Karen and Jeff Z!

[karentinks]

The big recap is coming soon :D We just got back to our house after the honeymoon and we are in the process of unpacking (we already finished all our thank you notes!!)

But I leave you one pic - this one's for my East Coast girls :D

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/d882cb03.jpg

During cocktail hour we took the limo to Rita's :)

[SoonToBeWed]

I love the picture Karen. That's is great. Can't wait to see more.

[soontobemrsiwa]

ah thats awesome!!! :) welcome back.

[jay052582]

Very cute :)
Can't wait to see more!

[Bianca]

Ooooh, welcome back!! :) Pretty, pretty, pretty!!

[brisar112406]

Great to see you back! Awesome pic...I've actually never been to Rita's...weird...

[ChrisandAmanda]

LOL what a great idea.

[anschuier]

I missed you! Can't wait to hear your story from your perspective! :D

[linnyleer]

You look so beautiful. congrats!

[foxgirl925]

Welcome back - can't wait to hear all about it!

[clorigroh]

that's so awesome, I just went to Rita's last night

[karentinks]

The Day Before:

I started Friday by getting a call from my officiant. She said she wouldn't be performing my ceremony because she had to pick her son up at the airport at 4 on Saturday (the exact time of my wedding). Evidently her ex-husband changed the boy's flight without checking with her first or something. So she said that this other woman would be doing it - and we would be her first ceremony ever. I took it in stride, realizing there was nothing I could do, and went downstairs to play Super Mario 3 on old school Nintendo with one of my bridesmaids. Around lunch time, I went to the mall with my sister and two bridesmaids. We walked around for a while and had lunch at Ruby Tuesday. It was an awesome way to laugh and relax before the upcoming insanity started.

I don't remember much about the rehearsal. Everyone seemed really excited about the wedding, and there was some tearing up (not only on my part!) When we practiced the kiss, I went in for it and Jeff turned his head so I kissed his cheek, which got some laughs :) Our rehearsal was only a half hour, and then it was off to Stanley's for dinner.

I would 100% recommend Stanley's to anyone in the area looking for an RD location. The food was FANTASTIC and everyone was so friendly. It was really low-key, it is a sports bar after all, and we were able to mingle with everyone and have several tvs on several different games :) It was decorated half Bills and half Eagles. The centerpieces were little bride and groom bears with the appropriate football team logo on their stomach! There was lots of drinking and laughing, which is what I wanted. The ring bearer started break dancing which was definitely a highlight. He was SO adorable! I honestly don't remember many details about the rest of the night, so I'll just post pictures.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/dfe0afb3.jpg

Sexy in rollers!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/4a99fb1f.jpg

The adorable Ring Bearer

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/3b60aacc.jpg

The wobbly walk down the aisle in high heels

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/a907557f.jpg

Groom's cake! It was AMAZING!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/0cdc914b.jpg

Anyone who knows our fathers knows how rare this is - they both avoid pictures like crazy, but we got one with BOTH!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/9a508513.jpg

The Best Man

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/cccf45b5.jpg

Cutting the groom's cake (did I mention how amazing this cake was??)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/a849c645.jpg

Breakdancing ring bearer

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/wedding/4893dffb.jpg

Side boob. This started at the wedding of one of my BMs (her husband is sitting down in this pic). We were quoting Family Guy like crazy and took millions of side boob pics. The tradition HAD to continue.

I'll do the wedding recap probably tomorrow. I was only supposed to be taking a quick water break while Jeff continued to unpack :o

[Jacoby2Seelen]

YAY, I can't wait to hear about the rest!

I'm so glad that you are back! I missed you! :(

Welcome back MRS. Z!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D

[anschuier]

awwwww, yaya!!! that groom's cake looked amazing!

[clorigroh]

side boob hahaha, love the rh pics, can't wait for the rest of the story

[SoonToBeWed]

Karen Love the pictures. I love the details. Congratulations again.

[brisar112406]

Go Eagles!! Oh wait, this isn't a football thread...

Anyway, glad your RD went so well, and gratz on taking things in stride. There is a lesson to be learned in that!

[jay052582]

Love the pics! Can't wait to see the rest :)

[msgoody2]

Glad you made it back safely. Thanks for putting up one of the pics, you look great. The rehearsal dinner looked like a lot of fun, esp. with the side boob pics. HAHAHA.

[MrsWarren2B]

I love the pics! Congrats :D

[serawhim]

Great story so far! I love the side boobs (That's MY side boob!)...I'll have to tell hubby about that; we're big Family Guy fans, especially him. And I love the Rita's picture! You looked beautiful, and it's cute that the girl in line is checking you two out. Anyway, I can't wait to hear the rest! :D

[karentinks]

Great story so far! I love the side boobs (That's MY side boob!)...I'll have to tell hubby about that; we're big Family Guy fans, especially him. And I love the Rita's picture! You looked beautiful, and it's cute that the girl in line is checking you two out. Anyway, I can't wait to hear the rest! :D

Do you like that side boob? Well you shouldn't, because that's MY side boob!

