Jackson's Really Big Day

In January I wrote a post entitled "Jackson's Big Day," about his senior recital.  I also mentioned in that post that he was engaged to be married, so it was kind of silly for me to call the recital his big day (although it was pretty big) when I knew even then that a really big day was in store just a few months later!  So we'll call the wedding Jackson and the Wonderful, Magical, Not Bad, Very Good Day, even though there's not enough space for all those adjectives in the post title.

As you know, in my previous post, I left off narrating on Saturday, May 28, when Eric and I had retired from sightseeing at Arlington National Cemetery to regroup with the family at our hotel suite in Annapolis.  That very same night, we enjoyed a delicious dinner with Evelyn's entiiiiiire family.  That girl has six siblings and two siblings-in-law, one niece-to-be, and two parents, of course, but by the end of dinner I had learned everyone's names and I still remember them all as I type this (even the unborn baby June!), I'm proud to say.  A little later that evening, we all reunited for ice cream in downtown Annapolis by the water.  As we quickly scanned the sights with what little time we had downtown, Eric was having pangs of regret because, even though it was a bit busy due to Naval Academy's graduation weekend, Annapolis seemed much more his speed than downtown D.C.  Maybe we'll get the chance to vacation there sometime.

The next morning, the Pinder girls (Mom, Annie, and I) had planned to get our nails done before the rehearsal.  Eric's feet were a bit achy from sightseeing and a bit rough from his ballooning adventures, so he decided to tag along for a pedicure, and before you know it, we'd all convinced Dad and Jackson to join us, too!  So all six of us lined up in the massage chairs for mani-pedis before heading off to the venue for the mid-afternoon wedding rehearsal.  Annie and I got to sit in the shade while we watched the wedding party parade by, but I took lots of pictures because everyone looked so cute and happy.

That night, Mom and Dad hosted a lovely rehearsal dinner, complete with Maryland crab cakes, for the wedding party and our families.  They had picked a cool restaurant right on the water, not far upstream from the ceremony venue we'd be heading back to the next day.  I enjoyed a delectable salmon and Eric devoured a fat juicy steak.  We packed some leftovers for the soon-to-be newlyweds to take along on their honeymoon, but we saved a few s'mores dessert bites to bring back to the suite for ourselves.  (What?  They wouldn't fit in the takeout containers.)

Mom and Dad also threw a luncheon at the hotel the next day for all of the guests who had traveled so far to attend the evening's ceremony.  It was mostly our paternal (south Georgian and a few Ohioan) and maternal (central and southwest Floridian) relatives, but we were grateful that a few good friends from Waycross were able to make the trip as well.  Jackson and his barbershop quartet, the Vigilantes, even stopped by for a bite and to treat us to a song.

It wasn't the last treat we'd get from the Vigilantes that day.  After the quaint and lovely ceremony at London Town and Gardens, the quartet serenaded Evelyn with a medley Jackson spent over two years arranging.  It sure was a scorching hot day, but there was beautiful music, remarkably delicious cake, and the most fun dancing I've had at a wedding in the shortest amount of time.  At the end of the evening, we saw the happy couple off to their honeymoon and showered them with rose petals as they went down the path to sail away on the South River toward their honeymoon destination in North Carolina.  Eric got to be in Jackson's wedding party, and I got to spectate and take in all of the little moments that added up to make a gloriously memorable day that I'll look back on fondly for many years to come!

I noticed that my last few posts with pictures included have taken up quite a bit of page space, making my readers deal with lots of unnecessary scrolling, so I decided to condense the photos from the wedding weekend into one big cheesy heart-infested slideshow.

Our First Anniversary

Last Sunday was our first wedding anniversary! It has definitely been an exciting and eventful year, and it has flown by. We were able to celebrate at our own Treehouse Villa for the night, munching on the top layer of our wedding cake, spending a little bit of time with some of our favorite people, and listening to the tunes from our wedding reception. It was nice to remember that beautiful day and know that we have so many more to look forward to.

Look who made the papers...again!

This article detailing our wedding, impeccably written by my mom, was published in my hometown paper, the Waycross Journal-Herald, this week. Three cheers!

