Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, here we come!

The next morning, a car arrived at the bed and breakfast to take us to the Salt Lake airport for our flight to Orlando.  Adam had thought of everything and  he had done it all so sneakily.  I must say, I felt pretty important, what with the chauffer carrying my luggage and opening doors for me.  :) 

We arrived at the airport and proceeded to the check in counter, where I discovered that in all the wedding excitement, I had forgotten to pack my passport and therefore I was entirely without suitable ID.  And here I was trying to get on an airplane!  Well, thankfully the security still let me through after I passed a few supplemental security protocols.  That hurdle passed over, we headed to our gate to wait for our plane.  Adam left me to hold our spot in line (we were flying Southwest, old-school) while he went in pursuit of the sugary deliciousness of the nearest Cinnabon.  

After a full day of flying, we arrived in Orlando where we were quickly whisked onto a bus to take us straight to our hotel.  We didn't even have to collect our baggage.  Disney was doing that for us.  

The first day we headed to Epcot Center.  We had lunch reservations at the restaurant at the Land exhibit.  This was probably my very favorite of all the restaurants we visited, and that's saying something.  Thanks to Adam's wonderful and generous parents, we got to eat at so many of the awesome restaurants there.  That's something I'd never been able to do, even though I'd been to Disneyworld a million times before.  

First off, it was a revolving restaurant.  Second, the round design made our table completely private, except from the occasional characters who would stop by to say hello, including Mickey Mouse!!  And third, the food was exquisite.  So good!  And our waiter was really cool.  He even took a photo for us!

The rest of the day was magical as well.  We had a wonderful time exploring the park and searching for the wall photo of Adam and his best friend Jen from when they had visited with their senior class.  I don't think we ever managed to find it.  It was the first of many wonderful, magical days.  

Best Day Ever (Part 3)

After our photo shoot, Adam and I went back inside to change into our regular clothing.  Neither of us wanted to wear our wedding clothes in the car for over two hours.  (Okay, secretly I did, but my skirt would have been all wrinkled from being crammed into the car and I couldn't have that!)  By this point, the only person still with us was Chris since he was our photographer!  So we all rode home together.  We made a quick stop at my house so we could grab my luggage for the honeymoon before heading over to the church to help with reception set-up.

I really don't remember much of what went on that evening.  It completely FLEW by!  I don't even know if I helped at all.  Our family and a few wonderful friends were all there working hard to set up the decorations and food for us.  I hurried to change back into my wedding gown and came late to my own reception!  We had a wonderful time visiting with our friends and family. 

 

Before I knew it, it was time to leave and Adam was leading me outside.  There, to my surprise, was a beautiful Cinderella carriage waiting to whisk us away.  It was perfect!  I truly felt like a princess that day.  Adam and I bid adieu to all our friends and family, boarded the carriage, and were off on our honeymoon.  We were to stay the first night at the elegant Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast before setting off in the morning for, you guessed it, DISNEYWORLD!!!

Best Day Ever (Part 2)

Once we entered the temple, Adam and I were taken to the registrar's office to take care of some paperwork.  Afterwards, we were separated and I was ushered into the most gorgeous dressing room I had ever seen.  I wish I could have taken a picture.  It was large enough to accommodate about five brides but on this most perfect Tuesday morning I had the whole place to myself.  So, with the assistance of both my moms and one of my sisters, not to mention the occasional help of the sweet and elderly attendant, I was dressed and primped in almost no time.  (Marmee had had a fair amount of practice lacing up the dress for me.  I like to play dress up!)

Next, I was led back out of the dressing room to a table and chairs where I found Adam dressed in white, waiting for me.  The temple workers left us alone there for a few minutes while they went to attend to our guests.  Even if I could describe that moment, I wouldn't.  It is simply too precious.

After the sealing, I returned to the dressing room so Becca could again tend to my curls before we went outside for photographs.   We probably spent hours in front of the camera that day.  After the family got tired of standing around and headed back to Provo to prepare for the reception, Adam and I continued our photo shoot.  We explored the temple grounds fairly thoroughly, stopping every two steps for a kiss.  :)  What can I say?  My husband is irresistible!

The Best Day Ever (Part 1)

I got up early the next morning.  I had everything ready for the wedding so there wasn't much I had to do beyond getting myself dressed and getting to the temple, but sleeping in was not an option.  I got up, showered, ate some breakfast, and reported to my sister in order to be coiffered.   