It would be fantastic if the wedding side boob tradition started sweeping the nation :D

[Denisa]

Great story and pics so far!! Looking forward to hearing the rest! :)

[karentinks]

The Morning Of

We had a full house on Friday night with two bridesmaids sleeping over. It was nice to talk and relax for a while. We finally went to bed around 11, and woke up some time around 8 the next morning. My mom had set up a breakfast room in our dining room, so we had bagels and fruit to give us energy for the big day ahead. I remained almost entirely calm, it still wasn't real that I was getting married in a few hours. We drove to the nail place just before 9 for our manis/pedis. My mom had gotten gift certificates for everyone - of course I forgot mine!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr2.jpg

We got back to the house a little after 10 and our hair person was there already working on my sister. I was still totally calm, just chatting like it was normal to be surrounded by my friends in my living room while wearing a white terrycloth track suit getting my hair done.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr3.jpg

While getting my hair done, the makeup lady arrived and started working on the other girls. Lunch was eaten intermittently, we got a tray of sandwiches from Safeway (SO. GOOD.). Our house was getting chaotic, but still, I was calm and happy. Just as I had gotten into the makeup chair, the flowers arrived. I went into the kitchen to see them (I didn't know what they would look like) and then was handed a beautiful arrangement of flowers. The card read: "Karen, I can't wait to see you walking down the aisle! I love you! Love, your DH (soon!)" I teared up and handed the card off to others in the room and we all started crying. That was my "real" moment. I had to take a few minutes to stop crying before my make up could get started!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr0.jpg

While in the chair, the photographer arrived. He snapped a few getting ready pics and then I went upstairs to get dressed. Every time I put my dress on, I fall more and more in love with it :D I went into my mom's room and helped her get ready and we snapped a typical self-portrait.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr4.jpg

I walked downstairs and saw all my girls dressed and ready (and looking fan-freaking-tastic, if I may say so), the adorable ring bearer running around and I tried to take it all in. This was my wedding day, my once in a lifetime moment and I wanted to remember it ALL. The flurry of pictures started, and the videog showed up and jumped right in on the action. This is my handsome father:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr5.jpg

After a bit, it was time to slooowly walk down to the limo (I live on a huge hill. I don't have any pics that show it, but it's a formidable challenge to get down it in heels).

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr6.jpg

The limo ride was fun. It was awkward sitting there with my dress all stuffed in, but I felt like a celebrity and I loved it :)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr7.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr8.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr12.jpg

When we drove into the park, we saw the boys standing on rocks by the river looking VERY handsome. Now starts the short part of the story where I am temporarily a brat, so try to bear with me.

I wanted to have a "moment," where I walked up to Jeff's turned back and then he turned around and we hug and kiss and then do pics. Normal, right? Well first the limo driver tries to get me out, but I tell her about my intentions, so I stay in the limo. Then the DoC (I love this woman, seriously) comes up to the window and just reconfirms my plans about the "moment." I look out the window a few minutes later and see the boys walking away. So I assumed that they were preparing for said "moment." The photographer helps me out of the car, and as I'm standing up and my head turns toward the boys I realize they are standing about 10 feet away from me, and walking closer. I smiled briefly at Jeff before ducking back into the limo with tears in my eyes. I was trying to hold them in because really, It's Not That Big a Deal (tm), and my sister was telling me that it was ok, he only saw my head, etc. I calmed down a bit, and the photographer comes up to me and apologizes. Then he says they're ready and he again helps me out of the limo and then before I even stand up, there's Jeff, right next to me. Getting out of a limo in a wedding dress is probably the ugliest I look all day, seriously. Again, I tell myself INTBAD so I take his hand and we walk a few steps toward the center of the park. I hugged him tightly and started crying. He told me I looked incredible and we both cried. It seemed like only a few seconds to ourselves before the photographer started posing us for pictures. Sooo, as far as I know, there are no pictures of the moment, because there wasn't a staged moment like I wanted. I really wanted a picture of his face when he saw me for the first time, but I'm sure there will be tons of other pictures I like just as much. INTBAD, keep repeating that :D (it comes up a few more times in my story, sorry!)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr13.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr14.jpg

The pictures went relatively well. We did some fun fountain pictures, I got the pic of the guys holding me up, and we even did a few jumping pics. This was one of my favorite parts of the day, I was surrounded by my friends looking their sexiest and we were just hanging out and laughing. I highly HIGHLY recommend pictures ahead of time :D

The girls got back into the limo (after the back-up arrived. The first limo broke down in the parking lot :rolleyes:) and we cracked open the champagne. My married BM, my sister and I toasted quietly to honor and inner beauty, quietly because the junior BM and her brother were in the car (it's a dirty toast, if you are wondering).

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr9.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr10.jpg

(we put the @ssy in classy)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr11.jpg

We arrived back at the hotel pretty much right around ceremony start time. We piled out of the limos and walk in and I see ... AMANDA!! I hugged her, exclaiming "you're real!" but then got whisked away to the pre-ceremony room before getting to talk to her more.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/gr15.jpg

I will do the ceremony and reception probably tomorrow. My boss took TONS of pictures, and I think they're good ones that I'll want to post. Plus, this takes FOREVER.

karentinks hopes this post offering pleases the ladies of WA, at least for the moment :D

[SoonToBeWed]

I love the pictures. I love the details. It is great. Can't wait to see more.