Click the image below for a larger view.

Lately

Well, our lives have been pretty busy lately! We've been singing in the Candlelight Processional at Epcot fairly often, which is a tradition that we really enjoy. As a part of the Concert Choir, I participated in a similarly-structured concert each year, and very early on I began to regard it as the herald of the holiday season for me. Thankfully, the Candlelight Processional Service of Traditional Songs and Scriptures (I think that's what it's called...something like that) has stepped into that role!

Also, Eric's birthday was last week. I got pretty excited and was going to bake a cake, but we didn't have any eggs. So I made a cookie cake! (This photo was taken after we had already gotten hungry and torn into it.) He also finally got the GPS he's been longing for!

In other news, President and First Lady Bush have caught up with the times and sent us a note congratulating us on our wedding. Way to get with the program, Bushes! :)


Let's see, what else is new? We're leaving for Waycross today to celebrate Christmas with the Pine-ders so Eric and I had our Christmas last night. Who has an awesome husband and got--not one but--two Coach purses? That would be yours truly! Tomorrow night we'll be caroling around the neighborhood (all six of us in harmony!) and performing at the Christmas eve service at FBC Wayx. If you're in town, swing by and have a listen!

Right now, I'm watching VH1 (instead of wrapping presents and packing), and I started to notice a pattern--I apparently love the '80s more than I thought I did because these are seriously all of my favorite karaoke songs! Namely #1 and #11, but where's "Open Arms" on this list?!

1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986)
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (1987)
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean" (1982)
7. Guns N' Roses / Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin" (1984)
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)
11. Journey / "Don't Stop Believing" (1981)
13. U2 / "With Or Without You" (1987)
14. The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986)
15. Van Halen / "Jump" (1984)
17. Whitesnake / "Here I Go Again" (1982)
20. Rick Springfield / "Jessie's Girl" (1981)
23. Cyndi Lauper / "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (1984)
24. A-Ha / "Take On Me" (1985)
28. Wham! / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (1984)
30. Pat Benatar / "Love is a Battlefield" (1983)
33. Soft Cell / "Tainted Love" (1981)
34. Poison / "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" (1988)
38. U2 / "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984)
39. Modern English / "I Melt With You" (1982)
40. The B-52's / "Love Shack" (1989)
46. The Police / "Every Breath You Take" (1983)
50. Eurythmics / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1983)
52. Dead or Alive / "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (1985)
56. Bonnie Tyler / "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983)
57. Toni Basil / "Mickey" (just kidding, I would never sing this song)
59. John Mellencamp / "Jack & Diane" (1982)
62. Berlin / "Take My Breath Away" (1986)
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts / "I Love Rock N' Roll" (1981)
78. Blondie / "Call Me" (1980)
83. Prince / "Kiss" (1986)
89. The Pretenders / "Brass in Pocket" (1980)
91. Katrina and The Waves / "Walking On Sunshine" (1983)

We're famous!

I submitted two glaring errors to a blog I follow, Apostrophe Catastrophe, and they were featured today. Check it out here!

Also, I submitted our wedding announcement to Stetson's quarterly alumni publication, The Cupola. Due in part to our awesomeness and in part to our three-generation Stetson legacy, a photo from the ceremony was featured in the magazine. Thanks for the scans, Mom!



I also sent a humorous photo to SuspiciousVans.com, but I haven't seen it added onto the site yet. Let me know if you spot the photo below online anywhere.

Wedding Recap

Following our previous post about the pre-wedding activities (proposal, events, rehearsal, etc.), here is a short recap of the wedding day. Our mothers, the bridesmaids, and I all got ready for the big day in the parlor at the church, recently renovated to accomodate brides and their wedding parties. The gentlemen prepared at their hotel and at my parents' house and rendezvous-ed in the conference room to pal around and perfect their looks. Here are some photos of everyone getting ready!

Preceding the ceremony, my cousins Georgia, Jennifer, Rachel, and Sarah greeted guests at the sanctuary doors and distributed the ceremony programs. Guests were then escorted to their seats by Eric's groomsmen to the music of Carole Parker at the piano and Abby Mills on violin.

