Off to a Great Start

After leaving the reception at Flint Hill we headed to the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead. Our room was amazing. A living room, bedroom, and two full bathrooms! Flint Hill sent a bunch of cake and food with us, so we had to ask for a mini fridge to be brought up to keep everything in!

We really weren't in the mood to eat the same thing for dinner, so we ended up going across the street to Lenox Mall and eating at one of our favorite places, the California Pizza Kitchen. During our first year together we ate there a lot since I lived so close to the one in Atlantic Station. We went to bed pretty early since we had to get up and get to the airport early.


Mom and Dad picked us up about 6:45 AM to head to the airport. We had some breakfast in the food court and hung out there until it was about time to get on the plane. Our flight left for St. Lucia at 9:45 AM. We landed in St. Lucia right at 2 PM. Our flight was completely full! When we got off the plane it took a while to get through customs because there were so many of us. When we finally got through, we went into the Sandals waiting area. It didn't take long for a shuttle to come up that was going to our resort, the Halcyon. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to get from the airport to the resort. We got to see a lot of beautiful scenery going around the island. We stopped at one overlook to take pictures.

As you can see, St. Lucia is a beautiful place! We finally arrived at the resort between 4 and 4:30 PM to check in. Orientation to the resort was at 5, so we checked out our room and headed to get a tour of the resort and hear about the restaurants and activities. By this point, we were starving because we hadn't eaten since breakfast. We got cleaned up in our room and headed to the Pier for dinner. It is a restaurant on the water. The food was really good, and we ate a ton! It was a long day of traveling, so we headed to bed early.


Here are some pictures of our room...
This is what it looked like when we walked up. We had our own private patio.

Inside the room. They turned our bed down every night.

Everything was off to a great start! :)

The Big Day

May 21, 2011 The day we became Mr. and Mrs. Ellis!

I woke up really, really early. I think I was awake at 6 even though my alarm didn't go off until 6:30! Stephanie came to the house at 7 to do our hair.

Dad and Charles got all of us Chick-fil-a chicken biscuits for breakfast. Around 8 my friend Candace came over to do my make up. 

I think this is about the time Jason was getting up. His mom made him biscuits for breakfast. We texted a little bit throughout the morning but didn't talk to each other. I absolutely loved my hair and make up for the wedding! It was beautiful. I didn't even want to take my hair down or my make up off when it was time for bed! Mom, Lilly, and Kristen all had there hair done too. We were looking fabulous for sure! Finished product:

By the time everyone's hair was done it was time to go! We were trying to get to Flint Hill by 10:30, but we were a few minutes late. 

As soon as we got there we went to the bridal suite and found our beautiful bouquets! The bridesmaid's bouquets each had a butterfly in the flowers in memory of Nana because she loved and collected butterflies. 

Then we got dressed so we could take pictures. The boys arrived about 30 minutes after we did. Girls got to go first to take pictures. Jason and I didn't see each other that day until I walked down the aisle so we had to make sure he wasn't looking before we could come out to take pictures.

After we finished up our pictures, we headed back upstairs to the bridal suite to chill out while the boys had their pictures made.

Around this time the guests started to arrive. There was a sign out by the garden with our names and the wedding date. Inside the house we had blank puzzles for the guests to sign with all different colored sharpies. It turned out awesome! I loved reading everyone's notes to us when we got home.

Then it was time for everyone to go line up. Except me. I had to hang out in the bridal suite for a few minutes while everyone walked down the aisle. Finally it was my turn. I headed down the stairs to meet Daddy for our grand entrance! The wedding coordinator swung the back door open and told us to just stand there for a minute to make it dramatic! :) Everyone told me that Jason got tears in his eyes when he saw me, but I was too far away to see!

At the end of the aisle, Daddy gave me away and placed my hand in Jason's!

Brother Bobby, my pastor growing up, and Jason's pastor during his internship at Shadowbrook married us. He knows us both so well; he was the only person for the job! He did an amazing job at our ceremony.

Praying

The music minister from Shadowbrook did all the music for the ceremony. It was absolutely beautiful. He sang "When You Say You Love Me" by Josh Groban before the vows and "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman during the lighting of the unity candle.

Jason's sisters did a reading for us during the ceremony. This was absolutely my favorite part besides being pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Ellis! After Papa and Nana passed away, my mom found some letters that Papa had written to Nana. A few from 1950 when Papa was working in Detroit and Nana was still in Tennessee and a couple from 1961 when Nana and my mom were visiting family and Papa was at home. Papa said some really sweet things in his letters to Nana. When I read them I knew we had to use them in our wedding ceremony. I am so sad that Nana and Papa couldn't be at our wedding, but this was a way to include them and honor the true love that they had for each other. I won't include the whole reading, but this is my favorite part:

"I sure do love you two more than I can tell you in words or deeds.
Home isn’t home without you two.  I can hardly wait until you call so I can
hear your voice even if you will be a long way off.  I guess it is me that
is the lucky one.  All this time I thought it was you but now I know
different.  I love you.'"

I can't read it without crying. I am so thankful that Jason's sisters were willing to help out with this aspect of our special day!!

Kiss the Bride

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Ray Ellis

Walking back down the aisle as husband and wife!!

After taking a bunch more pictures and getting a little something to eat we headed into the reception. The wedding cake and groom's cake were beautiful and delicious!! This was definitely the best cake I have ever tasted. The cakes were by Sweet Stuff Cakes.

We did our first dance, to "Then" by Brad Paisley.

Daddy and I danced to "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle. Jason and his mom danced to "The Man You've Become". After some more dancing and mingling with our guests we cut the cake!