[clorigroh]

love it, I am sufficed for now.

[anschuier]

awwwwww, it was so fun to hear your story!!!!!!! i am sad about your picture moment, but INTBAD! I heart you.

[brisar112406]

You looked awesome (but you already know that!)

Sorry about the pic moment, but I'm sure he was taken away either way!

Can't wait to hear the rest!!

[Denisa]

aww great pictures!!!

[skeewee1996]

MORE MORE MORE! You looked beautiful. I am so sorry for you moment not being the way you had hoped. Believe you me though, when he saw that hottie come down the aisle he teared up again! Congrats!!!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

I'm not waiting. . .I want to hear the rest NOW! :p hehe, j/k

YAYAY, that was fun to read! :D

[msgoody2]

I'm loving the story and the pics, keep em coming. And please keep reminding me that things really aren't as bad as they seem b/c something tells me I"m gonna have my own "brat" moments on my big day.

[karentinks]

I'm loving the story and the pics, keep em coming. And please keep reminding me that things really aren't as bad as they seem b/c something tells me I"m gonna have my own "brat" moments on my big day.

I can think of so many big occasions or events in my life where I let something stupid bother me and then was sulking for the good duration of it. Then when I look back on these events, I see myself being a baby and I get frustrated that I "ruined" it. It wouldn't be so bad if I just messed things up for myself, but me being cranky affects everyone around me. So I told myself that I wasn't going to let MY stupidity ruin my wedding day for me or anyone around me.

I returned from the honeymoon to tons of compliments from family and friends about how calm and collected I was. My mom even used the word "incredible" to describe me to others. It thrills me to no end that I don't have to worry about looking at pictures and knowing that at that moment, I was being a b*tch (There's a picture on my desk from a cruise where I'm smiling but I know for a fact that I was completely cranky and totally ruined that night for my whole family. I feel so guilty, even 3 years later!!)

Throughout the whole wedding planning process, I would always formulate vendor reviews in my head, especially the ones that ticked me off. I thought of tons of different ways I'd do things differently if I had the chance. But now it's over and I think:

1) are we married? YES, and that is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!
2) did we and our guests have fun? YES, and that (to me) was the 2nd most important thing

The best advice I can give (and it really echoes what all newlyweds say) is that at the end of the day you are married, and you really do have a choice of whether you'll let this be the best day of your life, or if you'll let little things bother you. When you get back from your honeymoon and things return to normal, you'll wonder why you let yourself get so crazy over a photographer (ahem, ME :o ) or flowers, or whatever.

Well I'm trying to do a million things at once, so this is probably really disjointed and doesn't make sense, so here's the takeaway point (consider this my summary powerpoint slide :D)

INTBAD(tm) - make it your motto :)
In the end, you're married to the one you love :)

(I've tm'd that, just like I tm'd the wednesday wiggles - if WA were the real world, I'd be rich!! :D)

[brisar112406]

I totally took that approach for my wedding, and I have to tell you, I wasn't stressed at all the entire day! I felt so relaxed, and I was able to enjoy every moment of my big day!

All you unmarried girls...take our advice! It really isn't worth ruining your bad day over small things. That includes the planning portion of your wedding. Don't get so worked up over stuff that it festers into a wedding day nightmare.

Take my motto: Go with the Flow!!

[foxgirl925]

I can think of so many big occasions or events in my life where I let something stupid bother me and then was sulking for the good duration of it. Then when I look back on these events, I see myself being a baby and I get frustrated that I "ruined" it. It wouldn't be so bad if I just messed things up for myself, but me being cranky affects everyone around me. So I told myself that I wasn't going to let MY stupidity ruin my wedding day for me or anyone around me.

I do that often and Nick HATES when I do it. I'm going to try so hard not to do it on my wedding day if anything goes wrong.

[brisar112406]

I do that often and Nick HATES when I do it. I'm going to try so hard not to do it on my wedding day if anything goes wrong.

I would say it's ok to be upset if something major goes wrong on the day of your wedding (and by major I mean like the flowers not turning up or something that big in nature!) But for the small things, like they play a wrong song, or the cake isn't exactly right, just go with the flow and don't let it ruin the moment!

[maeberha]

aww, congrats!! that sucks about your "moment". i would have done the same thing!

[bigbooby]

awesome pics.....looks like it was alot of fun:)

[yatagirl]

I know what you all mean by enjoying the special events and moments in life. I ended up crying at my huge Sweet 16 birthday bash and I would do anything to go back and change it.

On the upside of things....I LOVE the pictures Karen and you look absolutly amazing!!