When the guests were seated, Jackson escorted in my father's parents, Jeff escorted Eric's parents, and Jackson escorted in my mom while Carole and Abby played Air on the G String. Then Eric entered with Steve and, officiating, our uncle Eric. Following their entrance, each of the remaining attendants processed.

As Carole and Abby played Girl with the Flaxen Hair, my dad and I walked down the aisle at the ceremony began! We said our vows, exchanged our rings, and Eric (the officiant, not the groom) read from the scripture two passages that Eric (the groom) and I chose for the occasion.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

As our mothers and we lit the candles in our unity wreath, our wedding song played. Eric and I recorded our version of "Come What May" for the service. Then we were pronounced man and wife and Eric kissed the bride. Here are the photos from the ceremony.

Then the real party started! While we, our familes, and the wedding party took photos in the sanctuary (you can see them here), the guests started the reception downstairs. Little by little, the photos were of smaller and smaller groups as family and friends from the sanctuary joined the reveling at the reception. Finally, when Eric and I were through with our individual portraits, we made our grand entrance at the reception! We surprised our guests with a unique rendition of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" that transitions from a sweet slow dance to an upbeat swing. My dad and I danced to "Unforgettable", and Eric and his mom danced to "You Raise Me Up." We invited all of our parents to dance during "Beautiful in My Eyes", and we danced away the rest of the evening with all of our wedding guests. It was a beautiful day that all of us will remember. Click here to see photos from the reception.

The next morning, we left for the beach house at Ponce Inlet and enjoyed a week-long tropical honeymoon. The peaceful natural environment made for a memorable and enjoyable vacation. Here are some honeymoon photos!

Now we're back in Orlando each doing what we do best. More on that later. Hope you relived our special day vicariously through this detailed and roving recap post!

Pre-Wedding Activities Recap

Eric's and my May 24th wedding was beautiful, a dream come true to say the very least. Surrounded by friends and family, it was a magical celebration of the beginning of our new lives.

Here is a recap of the events leading up to it, soon to be followed by a recap of that amazing day.

On November 20, 2007, Eric proposed at the place where we had met at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

We planned a six-month engagement and a wedding in my hometown of Waycross, Georgia.

We chose our attendants to be:

Maid of Honor - Annie Pinder, my sister
Bridesmaid - Laura Kazmarek, Eric's sister
Bridesmaid - Gretchen Kemp, our friend
Best Man - Steve Brown, Eric's brother
Groomsman - Jeff Brown, Eric's brother
Groomsman - Jackson Pinder, my brother

A group of my parents' friends put together a ladies' shower at First Baptist Church where our wedding reception would be held. Their Sunday School class hosted a couples' shower. Then my bridesmaids and aunts organized a shower of local friends and family held here in Orlando. Photos from those events can be seen here.

We had engagement photos taken at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Those photos can be seen here.

The week of the wedding, Eric graduated from Emerging Leaders, a pilot program at Disney for top management candidates. He was permanently placed as a Guest Service Manager at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort.

Friends and family began to gather in Waycross to prepare for the festivities. Friday, the day before the wedding, was filled with activities for the wedding party. The gentlemen gathered for final tux fittings and a barbecue lunch. The ladies got together for a dainty lunch and a mani/pedi session.

The wedding rehearsal with all of the wedding party and ceremony participants went very smoothly. The rehearsal dinner, hosted by Eric's parents, was an intimate affair enjoyed by all. Held at the historic Ivy House in downtown Waycross, the dinner provided new acquaintances and old friends and relatives to celebrate the joining of two families.

At the hotel chosen to host out-of-town friends and family, those involved in the wedding connected at our dessert reception with the wedding guests staying there. I wish I could remember who thought of this idea because it was a wonderful opportunity for our friends and family to get acquainted and for everyone to relax and enjoy some sweets before the stressful fun of the wedding day began the next morning.

Stay tuned for a wedding recap, coming soon! In the meantime, check out a sampling of wedding photos here.