Thanks Ladies! The day was - eventful - to say the least! LOL! Here's a recap:
Ok. Here we go. The 1st hit to the festivities was when I found out my MOH would not be there physically. She turned blue and passed out and had to be rushed to the hospital. They found a tumor near her vocal chords that was blcoking her airway. It is malignant and has to be removed. They're trying to find a way to remove it without causing permanent damage to her vocal chords thus resulting in her losing her ability to speak! Please pray for her!
Then there was DRAMA!
Marlo's ring was too small. Come to find out the ring was a size 11 instead of 12. After he went back and forth on the phone with the jeweler they agreed to send us a loner ring that would be there Friday morning. They would make him a new ring in the meantime and when it was ready we just needed to send back the original ring and the loner with prepaid shipping and he'd have his ring the following day. That was Thursday.
Then there was more DRAMA!
Friday, the wedding day, at 1:15 AM (yep the drama started early) Marlo came in. He asked what time we were leaving the house in the morning. I told him about 6 because I had to get the photographer from the airport. That led to a huge argument about why I was flying in a photographer, why I'm chauffeuring around some man all day, etc, etc, etc! It ended with him calling off the wedding. Later that morning I woke up and started combing Trinity's hair and getting ready. He went outside and started cutting the grass. I asked him what we were doing, or not doing, that day. He started with the he wasn't playing stuff and he's not going into anything unhappy, etc, etc. I continued to get the kids ready and feed them. I had the photographer's flight information incorrect so I was calling him to see where he was because the flight I thought he was on had landed an hour earlier. At this point I'm thinking "All this drama over a photographer that's not even here!" I asked Marlo if he wanted to call the pastor to either talk to him about the situation or if nothing else let him know we aren't getting married. Of course he says no. The photographer calls and lets me know they just touched down. He tells me he's going to hang around the airport some, get something to eat, etc so take my time and just call when I was there. Marlo finally finishes with the grass and we talk. The wedding is back on.
I finish Trinity's hair, he cuts Tarik's hair and I'm out the door. I go to the airport and pick up the photographer, then stop by the church to check on my coordinator. The church and hall both look the same way they did when I left the night before. My coordinator said she needed more black ribbon so now Michael's was added to the errand list. I was a little concerned but at that point I was in "Keep It Moving" mode! My mom and I somehow got our wires crossed and no one had purchased plates, forks, etc for the food. That added Party City to my lists of errands to run on my wedding day! After I left the church I went and got my hair done. Timing on this was perfect! My beautician was finishing up a flat iron and I got right in the chair. She also did my hair for FREE.99 and gave us a wedding gift! Now I had to stop back at the house to get my bracelet and cake topper.
And yet again more DRAMA!
Marlo calls me and started another argument. After a few minutes of back and forth it ended with "Fu(k this Crystal! I'm done!" and the dial tone. I continued to take care of the runs I needed to make and tried to tell myself this was not happening. I had on a shirt that read "Bride. It's all about me!" Every store I went into people could not believe I was in there on my wedding day. They were asking about coordinators, bridal party members, parents etc. I told them I just had to do what I had to do. No time to stress over why this person or that person weren't doing it for me. So after Michael's and Party City it was to Payless because my niece's parents didn't "find" her any shoes. Then it was to the bank to get the final payments together.
By now it's 4 pm, and I had plans to be at the church at 4:30 so we could take pictures before the ceremony. Yeah, that wasn't happening. Plus I still didn't know if there would even be a wedding! I arrived at my Yvette's house (MaOH) and begin getting the kids dressed. By the way, all those extra errands killed any time I had to get my nails and toes done! Esha (BM) arrives at about 4:45 to get dressed as well. The other 2 BMs were at the church bitching about how I wasn't there. Mind you one of them didn't even have her dress because she never picked it up from the tailor. He wasn't arriving until 5:45! They helped set up the reception area while they waited. I take a minute and go to the washroom and pray. I prayed the serenity prayer and came out renewed. At 5 pm my phone rings and it's Marlo. He starts fussing about why I'm not at the church and how I made a big deal about the time but I wasn't there. I was so happy to hear he was there that I didn't even care that he was fussing! I got off that phone and turned bridezilla in 0 point 2 seconds! Let's go! Let's go! Help me get into this dress! If you forgot something oh well! I get dressed and we pack up and head to the church at 5:45. We're 20 minutes away from the church so the 6:30 start time is still a go!
I get to the church and Marlo is standing outside. I lose it! Super giddy!
He was looking so good I was just like WOW! My photographer kept saying "yall are cheating" and putting an envelope in front of my face to block my view. I was like "Man you better move that thing so I can see my man before you get cut!" They took Marlo around the side of the church and made a people wall so I could go inside. I was sitting in the temporary dining room getting my makeup done and waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Yep, you guessed it! More DRAMA!