[BernieA]

[QUOTE=karentinks] But now it's over and I think:

1) are we married? YES, and that is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!
2) did we and our guests have fun? YES, and that (to me) was the 2nd most important thing

QUOTE]

This is really good advice for future brides!
We had the best day becuase I was relaxed and didn't worry about the little things that would have made my day a nightmare!
We still have people telling us how much fun they had that night and that was the main thing - it was relaxed and FUN! A wedding day we hope they will remember - what more could you ask for :D

[msgoody2]

Thanks you guys for the advice. I'm trying to realize "its not that bad" and "go with the flow" so that I don't end up being pouty and upset for my wedding. FI has to constantly remind me that he's the only thing that matters. So I will definitely try to keep all this in mind and just take it all in strides and try to enjoy the planning process of getting married.

[jay052582]

I love the pictures!!! You looked beautiful! More please :)

[nickplusjessequalslove]

Aww Karen you were so gorgeous!! I'm so glad things went well!! Your pics are great I can't wait to see more. YAAAAAY Mrs. Z!!!!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

1) are we married? YES, and that is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!
2) did we and our guests have fun? YES, and that (to me) was the 2nd most important thing



AMEN SISTA! :)

[karentinks]

The Ceremony

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/1.jpg

Our ceremony room. Yes, it was a random-windowless room in the basement of the hotel. It was evidently warm in there (at least that's what my friend who was experiencing an awful hangover said). The night before, we confirmed with the (@ss) manager or whoever that there would be 110 chairs in the room. We show up on Saturday and evidently there were only 70! I'm pretty sure this was within 30 minutes of show time. Our amazing DoC (have I raved about having a day-of coordinator enough??) handled it and I wasn't even aware of the situation until I came back from the honeymoon.

We got back to the hotel just a few minutes before 4 and I was ushered toward our private room down the hall ... but told to stand behind the door. Dutifully I stood there, behind the door, in the hallway, peeking through the crack to my parents and bridal party mingling and having fun. I was shaking out of nervousness and just wanted someone to talk to! I eventually went in and no one could give me a reason WHY I was standing in the hall. I overheard our DoC telling one of our groomsmen that he was in charge of unrolling the aisle runner. Whaaaat? We have an aisle runner? Too late to fix that one now! So we lined up and waited. A few moments later, the aisle running groomsman (Scuba Steve, as I affectionately call him) came back and pumped his fist, so I got a little giddy.

The walk down the aisle was one of my favorite moments of the day. If I recall correctly, the stupid videog was right in front of me, so I couldn't really look at Jeff (Really, that's just my excuse because I was making eye contact and smiling at EVERYONE). I couldn't believe all those people were there to cerebrate me and Jeff, it was overwhelming.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/2.jpg

Jeff claims he was trying not to cry here. I think he's just making a stupid face :)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/4.jpg

Kath and Jeff's cousin (Kath's husband took this pic - do you think he could have gotten her face?? :D)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/5.jpg

My college roommate Keri and Gall

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/ss.jpg

Mandy and Scuba Steve

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/6.jpg

My sister Kathryn (MOH) and Eric (Best Man)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/7.jpg

Ring Bearer and Junior bridesmaid. I baby-sat for her when she was just a little baby! I seriously love this family!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/8.jpg

"I guess it's time to get married!" My dad looks like he's about to walk the green mile, and my mom's telling me she's going to trip. And I'm holding my stupid flowers up too high so you can't see how amazing my dress is!

The lighting of the unity candle was way lamer than I expected. I wanted it to seem like a larger deal than it ... seemed. or maybe it was entirely fine, and I was just unhappy that I was tripping over the stupid aisle runner that I didn't even know we were having! It looked really crappy all wrinkled up by us, but hopefully that doesn't show up in pictures.

I don't remember too much of the ceremony, except for one part. Jeff and I wrote things to/about each other and they were read at the ceremony. Mine was a snippet of my LJ, where I described the perfect man (way before I even met Jeff) and how he was everything I wanted. Jeff's ... well, Jeff's turned out a bit differently. When we sent the first draft to our officiant, she re-wrote it a bit because she thought it sounded like a "fantasy." Her re-write sounded completely innocent to me. Judge for yourself:

"Before he met you, Jeff used to dream about an unfamiliar woman. No matter what happened in the dream, he would always wake up with a smile on his face."

The entire bridal party stood there trying to stifle our laughter when we realized how this sounded. I'm not one to let funny things go (I'm known to burst out laughing hours after the funny thing has passed), so I had to really really concentrate on the seriousness of the occasion and that I was marrying my best friend. Luckily for me, Jeff's laughing was replaced with tears, so I focused on that.

Supposedly the replacement officiant almost called Jeff my wife, but I don't remember this. I do remember thinking that she was reading entirely sans emotion, but it WAS her first ceremony, so I was mentally cutting her some slack. During the vows, we have a line saying something like "...when loving you is easy, and when it is difficult." When Jeff said that, my side of the family burst out laughing - they know I can be difficult to love sometimes! I wonder if I turned bright red, because I felt like I did.

