

If you've just joined and want to catch up, here's what we've done so far.

• Highlighted my dress and how it almost didn't happen.
• cubes and I took our turn in the spotlight for our portraits.
• The bridespeople get herded for photos.
• Socks captured!
• The groomspeople get herded for photos.
• The wedding party struck a pose.
• I get veiled.
• The best man and Diva of Honor signed our marriage license.
• In turn, our witnesses, cubes and I, and our rabbi signed our ketubah.

Credits: All photographs unless noted otherwise were taken by Jessica Palopoli. Bride's dress: Vintage I.Magnin, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Bride's hat and veil: Estar Hats. Bride's makeup by Guille of The Lobby Salon. Bride's hair styled by Catherine Walters. Bride's hair color and cut by John Skinner and Louise Frost of CODE Salon, respectively. Groom's hair by Cindy Lopez of Azure Salon. Groom's suit: Vintage Gucci from Sui Generis, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. 

In the Moment: Herding Cats aka Wedding Party Portraits Part 3

Jessica did a great job of keeping us on point and capturing the shots. One of my favorite shots was taken in Balder Hall of part of our wedding party in the huge wooden chairs.

After the shots in Balder Hall, it was time to go back outside. By the time it came to finishing our group shots outside, early guests were arriving and we were getting sidetracked.

Notice anyone missing in this next shot?

Up next, Veiling the Bride.

If you've just joined and want to catch up, here's what we've done so far.

• Highlighted my dress and how it almost didn't happen.
• cubes and I took our turn in the spotlight for our portraits.
• The bridespeople get herded for photos.
• Socks captured!
• The groomspeople get herded for photos.

Credits: All photographs unless noted otherwise were taken by Jessica Palopoli. Bride's dress: Vintage I.Magnin, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Bride's and Girls' makeup by Guille of The Lobby Salon. Bride's and Girls' hair styled by Catherine Walters. Bride's hair color and cut by John Skinner and Louise Frost of CODE Salon, respectively. Groom's hair by Cindy Lopez of Azure Salon. Groom's suit: Vintage Gucci from Sui Generis, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Girls' dresses: Adrianna Papell from Nordstrom and Macy*s. Girls' necklaces: GemKitty. Boys' ties: The Limited. Boys' shirts: Proper Cloth.

In the Moment: Herding Cats aka Wedding Party Portraits Part 2

I felt bad for the boys the day of our wedding. It was warmer than usual and humid. And worse there was no escape - outside or inside. As soon as the guys could, they shed their jackets. Our venue didn't have air conditioning not something we thought we'd have to worry about in October. While the outside doors were open there was still no breeze to cool things down.

I can't believe that I'd been worried that we'd be chilly. Ha! Come ceremony time even I was uncomfortably hot.

But true to form, the boys were the ultimate hams on camera. While I kept forgetting to reapply lip gloss between takes, Helen was pro all the way.

More Herding Cats aka Wedding Party Portraits Part 3 up next.

If you've just joined and want to catch up, here's what we've done so far.

• Highlighted my dress and how it almost didn't happen.
• cubes and I took our turn in the spotlight for our portraits.
• The bridespeople get herded for photos.
• Socks captured!

Credits: All photographs unless noted otherwise were taken by Jessica Palopoli. Girls' makeup by Guille of The Lobby Salon. Girls' hair styled by Catherine Walters. Groom's hair by Cindy Lopez of Azure Salon. Groom's suit: Vintage Gucci from Sui Generis, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Girls' dresses: Adrianna Papell from Macy*s. Girls' necklaces: GemKitty. Boys' ties: The Limited. Boys' shirts: Proper Cloth.

In the Moment: Herding Cats aka Wedding Party Portraits Part 1

In between our portraits and the shots of the entire wedding party we rejoined everyone in the Odeon room for more food.

As an aside another thing that went surprisingly right was our schedule. It went so right that we ended up with almost an hour and a half to just sit and wait. So Amy and Moni took burrito orders and headed down the street for food.

For some reason I thought I'd be one of those brides who was too nervous to eat. Nope. I'd had a bagel for breakfast and then I had almost all of a burrito in between photographs.

Our turn in the spotlight over, we retreated back inside for more of our burritos while cubes and his groomspeople took their turn.

More Herding Cats aka Wedding Party Portraits Part 2 up next.

If you've just joined and want to catch up, here's what we've done so far.

• Highlighted my dress and how it almost didn't happen.
• cubes and I took our turn in the spotlight for our portraits.

Credits: All photographs unless noted otherwise were taken by Jessica Palopoli. Bride's and girls' makeup by Guille of The Lobby Salon. Bride's and girls' hair styled by Catherine Walters. Bride's hair color and cut by John Skinner and Louise Frost of CODE Salon, respectively. Bride's dress: Vintage I.Magnin, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Girls' dresses: Adrianna Papell from Nordstrom. Girls' necklaces: GemKitty. Boys' ties: The Limited. Boys' shirts: Proper Cloth.

In the Moment: Herding Cats (aka Portraits)

After our first look (more on that later), it was time for portraits. Our photographer Jessica had scouted out the light and we were off. First stop was a bay window on the second floor.

Second stop was a small room off the balcony that had light streaming through stain glass windows. The room itself was nothing special but the light was soft and warm.

Once we were done inside it was time to get some photos outside. Here's where we (or I) started to feel self-conscious. Passerbys would congratulate us. Family members and friends were arriving and would stop to talk. So much was going on.

I love this picture because you can see my boots. They were totally the right call for the day.

Up next, More Herding Cats aka Wedding Party Portraits.

If you've just joined and want to catch up, here's what we've done so far.

• Highlighted my dress and how it almost didn't happen.

Credits: All photographs unless noted otherwise were taken by Jessica Palopoli. Bride's makeup by Guille of The Lobby Salon. Bride's dress: Vintage I.Magnin, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream. Bride's hair styled by Catherine Walters. Bride's hair color and cut by John Skinner and Louise Frost of CODE Salon, respectively. Groom's hair by Cindy Lopez of Azure Salon. Groom's suit: Vintage Gucci from Sui Generis, reconstructed by Miss Velvet Cream.