Marlo's brother, the best man, came in from Wisconsin. He couldn't get a car so he took the Greyhound in. Problem was he came straight to the church so his tux was still at the Men's Wearhouse! His uncle, a groomsman, had left to go pick it up so we had to do more waiting. In the meantime I was asking where my dad was. No one knew. My brother came down and said he was on his way. It was 7 pm. My dad is NEVER late to anything. I knew he wasn't coming! Then one of his (crazy) exes came down and confirmed it. She wouldn't go into details but told me he wouldn't be there. I was so hurt but what could I do? KIM - Keep It Moving! I told my brother to send my favorite uncle down. I told him about my dad and asked him to escort me down the aisle. How ironic was it that he had on light gold?! Matched me nicely So NOW we can get married right? WRONG!
More DRAMA!
My coordinator comes down and asks if I heard about my cake. What happened to my cake? Well when my brother went to pick it up it wasn't ready. They had to put it together and decorate it while he waited. Now you know stacked cakes have to be chilled to set the cream. The damn cake slid and smashed against the back of the box! It was getting harder and harder to KIM! But I did.
Finally the wedding is about to get started, 1 hour and 15 minutes late! Oh well! What'cha gonna do? Everything is sounding so beautiful. I can hear my soloist belting The Lord's Prayer and I just wanted to shout! My uncle is talking to me about general marriage advice. Yvette is so nervous you would have thought she was getting married again! She comes down and says let's pray! We do and head back up the stairs. I watch the BMs go in and then Yvette and the FGs. Then the doors close. As I stand there holding on to my uncle for dear life the wrong music plays. My coordinator high tails it up the stairs and tells the co-pastor running the music to go to track #2. He had hit repeat by mistake. The One He Kept For Me is now playing. The doors open and I stand there, grinning, taking it all in. Then we begin our slow walk to my man! The entire walk my uncle is talking to me making me laugh. "Are you sure? We still have time to turn around. Why are you shaking? Ok, now you stopped shaking but you're not breathing. You have to breathe. You need breath! Look at your groom. See how he's looking at you? You're going to be ok. He's going to take good care of you. Look at him! Wow look at the look in his eyes!" I'm responding to each comment through smiling teeth! I will never forget that moment or the vision of my HUSBAND!
The ceremony begins and when the pastor asks if anyone has just cause blah, blah I look over each shoulder like "Razor blades and lemon juice!" Everyone cracks up! Marlo came and got me and never let go for the rest of the ceremony. My pastor, bless his heart, did the "I do" part of the ceremony. Then he started reading the vows we were supposed to repeat and had us say "I do" again! Then he was about to pronounce us but we hadn't did the sand ceremony yet. My coordinator mentioned it and he said "Sand ceremony? What's that? Rev. Davis (coordinator) where you at?" I swear this man could not have been in rehearsal! We pointed to the table and he said "Oh! That's right! Well gone up there and do the thing then!" We poured the sands as my sister read a poem. We came back and pastor told Marlo "Now, for the 1st time, you may kiss your WIFE!" We kissed and Marlo picked me up off my feet and held me so tightly for what seemed like forever! At that moment I swear it seemed like it was just he and I! The crowd cheered! Then he announced Brother and Sister Marlon Jones and we jumped the broom. Then Marlo turned and hugged me again. The crowd just went nuts when they saw that! We headed down the aisle to tossed rose petals as "I Wanna Thank You Heavenly Father" blasted from the speakers!
After all that happened it was still PERFECT! I am now Mrs. Jones and I am still floating. More to come about the reception but my fingers hurt! LOL!
Here's the only pic I have right now - in the car on the way to the church:
Posts: 1885
From: Maryland, Florida after we're married!!
Re: Congrats MRS. KeepUp
Posted on: 08/11/2008 12:43 PM
Oh wow, I just couldn't stop crying. It's a good thing I'm in bed nursing allergies. After all the dramas, it still came off perfectly. I'm so very happy for you Mrs Jones FINALLY!!! Congrats to you, your husband and your children!!! Waiting on the pics diva!!!
Mrs Jones, girl you are alright with me!!!! You didn't let that drama phase you one bit and you Kept it Moving! Girl I felt like I was there, you details were so descriptive! Thanks for sharing and congratulations to you and Marlon! May God bless your union.
Delight yourself in The Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart!Ps 37
Oh my goodness! It takes a strong woman to "keep it together" in the manner that you did. Congratulations! May God continue to bless you and your new hubby.
First let me say that I'm sorry to hear about your MOH. I will most definetly keep her in my prayers.
OMG, what a day, what a day. Talk about being on an emotional roller coaster. Girl you had me at the edge of my seat as I was reading this. I was like "What you mean the wedding is off, this a joke right?, Oh this man done lost his mind". I was lacing up the Timbs about to jump in the car for a drive..LOL. Girl I am soooo happy for the both of you. And yes, the day turned out absolutely PERFECT!! You'll laugh and smile about this YEARS to come. Congrats girl.
BTW, the one pic didn't come through.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
wow Keepup! you went thru it all on your but in the end, i know it was and still is more than worth it. I am happy that you were able to continue the day despite the drama. I pray that everything goes well with your MOH.