And then because I bet everyone is scrolling for the pictures, we brought out an army of ferrets and they did an interpretive wedding dance on the unity candle table to Chris Daughtry singing "What a Wonderful World." Then my favorite part, "you may now kiss your bride!" We kissed and turned and faced the crowd and then I waited for my 2nd moment of the day. I had found the most amazing recessional song, and I wanted the triumphant opening notes to be played as we kissed. It wasn't playing, so we stood there for a few awkward seconds. Eventually we started walking down the aisle in silence. I tried to be smiley, but the though running through my mind was "where is our music?!" It started partway through the bridal party recessional. Evidently the music player was frantically pushing play, but nothing. I've never really liked remote controls for music equipment anyway :)

We get into the hall and the two of us burst into tears, shoulder heaving sobbing. There were a few people in the hallway congratulating us, but we escaped around a corner and had a private moment. My mom found us and wanted to make sure that it was HAPPY crying, which we assured her it was. Then, true to form, our photographer came around the corner, camera ready. He saw the state we were in and quietly walked away. Good boy :) We calmed ourselves and then the three of us did a team cheer (yes, we're lame, get over it). We put our hands in, "wedding on 3... 1, 2, 3, WEDDING!" Ahhh, I've written too much without giving you pictures, so here's a picture break.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/9.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/10.jpg

The sister of the JBM and RB reading "Marriage means being in love for the rest of your life."

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/11.jpg

The kiss!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/12.jpg

Keep those flowers down!!!

Phew! Ok, do you think I can finish the reception post before the draft starts at noon? I'm gonna try!

[ISIDEJOSH]

awesome pic it looks like you had a lots of fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anschuier]

oh, that was simply beautiful! I didn't know you guys started completely heaving sobbing. This post was amazing! you are lovely. amazing! beautiful, i teared up, not going to lie.

[jay052582]

Beautiful! I wouldn't worry about holding your flowers to high becuase they were beautiful too!

[karentinks]

oh, that was simply beautiful! I didn't know you guys started completely heaving sobbing. This post was amazing! you are lovely. amazing! beautiful, i teared up, not going to lie.

Yeah, the crying was ridiculous. My mom was seriously worried that I was really upset about something. I'm not sure how much my make-up cost, but I hope it wasn't too expensive because there was NONE left after that sob fest! I'm just glad I held that in during the ceremony - gasping for air isn't attractive ;)

Beautiful! I wouldn't worry about holding your flowers to high becuase they were beautiful too!

Thanks :) I wasn't too fond of them - way too much green for my liking, I envisioned something more colorful. I put that thing down as soon as possible and had no issues with launching it at my friend at the end of the night :)

[MrsWarren2B]

Great story! I kept holding my flowers up high too :)

[SoonToBeWed]

Great pictures Karen. You looked beautiful. I have to say I think the same thing went through my head on my wedding day. Don't hold the flowers too high, you want people to see the beautiful design on the dress. However everyone got to see it during the reception and I got a million compliments.

[Brat20]

The pics are great. Congrats. You looked beautiful!!!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

You KNOW that I read ever single word of that!
Even the part about the "rodents" and thought to myself, WHAT????? LMAO

Yes, yes. . .I did read it all. . .because I <3 you! hehe

[clorigroh]

And then because I bet everyone is scrolling for the pictures, we brought out an army of ferrets and they did an interpretive wedding dance on the unity candle table to Chris Daughtry singing "What a Wonderful World."

Do you have pictures of that?!? haha love the ceremony story

[brisar112406]

Sounds like you went through a whole array of emotions that day!! Which is a good thing, because it was your wedding day!!

So I see you didn't get reception pics up before the draft...and I'm figuring afterwards you were po'd cause the Eagles went and took a QB first in the 2nd round...stupid morons!!!

[karentinks]

Sounds like you went through a whole array of emotions that day!! Which is a good thing, because it was your wedding day!!

So I see you didn't get reception pics up before the draft...and I'm figuring afterwards you were po'd cause the Eagles went and took a QB first in the 2nd round...stupid morons!!!

But Reid says that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the state of Don... nothing at all. Suuure. At least we made up for it by getting a Penn Stater :)

And making a trade with Dallas? Come ON!

[msgoody2]

Oh the infamous draft. My FI is happy with the Bears picks as far as I can tell. But we're more so trying to see how the Bulls do in the playoffs. Other than that, keep the pictures coming. The details of your story are great and just make me look more and more forward to the wedding.

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Football Schmootbal. . . :p

Can't you let us have some fun with our baseball season before you start taking over with the football CRAP again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GEEEEEEESH! :p :p :p

hehehe

[brisar112406]

Sorry Trish! Our football is far more important than Baseball could ever be!!! Sorry to hear about the Cards loss over the weekend. It must be hard for a manager to lose a player, especially a closing pitcher. On the one hand you are in mourning with your team, on the other, you are thinking that you have to get a replacement stat.

But back to Karen's wedding, which is FAR more important than any sport's team!!! We want to know about the reception now!!!!

[karentinks]

I only wish I had the cajones to invite David Akers, then we could talk football AND wedding in the same sentence!

I was going to post the reception yesterday, BUT I got word that my pro pics will be online TOMORROW. My silly mother already has hardcopies so she's seen them all! So I'm going to wait. One of the funniest moments at the reception seems to have eluded EVERYONE's camera, so I'm hoping the photog caught it. We don't have any cake cutting pics either!

