November 1, 2002

Bob's parents arrived around 10:00am to check into the hotel and pick up the tuxes for his dad and brother David.  Soon after around 1:00pm my mom, sister, her fiance and my nephew AJ arrived.  With guests showing up and the rehearsal starting at 3:00pm, our day was quite full, but it was making it seem more and more real.  We were actually in the final steps of our wedding :)  The rehearsal went well and we were done in an hours time.  Pastor Steve led us through our vows a couple times and we were on our way to the rehearsal dinner.  The Duck Cedar Inn put out a nice spread while we passed out the gifts to our wedding party.  From there we all went back to the hotel where most of the guests were staying.  The best man decided to hold a get-together for everyone attending the wedding as a kind of get-acquainted-before-the-wedding party.  We had fun and I got to catch up with some old friends and relatives that I hadn't seen in a while.  It was very nice and the anticipation of the wedding was certainly growing!  My mom and I headed back to my house around 10:30pm so I could get some much needed sleep before the big day!

November 2, 2002

We awoke around 6:30am to sunny skies and a cold breeze and I was ready for the day ahead.  My mom and I headed to the hair salon around 11:00am and Bob dropped off my matron of honor (and best friend) along with her daughter (also my flowergirl) there as well so we could all go back to my house and wait for the arrival of the limo.  To my surprise the 10 passenger limo made it up my narrow, one-car-can-pass-at-a-time, road.  With everyone but me dressed and ready to go, we all piled into the limo and headed for the church.  By then the sun was completely covered by clouds and snow began to fall!  While I was hoping for a sunny day, the soft snowflakes were very pretty against the beautiful fall colored leaves.  We arrived around 12:00pm and I headed for my dressing room to get ready for the walk down the aisle.  The photographer joined us and got some 'before' photos with my mom, matron of honor, flowergirl, ring bearer and usher then I waited rather patiently for my que.  I have to say I wasn't nervous like most are at this point.  I was more excited than anything.  If I had anything to be nervous about, it was my mouth being too dry to speak and not repeating my vows word for word as they were given to me by the pastor.  Otherwise I was the happiest I had ever been in my life.  I knew that the man I would spend the rest of my life with was waiting for me upstairs at the alter.  The rest of my life... I'd actually found the man I would spend the rest of my life with.  I couldn't believe I'd finally made it to the time in my life for that to happen, but here I was, wedding gown and all.

It was time to go and my mom and I, hand-in-hand, walked slowly down the aisle toward my husband-to-be.  From the corner of my eye I could see people wiping tears from their faces, so I forced myself to look straight ahead so I wouldn't have to stop halfway down the aisle and ask someone for a tissue!  My mom didn't make it a quarter of the way there before the tears started to well up.  Once I locked eyes with Bob, though, it was like we were the only two people in the room.  He looked so amazing in his tux.  The ceremony went beautifully from the unity candle to the vows to the first kiss as husband and wife.  As we left for the reception, the snow was still falling.  It was light, but the cold breeze turned into a bitter wind.  My dress had no sleeves, but I didn't feel cold.  With all the emotions going through me, the cold was the last thing on my mind. 

We arrived at Kuhl's Highland House at 3:15pm and the photographer took some pictures before we exited the limo and as we walked toward the building.  The cold air started to penetrate and I was ready for the warm indoor temperatures, so we took a break and headed for the bridal room before the DJ announced us.  Since we had a 45 minute wait, the photographer took us back outside to the beautiful courtyard of flowers, waterfall, bridge, gazebo and amazing fall colored leaves.  Mr. Kuhl also drove his antique car in for some special photos.  I will never forget how cold I was, but I knew it would be worth it.  Kuhl's does a wonderful job keeping up their grounds for brides and grooms to remember their special day.  The time came for us to join our guests and to the tune of "It Had To Be You" we, Robert and Jennifer Karon, entered the beautifully decorated room.  I instantly noticed the illusion canopy created for us in our wedding colors of plum and silver and there is where we had our first dance ever to our song "Anyone at All" by Carol King.  The atmosphere was perfect! 

We found our way to the nicely decorated table and from there we were able to take in the whole thing.  We were married and here we are celebrating with fifty of our closest friends and relatives.  It was a small, but intimate celebration, one we would remember forever! 

The centerpieces were stunning!  Starting with a square mirror at the base, two glass wine glass shaped taper candle holders held white candles wrapped in a single strand of pearls.  A votive candle stood in between and the entire thing was wrapped in a strand of silk flowers with strategically place small plum colored balloons throughout.  They were well beyond my expectations.  The Balloon Pantry did an amazing job for us!   The staff at Kuhl's were extremely nice and accommodating to our needs.  From the hors d'oeuvres to the entree to the incredible viennese table, we were more than impressed with the display.  The evening went on without a hitch and everyone enjoyed themselves. 

At 8:00pm I still wasn't ready to let the day end, but the reception had come to a close.  Bob and I went home as husband and wife and with a 7:30am flight to the Bahamas the next morning, sleep was going to be a necessity.  My wedding day turned out to be all I expected it to be.  It was full of love and memories that will last a life time. 

Love is patient;
love is kind;
love is not envious or boastful,
arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing,
but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never ends.

~1 Corinthians 13:4-8

We look forward to what the future might hold for us, but for now we will enjoy today as husband and wife.