I’m sitting here at my little corner desk, in front of my big Apple screen, staring at Joe and Alicia’s images and am serenaded by my girl, Etta James.  Goosebumps never fail to come over me as she belts out the first lyrics. And I can’t help but think how fitting this soundtrack is to their wedding.  Etta sings, “My lonely days are over.  And life is like a song. At last…”

Joe and Alicia were married on a cold, dim, dark, cloudy day when the rain poured down and never ceased. We remained hopeful all day, as a gorgeous outdoor ceremony at the Hudson Gardens was planned. But the misty rain wouldn’t stop. Sweet Alicia’s dreams of her outdoor wedding crumbled before her eyes.  In her bridal room, with big deep breaths, fighting back the tears, she talked herself into being okay with the indoor option.  Her hands shook as she clenched her tissue.

My heart broke for her.

You see, Alicia is one of the sweetest girls you’ll ever meet.  She worked so hard on every detail of her wedding and the outdoor ceremony was the capstone.  But you know, I think we all learned a lesson in watching their simple, indoor ceremony.  I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say I was captivated by their not so simple expressions of love.  In the end, when Alicia walked down that isle, it didn’t matter where her and Joe said I do, all that mattered was that they did.

And it was in that moment that their life became like a song…

Alicia had the greatest “after-ceremony” shoes by Guess:

I just love when brides have lots of details that make their wedding special.  Alicia wore her grandmother’s earrings.

Both Joe and Alicia exchanged the sweetest cards. This one was from Joe…

..who is super classy himself. The image on the left is one of my all-time favorite groom portraits.  It looks circa 1950.

Big baseball fans. :-)

Lauren at Quintessential did a fabulous job on Alicia’s flowers.

Alicia, you are absolutely exquisite.

The difference is in the details. :-)

The gorgeous girls.

Ceremony up next! Stay tuned for part II.