[aperkins72]

I am sooo happy for you! I can't lie, I cried pretty hard the whole way through reading this. You just looked so pretty and I might have PMS so i'm a bit emotional but wow. What a great day it turned out to be. Now we are both old married ladies together!!! YEA!!!

[karentinks]

Our pro pics are online - there are 27 pages! But for now - how to keep a bad MOH in check:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/5b939282.jpg

[bigbooby]

Our pro pics are online - there are 27 pages! But for now - how to keep a bad MOH in check:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/5b939282.jpg

LOL ~ love this pic :D

[clorigroh]

um pro pics are online? where's the link!?!

[karentinks]

Ahhh!! I just got to the pics of our "moment" and now I don't care that it didn't happen the way I wanted it, it still turned out great!!!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m4.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m5.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m6.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m7.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m8.jpg

Am I really expected to get any work done today?!?!

[clorigroh]

aw how sweet!! more more more more

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Am I really expected to get any work done today?!?!


Of course not!!!! haha

[Jacoby2Seelen]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/m6.jpg

This is sweeeeeeet! :D

[brisar112406]

LINK!!!!

I know, I know, you want to tell your reception story first...but it was worth the try!!

[SoonToBeWed]

Beautiful pictures Karen. You two look beautiful. I love the pic of keeping MOH in line. that was funny.

[Brat20]

awww, those are great!!!! Love the MOH one.

[msgoody2]

You look great and the "moment" still looks really nice. I love it! Oh and I can see myself doing that to my MOH! hahaha More more more.

[karentinks]

Another classic

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/7538ee6b.jpg

Yes, that's the Amander we all know and love ... doing the shopping cart!

[karentinks]

And this one's for my Philly girls - look in the background. My mom clearly forgot something when she was cleaning!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/e5d635f8.jpg

[brisar112406]

E-A-G-L-E-S!!!!!

Great picture!

[clorigroh]

And this one's for my Philly girls - look in the background. My mom clearly forgot something when she was cleaning!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/e5d635f8.jpg

haha I love it!!

[karentinks]

Ahh heck, I'll just link you girls. Otherwise I'll be posting pics all day!

This one's my favorite so far

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/karentinks/60783f0c.jpg

Go to http://www.foschifinephotography.com/, click on weddings, then view proofs online (After april 1, 2007) and the wedding id is T**** and the password is Z**** (they lie about the 5 digit number) Just a warning, it's pretty slow right now, I don't think they expected everyone and their mother to be stalking their website like my family has!

[clorigroh]

thank you!! you look so pretty! that's the photographer that did my bro's gf's senior portrait at Ursuline

[karentinks]

Haha yep, that's why we went with them. They were great to work with throughout the million UA portraits we had so I figured I wouldn't mess with a good thing.

Is your bro's gf graduating soon?

[clorigroh]

yup June 3rd

[karentinks]

are you going? you should take some pics of my old haunt :D

[clorigroh]

I don't think I'm invited haha, but my brother is going, I will lend him my camera. Her mother is also my coworker, so there will be pictures I'm sure.

[jay052582]

Karen I LOVE your "moment" picture! I hope to be able to get something like that! Beautiful :)

[msgoody2]

I love the groom bear holding the invitation ( I mean I know it's the first pic, but it's so cute!) But your pictures look so great! I hope my photographer does half a good a job as yours did.

[msgoody2]

The little ringbearer's black and white picture looks cute too.

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Mander's almost on the floor. heheeeee :D

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/trishalyn78/tinklepaugh_zielonka_554.jpg


And OMG, I'm cracking up at this one.
Look at Mander's face. . .and what is Nick looking at? hehe

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/trishalyn78/tinklepaugh_zielonka_556.jpg

[foxgirl925]

Pretty pictures!! Everything looks beautiful!!

[brisar112406]

You, your sister, and mother all have the same smile! It's fantastic!

You looked fantabulous!!!

[brisar112406]

Your cake was BEAUTIFUL!!!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

I have a question. I noticed in your father/daughter dance pics that you are holding the end of your dress. Did you not get a bustle, or did you just not bustle it until after the dance? :confused:

[bigbooby]

Beautiful pics !!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Oh, and one more thing. I love the fact that your photog. went around and took pictures of each table with its guests! I would have liked to have that at my wedding, but mine didn't do that. The wedding that I photoged, I DID do it, because I think it is such a good idea! :)

[karentinks]

I have a question. I noticed in your father/daughter dance pics that you are holding the end of your dress. Did you not get a bustle, or did you just not bustle it until after the dance? :confused:

UGH! I was sitting down relaxing when the DJ announced "now it's time for Karen to dance with her dad." I was taken by surprise and when I stood up, my bustle came undone (like it did EVERY time I stood up. Stupid one point.) I didn't have time to fix it so I had to gather it in my hands, which made for a very awkward dance. That's another thing I was a little upset about :)

[clorigroh]

Oh, and one more thing. I love the fact that your photog. went around and took pictures of each table with its guests! I would have liked to have that at my wedding, but mine didn't do that. The wedding that I photoged, I DID do it, because I think it is such a good idea! :)

I agree. I went to one wedding where they did that and the last one I went to they did it but only on the family side of the room- I guess friends were not important. I plan to ask my photog to do that for ALL guests.