We did the bouquet and garter toss. Charles caught the garter, so I guess he is next! After the party, we headed to the Limo while everyone blew bubbles at us!

Next stop.... the Ritz Carlton!! :)

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis

We are back from the honeymoon! I am so excited to share everything about the wedding and honeymoon. Our wedding was beautiful and the honeymoon was amazing! We love St. Lucia! Unfortunately, I had a test today. My first of 3 tests to become a licensed pharmacist, which kept me from updating sooner. 


In the couple of days before the wedding, Daddy wanted to practice our dance. Mom took some pictures, so here we are practicing the father daughter dance in the kitchen!

I decided that Jason and I should probably practice our first dance as well. So the next night we practiced in the kitchen. The first time through Daisy jumped on us the entire time! She didn't like that she wasn't getting any attention. So we danced again with Daisy in between!

Friday finally came and it was hectic to say the least! Mom and I went and got our nails done that morning at 9:30. We got manicures and pedicures so it took awhile. By the time we got done there and got home and cleaned up it was almost noon. I got a few things packed for the honeymoon, ate some lunch, and headed to Athens. Stephanie, my amazing hair dresser, let me come in on Friday afternoon so she could wash and dry my hair and put all the necessary products in it to keep it nice for Saturday. After leaving the salon, I went over to Chick-fil-a. Stephanie told me about the new sweet potato fries (apparently only in select locations right now) which I had to try! They were a good snack for the drive home. I hope all the Chick-fil-a's have them soon!!


When I got home, it was time to get ready for the rehearsal. Unfortunately no one thought to take any pictures so I don't have anything to show you from the rehearsal. It went well though. Very easy and we were done in 45 minutes!


The rehearsal dinner was at Jason's parents church, only about 15 minutes from Flint Hill. Everything was set up in the fellowship hall.

Our sweet friends, Curt and Leslie, took care of decorating and preparing the food. We had steak, chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. All from our favorite restaurant, Outback! Jason's mom and sister brought all of the desserts. This is Marlene's famous cheesecake!

After dinner, everyone decided to share stories about Jason and I. It was fun to hear stories about Jason from his friends and family, and to hear some old favorites from my family and friends. Here is Daddy sharing his stories.

More pictures from the night...

Mom and Dad

Jason's Mom and Dad

Family

Beautiful Bridesmaids

Aiden and Jaden

Bride and Groom!!

After the rehearsal dinner we all headed home. Jason stayed with his parents, and Lilly and Kristen came and spent the night with me. Once I got home there was still stuff to do. I barely had anything packed for the honeymoon! Lilly and Kristen helped me get everything packed up and ready to go. We finally finished and were ready for bed a little after 1 AM. I tried to get some sleep, but I really didn't get much. Way too excited to sleep!!

So much to do!

Right now I feel like my heart is about to beat out of my chest! I just scheduled my final 2 tests in order to become a licensed pharmacist. The first one I have known will be June 2nd, the week after we get back from our honeymoon. The other 2 tests I have been waiting to get the okay to schedule from the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. I didn't think I would already have the permission today, but apparently it comes through email not snail mail! I was able to schedule one of the tests for June 17th and the next for June 20th. I'm not sure how long it takes after the tests to be licensed, but hopefully this means I could be licensed by early July. 


I know we have spent the last 4 years preparing for this, but I still don't feel ready! The fact that my job depends on this test is making me very nervous. Now that I know the dates I think I will be more motivated to study though. I know it's happening now. 


On top of all of this craziness, the wedding is in FOUR days! And since today is almost over, it's really in THREE days! I absolutely cannot believe it. It has been a crazy week so far.


Sunday we had a shower given to us by our very sweet Sunday school class. We had brunch, and they gave us a book they had put together with their advice about marriage. I'm so thankful for their prayers and support!


I have also had a review at school this week, which is hopefully helping me prepare for this test. It was all day yesterday, all day today, and takes half the day tomorrow. Tonight, I also had dinner with some friends at the Last Resort Grill in Athens. It was so much fun. And the food was very yummy as always! :)


Tomorrow, after the half day of review, Charles and I are supposed to go on our sibling road trip. Jason went on the trip with his sisters, so we are going on one too, on a smaller scale. We are just day tripping, no time for over night stays at this point! I also have to practice walking in my wedding shoes and practice dancing with my dad tomorrow too!


Thursday is the only day this week that I don't have the whole day already planned. Jason and I are making dinner for our sweet friends the Grants. Sherry just had surgery to remove breast cancer and is still recovering. The rest of the day will probably be used to do last minute wedding things and maybe try to move a few more of my things. I really haven't had time to move much of my stuff down to the basement yet. But I guess that doesn't necessarily be done before the wedding. We will probably have more time when we get back from the honeymoon. Oh I guess I also need to pack for the honeymoon on Thursday too! There's just so much to do. In hindsight, I think doing all of this in such a short time frame was probably not the wisest decision, but we're going with it and it will be fine.


Friday, Mom and I are getting our nails done, I'm getting my hair done in Athens, and then we have the rehearsal dinner on Friday night. Kristen and Lilly, my wonderful bridesmaids, are going to spend the night since we will have to get up so early on Saturday to start getting ready. I can't believe it's time for the wedding already. The last 30 days have gone by so quickly!


Saturday, we will be married! YAY! :) Then Sunday morning we are headed to St. Lucia. I cannot wait. I feel in dire need of a vacation right now. It will be so nice to just relax and not have to do anything! :)

Can't wait to marry him! :)

4 days until MRS. ELLIS!!!!!