We weren't doing anything fancy, just curling my hair a little differently from my normal way.  Becca was about halfway through curling my hair when my curling iron died!  Yes, the curling iron I had used every day of high school and through four years of college died on my wedding day.  Figures!  Well, I certainly couldn't go and buy a replacement with my hair half straight and half curled, so I had to send Becca to the store in search of a new one, while I waited at home, stressing.   Thankfully, she was able to find the exact same curling iron at the nearest store and quickly resume fixing my hair.  

Once my hair was ready and I was dressed in my favorite dress, Marmee and I loaded my wedding gown into her car and headed to Manti.  Adam would be riding down with his parents, of course, and the rest of our family would be following behind later.  Marmee and I had a nice ride to Manti, only managing to get lost once which gave me an excellent excuse to call Adam.  :)

Naturally, the Coxes beat us to Manti.  We had just pulled in to a parking stall when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Adam walking across the parking lot towards the temple.  While I was watching my handsome fiance, he spotted us and changed course, heading directly for us.  All my life I believed in those wedding traditions about the groom not seeing the bride in her wedding gown before the wedding and neither of them seeing each other the morning of the ceremony.  Well, at that moment, all those ridiculous traditions flew right out the window!  I couldn't wait to be with Adam and clearly, he wasn't going to give me that option anyway.  He helped me out of the car and we walked hand and hand to the temple.  

One Day More!

On Monday, May 1, 2006 Adam and his dad came to my house in the morning to collect my things and take them to our new apartment.  :)  I never even had time to go over there until after our honeymoon!  Our wonderful family took care of getting things set up for us while we were gone.  But that's jumping ahead.

That night we went to Brick Oven for our "rehearsal dinner."  Since there wasn't really anything to rehearse, we just skipped that part and went out to dinner.  Good deal, right?  Earlier that afternoon, Adam and my dad had met for the first time.  {These are the main events I can remember at the moment, but I'm sure there was a ton more going on that day.  I probably was just oblivious to it.  I was a little preoccupied!}

   Yes, this picture is from before Adam and I were even engaged, but I don't have a photo that is applicable to this post, so I just thought I'd add a random snapshot that I don't think I've used before.  (That was a long sentence!!)  Sorry this post is so short but my head hurts.  I'm going to sleep...

Almost There!

April was agonizingly slow but it was drawing to a close.  The last week of the month hosted my sister Becca's graduation from BYU (Go Bec!) and my endowment.  Adam's parents and younger brothers flew in from Massachusetts on Friday in order to be there for my endowment on Saturday.  Yes, this was only the second time I had met them and in a few short days I would be their daughter.  (Let me just explain something about the awesome Coxes.  They don't have in-laws.  They figure we're gonna be family for eternity, we might as well dispense with the unimportant distinctions now.  And it's kinda fun to watch the look on people's faces as they try to figure out how we are all related. :)

Wasn't it nice of the temple to have their flowers match my dress?

The Beccas are missing here.  Bearden was the one holding the camera and Cox was unable to come due to morning sickness.  Silly James!

After attending the temple on Saturday morning, our two families spent some time visiting and getting to know each other better.  On Sunday, Adam attended my ward with me (as he always did) but this time we had the whole Cox clan in tow, minus Jon and Becca who attended their own ward in Provo.  It was fun to stand up in Relief Society and introduce my soon-to-be mom and announce the fact that I had two more days til my wedding!  Can you believe it!  

It's late and I can't think of a good title...

I have to admit I have a double standard.  When Adam was shopping for my engagement ring, I told him he had to pick it out.  When it was time for me to buy Adam a wedding ring, I dragged him to the jeweler's and made him decide on every little detail.  And boy did he agonize over each detail!  Actually, there are many more options for men's wedding bands than I had ever imagined, so I don't blame him at all for having a hard time deciding.  I wish I could tell you what kind of metal it's made of and what type of finish it has, but I really can't remember.  I don't pay close enough attention to little details I guess.  It is a beautiful ring, though.  Adam, of course, did an excellent job.

After Adam finished designing his wedding ring, we ordered one for me.  In order to have it fit right up against my engagement ring, I had to loan it to them so it could be custom made.  Strange how naked and bare my left hand felt without that ring there even though I'd only been wearing it a few months.  I guess it just belongs there.