We Ready, We Ready, We Ready for Y'all

The morning of our wedding, I remember waking up and feeling so excited for the day's events. I also remember feeling surprisingly calm - surprising because I'm always expecting some kind of catastrophe. It didn't take long for my anxiety to build, but I do vividly recall the feeling of excitement that washed over me when I imagined seeing Wheat in his tux.

All of my wonderful bridesmaids met at my hotel room to begin getting ready. Elizabeth, my brother's girlfriend and a professional hairdresser, also came early to do my hair. I sat in the chair for about an hour as she clipped in my extensions (not to make my hair longer, but fuller), curled, and braided like a boss.

At some point, my mom called to see how we were doing. She was well on her way to the venue by then, so I jokingly asked my sister to ask her if she remembered my dress. She hadn't. See what I mean about anxiety building? My mom instantly exploded into guilty tears and turned back around for the dress. My dear friend Eric drove a group of us to the venue as I tried my best to relax.

The bathroom at the Oscar Event Center, where we continued getting ready, was absolutely incredible. The staff stocked it with drinks (champagne, beer, water, soda) and light snacks (fruit, cheese, and crackers) and an attendant periodically checked in on us to see if we needed anything. We had an absolute blast listening to music, talking, and finishing our hair and makeup. Once my hair was finished, Elizabeth bounced around doing some of the other bridesmaids' hair. This was honestly one of my favorite moments of the day.

As Jamie put the finishing touches on my "makeup" (which is code for hardly any at all), my mom showed up with the dress and we all heaved a collective sigh of relief. It's insane how tightly packed our photo schedule was and our photographers were definitely keeping the trains running on time.

Wheat and I were scheduled to have our first look shortly thereafter, so before I knew it, it was time to put on my dress. My mom and sister helped with the closing, zipping, buttoning, and tucking before I turned the corner and surprised my bridesmaids.

To complete the look, my mom bought me a bright pink pair of socks that said 'bride.' Oh, and of course I wore my reliable Chucks.

Meanwhile, the guys were getting ready and hanging out in the awesome bar at the Oscar. Their space was also fully stocked, so I have a sneaking suspicion more time was spent on refreshments than their tuxes. Just a guess, though...

Next Up: First Look and Bridal Party Photos