[karentinks]

Oh, and one more thing. I love the fact that your photog. went around and took pictures of each table with its guests! I would have liked to have that at my wedding, but mine didn't do that. The wedding that I photoged, I DID do it, because I think it is such a good idea! :)

I hadn't thought about it initially, the photog actually came up and suggested it. I answered yes immediately - remember prom pictures when they took pics of every table? Yep, they were always good ones! Plus, you're guaranteed to get at least one pic of everyone that way!

I did, however, tell my videog NOT to go up to each table and ask them to say a few things. Smiling is one thing, coming up with something cute to say on the spot is another :)

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Someone is trying to steal you man. . .what a hooker! ;) hehe

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/trishalyn78/tinklepaugh_zielonka_506.jpg

[karentinks]

Someone is trying to steal you man. . .what a hooker! ;) hehe

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/trishalyn78/tinklepaugh_zielonka_506.jpg

Awww it was so cute! The 4 of us were dancing with the "right" person and then we switched. It was nice to get to talk to Nick for a few moments!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

I can't find cake pictures. Am I losing it? haha
What page are they on?

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Awww it was so cute! The 4 of us were dancing with the "right" person and then we switched. It was nice to get to talk to Nick for a few moments!

HEHE, so cute!

[Jacoby2Seelen]

UGH! I was sitting down relaxing when the DJ announced "now it's time for Karen to dance with her dad." I was taken by surprise and when I stood up, my bustle came undone (like it did EVERY time I stood up. Stupid one point.) I didn't have time to fix it so I had to gather it in my hands, which made for a very awkward dance. That's another thing I was a little upset about :)

Ahhh. . .I see! Oh well, the pictures look great, I couldn't even tell you were feeling "uncomfortable." haha :D

[Jacoby2Seelen]

I'm like the Karen and Jeff Z! thread "Post Wh**e". LOL

[karentinks]

I can't find cake pictures. Am I losing it? haha
What page are they on?

Page 26, toward the bottom

[Jacoby2Seelen]

Kudos to your photog. . .they are awesome. Pictures of EVERYTHING. From the place settings, the ice sculpture; just everthing!! They were great!!! You won't forget one aspect of your wedding day thanks to them!

Did you have 1 or 2?

[karentinks]

Kudos to your photog. . .they are awesome. Pictures of EVERYTHING. From the place settings, the ice sculpture; just everthing!! They were great!!! You won't forget one aspect of your wedding day thanks to them!

Did you have 1 or 2?

I was pleasantly surprised by the pictures :) What I think I'm most impressed with is that I told him very limited things I wanted pictures of. I mentioned jumping pics and the one where the guys are holding me and that's it. It's going to be so hard to choose from all these!

We only hired 1, but for the most close-up/weird angle shots of me and Jeff in the park, there was another guy (the son of the owner of the studio) present. Those were "experimental" shots. All the rest though was just the one guy by himself.

[skeewee1996]

Beautiful pictures Karen!

[lucandmhargj]

gorgeous pics :D

[karentinks]

The Reception!

(Note: this are pro pic proofs. They were blown up a little when I put them in snapfish, so no, you don't need new glasses.)

The reception was SO. FUN. Aside from actually getting married, my main goal for the day was for people to dance all night. Did we succeed? I think yes.

We were all announced to the Austin Powers and my sister and Eric did a fun dance. I'll have to wait for the video to get the whole effect.

http://tinyurl.com/32j39o

http://tinyurl.com/2zv63w

http://tinyurl.com/2o88d5

http://tinyurl.com/2qtqy8

Our first dance was to Rascal Flatts' Broken Road. We don't know how to dance, so it was mostly the high school sway. We wanted to 1) take lessons or 2) teach ourselves. But we failed. It's all good.

Right after that, we sat down for toasts. My sister's referenced how I told her to "hit the ground running" while jumping out of a golf cart, and Eric got on the floor to show how he and Jeff first met (Jeff was angry that Eric was dating his friend, so he shoved snow in his face.)

http://tinyurl.com/2mya6j

http://tinyurl.com/3dq9re

I think I'm getting an 8x10 of this one!

http://tinyurl.com/3793jj

"This is really soft, you should sell this!" - in reference to Jeff's hair.

http://tinyurl.com/2rxed4

Now it was time for dinner. We decided to do one course, greet two tables, rinse and repeat. It's so hard to do EVERYTHING you want to at a reception. You want to talk to everyone, but if you talked to everyone as long as you'd like, you wouldn't do anything else. I think we were successful though. One thing I DO remember about dinner - silly table 9 decided to clink their glasses just as I put a huge mouthful of salad in my mouth. I still had large chunks of green sticking out as everyone turned to look at me. Hot, I know.

