It's Like Rain on Your Wedding Day

Soooo, for those who live in Sacramento area, specifically the Sierra foothills, you know that Saturday, September 21st 2013 we had torrential downpours, thunder and lightening. Friday was beautiful, warm, with clear blue skies... as was Sunday. But Saturday... holy cow... I wish I would have taken more pictures of the storm the storm that rolled through! The forecast of was way off and we definitely had to improvise.

the rehearsal dinner, all pretty and clear!

 

 

The night before (the rehearsal dinner) we were all convinced it wasn't going to rain, the forecast still said something like, "20% of light showers". Come Saturday morning, the skies were gray, and by noon, it was pouring. We decided that our ceremony, which was supposed to take place outside, would now be taking place inside the deep wine cave at our venue, Saluti Cellars. The owners, Tina and Randy, worked non stop all day. Randy patched up leaks in outdoor trellis area (where we would be having dinner)... he moved wine barrels in the cave where the DJ would now be setting up... and we changed almost every detail of our reception, down to the number of guest tables in order to keep everyone dry. James' parents should up early, as well as a few family friends, and worked their asses of trying to set everything up (and with very little instruction). They were just amazing.

You don't know how many times somebody mentioned Alanis Morissette's song, "Ironic" to me that day, but what was really ironic was that after a crazy, muddy, soaking wet day leading up the ceremony, while we were in the cave saying our vows, the skies opened up to a beautiful rainbow and the rest of the night saw no more rain drops!

In the aftermath of it all, even though I had never been more stressed or anxious in my life, I am actually glad it rained that day. I am grateful our amazing guests still trekked through mud, with umbrellas or coats swung over their heads. I am grateful we still had an amazing dinner with beautiful skies in the background. And I am so grateful that we had our ceremony in the awesome wine cave because that was probably the most intimate, sexy ceremony I have ever been a witness too (and not just because it was my ceremony!).

dinner

dancing in the cave!

Outside, we had a giant bonfire where all the dudes shared in a few fatty cigars, and huge heaters provided a bit of warmth for the guest tables. Inside the wine cave was a crazy dance floor where the DJ's disco lights bounced off the walls and made a super fun atmosphere! During the bouquet tossing (despite many warnings to throw my bouquet low) I slammed it against the cave ceiling, sending petals flying... and my little sister, my maid of honor, caught it... leaving destruction in her path!

Yesterday we went back to Saluti to take some more (sunnier) photos (our photographer is awesome) and walking into the wine cave kind of sent me back. For the rest of my life, every time we visit that winery, just the smell of that cave will remind me of our special day.

Although a ton of our decorations didn't get used, luckily our best friends are getting married next year and can hopefully use some of them. Almost everything I had planned like a crazy lady for the past year kind of went out the window that morning when I woke up and looked outside, it really made me focus on the reason why I was there... to marry my best friend. I will never forget our vows in the wine cave and dancing to our first dance, crying my face off in my super wet and muddy wedding gown.

I am so grateful for everyone who made it out to Somerset in the crap weather to celebrate with us, for everyone who helped make the crazy day absolutely perfect! They say it's lucky if it rains on your wedding day and for the amount of rain that fell that day, James and I should be married for centuries!

Now... to focus on the honeymoon in Cancun! Their is rain in the forecast... no, I'm not kidding... but rain doesn't scare me anymore... I can't wait to sip Mai Thai's in the rain!

(stay tuned for a lot more posts after we get home... all the stuff I couldn't show before the wedding day!)