CONGRATULATIONS MRS. JONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry I am so late giving you my well wishes, but I have been out of town for the last couple of days...
Girl, you are a true DIVA!!!!!!!!! all the drama and you still held it together...my hats off to you!! but the main thing is you and your husband are now 1 and that was the final ruling...ain't GOD good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
WOW!!What a day!!But I am so glad everything came together!
Congrats to u and your new hubby!!!!And tell him stop all that fussing!!LOL
Well what is next for the DIY Queen !!Please tell us you are thinking of starting you own business !!!
Also my prayers go out to your MOH and her family.
Thank you ladies so much! Pamcrow, I just know you made the comments from the corner! So glad amd at work by myself right now because I was literally LMAO! Girl he was so excited when he saw those draws! Would've been a shame! LOL!
After taking pictures in the church we headed next door to the hall for the reception. Now remember when I was there earlier the tables were against the wall and nothing was really done. When we were announced I was blown away! We used black tablecloths, black chair covers, and red rose centerpieces with gold candles. The sweetheart table had a vase with gold trim with marbles and floating candles surrounded by red votives and red rose petals. My mom prepared baked and fried chicken and an array of salads (tossed salad, chicken salad, seafood salad, fruit salad) plus fruit trays, meat and cheese trays, and an crackers, rolls, etc. For drinks we had water, iced tea, pop (or soda for YOU others folks that call it that) and juices.
It was a whirlwind. Everyone was commenting on how beautiful I was :D! How they enjoyed the ceremony. Did I have any more programs?! All my DIY projects were really noticed. I'll update my blog with pictures of all of that so it'll be complete. We sat down to eat but I got up to get some tea and our daughter took over my plate. Marlon was on a high so he didn't want to eat yet. I never made it back to the table. I went around greeting our guests, collecting gifts (yay) and just taking it all in. Then I noticed my cake - ummm, it was missing a whole tier! The bottom and largest tier! And where was that darn rhinestone cake topper that I painsakingly worked on for 2 days? Oh well, KIM! My DOC had decorated to cake with roses which I attributed to her attempt to hide the smashed sides. We cut the cake and although smashed it was so good. Later in the evening I noticed my MaOH brought out the bottom tier because there was a line for cake and the other 2 tiers were gone! Then we went into our 1st dance to Stars by Kindred the Family Soul. Engaged ladies, you may want to practice your 1st dance if you and your FH don't slow dance much. Marlon was stuck on this two-step and I was just cracking up! I told the crowd "I just can't get him off this 2-step yall!" He yelled back "That's how us players do it!" LMAO! Then our daughter came up and we joined her into the dance. Then came our son. We formed a circle and danced with them. Then I kicked them off the floor to finish the dance with us two alone! It was just a beautiful moment. We didn't do the toasts, garter or bouquet toss but once again oh well, KIM! After more mingling we said our goodbyes and rode off into the night. With the way the day started you would never believe we ended up married, but what God has for you is for you!
Posts: 1885
From: Maryland, Florida after we're married!!
Re: Congrats MRS. KeepUp
Posted on: 08/12/2008 08:58 AM
Diva, all I can say is "WOW!!!" You have a beautiful family. May God continue to keep and preserve you always. Wonderful pictures. Everything looked absolutely perfect. I couldn't have done a better job myself.
Wow, look at you two. You look so good together. Now that I see how much man you got there girl you know had I taken that ride and finally saw him I would have had to change up and be like "Marlo why Crystal be tripping like that sometimes?" LOL
Seriously though, you looked absolutely gorgeous. I loved the veil, did you do the rhinestones yourself? I remember us talking about it before. And I'm glad you decided to get the bracelet after all, it really looked fabulous with the dress.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Congrats, everything looks beautiful. Glad to hear you just KIM and did not let anything get to you on your special day. Can't wait to see more pictures.
Loved your pics girly!! but most I all I love your "attitude" (KIM)you said a mouthful--what GOD had for you was for you and you now have your husband and beautiful children 4ever!!!!!!!!!! :)
Congrats MRS. JONES!!!!
Girl you did an exceptional job in your planning. The runner looks STUNNING... Looks like everything turned out better than planned. We can't tell, by the pictures, that there was even any drama.
You two look great together.
Girl, you had me going...I was on the edge of my seat when you said Mr. Jones had called the wedding off and was outside cutting the grass. Whatttttt?! Play with it!
I'm happy you maintained your cool and did not let the situation escalate like some of us would have! LOL
Ok Pamcrow - I was NOT at work by myself this time! LMAO! My coworkers are looking at me too crazy! I'm sending some Kool-Aid to you in the corner! Red.
I did add the rhinestones to the veil myself. I was hoping they would show up in his pictures because in the ones I took you had to close one eye and squint the other to see them! LOL! That bracelet was a great find for me. I looks good in person and even better in pictures - not bad for less than 20 bucks!
Ya know Rhony, I've discovered life in the corner ain't half bad afterall. I get a few visitors from time to time and even a few care packages along the way. Just today I got Red Kool-Aid which of course is my favorite "flavor" of them all. LOL
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
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