After dinner, while I was still sitting, I heard the DJ announce the father/daughter dance. I got up in surprise and of course, my bustle came undone. I didn't have time to fix it because the music was already starting so I had to grab my dress and hold it in between our hands. I'm a little disappointed because I had to make sure I didn't trip. This dance was really a special moment for me. Anyone who knows my dad knows he's a man of very few words. As we started dancing, he looked at me, teary eyed, and asked if I was happy. I teared up, replied yes and then he told me he loved me. About halfway through the song we started chatting about how weird it is to be dancing while there are tons of cameras pointed at you.

http://tinyurl.com/2ny4eg

And notice that not only does my dress look crappy the way it was hastily gathered up, but you can't even see the dyed crinoline that I wanted so badly! (And it wasn't until I saw this picture that I realized HOW BAD this looked. I'm kind of embarassed now :(

Immediately following was the mother/son dance. After it was announced, we realized that Jeff's mom was missing. We stalled for a few minutes waiting for her to return, when Jeff whisked her on the dance floor.

http://tinyurl.com/3yhest

I had the photographer go to each table and take table pictures. This, dear readers, is my grandmother and my aunt.

http://tinyurl.com/2nuaah

And then we danced. A lot.

http://tinyurl.com/3ac7m6

http://tinyurl.com/398p2d

Me and my cousin trying to "reel" in our grandmother. (Just a side note. This cousin is the reason we didn't do a garter toss. My Most Embarassing Moment took place at my grandmother's wedding. I caught the bouquet, not knowing the tradition. This guy caught the garter and had to put it on me. I was 12 or 13 and SO EMBARASSED. I think he got it all the way up to my ankle!)

http://tinyurl.com/2r7o3t

We can twist!

http://tinyurl.com/2lulrn

Getting low with my sister and uncle

http://tinyurl.com/2whqd2

http://tinyurl.com/2lmfxw

http://tinyurl.com/39xz8m

The dance-off. Moyer and Eganvector kept "serving" each other. This amazingness can't be described in words or pictures, but I'm pretty sure it will become the new youtube sensation once I get video.

http://tinyurl.com/33nfwg

http://tinyurl.com/3aevv3

Moyer (the hungover friend from the previous entry) congratulates Eganvector on the win.

http://tinyurl.com/2v2fkm

"What can I say? I'm a dancing machine!"

http://tinyurl.com/36y2hv

Mander and Jeff

http://tinyurl.com/37qeax

Breakdancing Ring Bearer

http://tinyurl.com/2oelxv

Jodi (Gall's gf) REALLY wanted to dance with Jeff's dad. Evidently he has really big hands!

http://tinyurl.com/2tona4

Yes, yes, this is the shopping cart. The sprinkler and lawnmower also made an appearance.

http://tinyurl.com/3292a2

Maybe Kate and Mandy are Livin' on a Prayer

http://tinyurl.com/3daq9v

My boss' kid was dancing ALL NIGHT!

http://tinyurl.com/2udjfd

I've known these two since I was 6!

http://tinyurl.com/2v9pbe

Cha-cha slide?

http://tinyurl.com/3xkbtt

"I don't even know you!"

http://tinyurl.com/2s2wtv

Mandy and the two best reception crashers ever!

http://tinyurl.com/2ltooo

Everyone was dancing! We spilled off the dance floor onto the carpet. The sign of a good night, yes?

http://tinyurl.com/2u9v3h

Keri and Chicky

http://tinyurl.com/2w29sj

Klassy, klassy :D


http://tinyurl.com/2mbb68

Cake cutting happened at some point. We originally wanted to smash the cake in Kathryn and Eric's faces, but decided no at the last minute (my mom told me Kathryn would be upset). But after Jeff and I fed each other, I made a split second decision to go for it. So we smashed in their faces :)

http://tinyurl.com/37xtps

This was at the very end of the night. I was SO ready to take all the pins out of my hair!!! *Phew!* One of my bridesmaids and some of my friends from high school were planning on continuing the party in a hotel room, so they went to the car and came back in with red cups and a case of beer. On any other occasion, I would have LOVED to go upstairs for some flip cup, but we had to wake up entirely too early for our flight and I knew taking my hair down would be a task!

I have to admit that I was slightly saddened to return from my honeymoon and see this on facebook:

http://tinyurl.com/2db2s4

I heart my friends :D

[clorigroh]

yea for reception story

[bigbooby]

awesome pics.....looks like it was alot of fun! :)

[Jacoby2Seelen]

I <3 it! :D

Did you ever post honeymoon pictures yet? GEEEEEEESH Karen, get on it!!!!!!!! :mad:

[Denisa]

Love the pictures!! In the last picture the dress the girl on the right is wearing is the same dress and color my BM's are wearing! That's blue frost right? (or frost blue, I can never remember)

[karentinks]

Yep, blue frost :) They loved the dresses, except the design on the top kind of hurt under their arms, but it wasn't too awful (According to them!)

[BernieA]

Great Photos - looks like so much fun - the way a wedding should be LOTS OF FUN!

[MrsWarren2B]

Great pics!! Looks like a great time :)

[sweetpolishgirl]

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. Looks like everyone had a lot of fun dancin'! :)

[SoonToBeWed]

Love the reception story and love the pics. Looks like all had a great time.

[msgoody2]

Your reception looked like so much fun. Too bad you didn't get a picture of you all smashing the cake in the other folks faces or each others. Everything looks so great (once again).