When David proposed to me I had just turned 20 years old. He was 22, and had already been married once. I looked younger than I was so when COMPLETE STRANGERS saw the engagement ring on my finger I would get a lot of what they deemed “sound advice” about how I was too young and should wait to get engaged, let alone married. All I can say is, I hadn’t had a lot of experience in love, but when you know, you KNOW. And it’s best for other people to keep their mouths shut on the subject – especially if you only know the bride-to-be because she develops your photos in an hour.
We got engaged on December 17, 2000 and had no idea how to plan a wedding. After looking into a few venues and realizing we could never afford the prices (we had to pay for it out of pocket – on our own) we decided to have the wedding at David’s Mom’s house. The original plan was December 2001. Then the (now former) step father-in-law was deployed so we agreed to wait so he could be there. After he kept being re-deployed over and over we finally decided we were just going to go to Vegas (we lived in Southern California). We hadn’t bought too much for the wedding yet, so it wouldn’t be a big loss.
On April 6, 2002 we got married and the Chapel at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, Nevada with our immediate family and closest friends present. I was 21, David had just turned 24. I was so excited to marry him that I walked straight to the alter instead of standing next to my dad while he gave me away. We had no photographer (David was the only one with photography skills that we knew and then the flash on his 35mm camera broke at some point so a lot of our pictures are dark on one side), my aunt did the flowers for free, I did my own make-up and hair, my something blue was my underpants (classy) and afterwards we all had dinner at a Japanese restaurant and everyone had to pay their own way. Oh, and there was no cake.
My dad, who was one of the people who did not like the idea of me getting married at a young age, arrived about ten minutes before he walked me down the aisle and left as soon as the wedding was over. He did not stay for dinner.
The only “traditional” parts of our wedding were my $600 dress from David’s Bridal and David’s rented tux.
I scanned all these pictures about eight years ago. I really should rescan them and do a better job at it. Especially since I am far too lazy this morning to crop and straighten them. We got married before digital photography was “the thing.” We’re totally cool.
It’s been ten years. I still love that boy something fierce and now we have three little versions of us running around. Sometimes I wish we had a traditional wedding but, really, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was perfect. Low-key. No fuss. Very “us.”
This post was inspired by Absolute Mommy’s link up (even though it wasn’t much of a What I Wore post – that’s just not my thing):
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You look beautiful friend! And I love your dress! David’s Bridal is the bomb!
Great wedding story and happy 10 years of marriage!!
Thanks for linking up!!
Thanks, Megan! This was a fun link up idea, thanks for hosting it!
Yup, when you know, you just know!
Right! I wish I could see those strangers that used to get all “concerned” for me and would tell me to not do it. I would rub our ten years of marriage in their face. Because I am totally classy like that. haha
I love it Lacey! You do look super young, but you also look super happy! You were a gorgeous bride! (Jealous of your red hair….)
Thanks, Amanda! You were a gorgeous bride too!! And don’t be jealous of my hair, it has brought me a lot of unwanted attention throughout my life. Also, people like to touch it – whether they know me or not. haha
So beautiful and such a sweet story! You were a very pretty bride!
Thank you, Nicole!
Its a nice kind of wedding..You were a gorgeous bride too!! Thanks for sharing..
Aww Lacey, you looked gorgeous! I’ve been with my SO for 8 years and we still aren’t “officially” married, even though I call him my husband. I’ve always said I wanted to get married either in Vegas or on a cruise ship. A traditional wedding would never fit in our budget, and with two kids already… how “traditional” could it really be?
Seems like everywhere I go today weddings are the main topic. ‘Tis the season, I guess
Beautiful photos from a beautiful wedding. I love your story – that everyone told you that you were too young. I married my husband at 24 and we got the same thing. 7 years and 2 kids later we’re still going strong.
Las Vegas weddings can be beautiful and romantic if they are well planned. You can have your dream wedding without spending too much..
Cape May is a pretty little Victorian town that might make a nice setting for a wedding. There are some lovely Bed and Breakfasts throughout New Jersey or in Pennsylvania that would make nice wedding settings. Or how about Pennsylvania Dutch country, Hershey Park or Washinton DC?
How about a weekend in New York City? You could stay at a lovely boutique hotel, get married in City Hall on Friday afternoon, and enjoy the city for the weekend. You could even take the train in from New Jersey.
Congrats on your wedding..I am really happy to both of you..