so, i got married on saturday. twice. and darth vader was there..

Did you REALLY expect me to have a smooth, stylish, picturesque wedding and ride off into the Orange County sunset with my Mr. Perfect? Even with every detail thoughtfully planned ahead of time?

Ha. Ha.

Somehow, it seems, *adventure* follows me wherever I go. Including into the thick of my wedding.

Here's how it all went down...

So, the boy squad and I leave Wednesday to drive to Utah to have some time with Mr. Perfect and his family (who have driven in from California) before the Saturday evening ceremony.

Thursday, we are all having a lovely Thanksgiving dinner when Uncle Perfect, who was going to perform our wedding ceremony and who had just rode his bike ala a Thanksgiving tradition nearly 80 miles, has a stroke at the dinner table and has to be taken to the hospital. Our thoughts and prayers go with him and we assure him (because he's actually still worried!) that we will find someone else to perform the ceremony.

Then Friday comes along: The day Mr. Perfect and I were to go to the courthouse to get our marriage license. And...although they reassured us when we called several weeks earlier that they were open every day except national and federal holidays--which, last I checked, "black Friday" was not--every courthouse in Utah, Wyoming, and nearby Nevada decided to close for a "family day." Meaning--no wedding license. No wedding license, no legality in our marriage. No legality, no marriage. It was either call it off and waste the time and money of all those who had helped plan the reception and traveled in from out of state and the one chance to be married with all our kids present OR...

Get in the car at 8pm that night and make the 7 hour drive to Las Vegas, land of the seven day a week wedding.

Yup.

We left our combined six children in the capable hands of Grandma Perfect and totally drove to Las Vegas, taking turns sleeping and driving. We were at the courthouse shortly after it opened at 8am, easily got a license, and were (for lack of a better word) "hustled" as soon as we walked out the doors by some sharply dressed men who claimed to have the cheapest drive-through ceremony in town. "Just follow us," they said.

So we did.

And some time about 9:30am, we were married by one "Pastor Jamie" who looked as if she may have been cocktail waitressing the night before, in a drive-through wedding chapel complete with a menu including flowers, music, and champagne flutes. We knew the vows were serious and tried not to laugh as we looked at one another across the console of the Hyundai, still littered with the remnants of our fancy wedding morning breakfast of gas station Zingers. As soon as the "I Do's" were said and Pastor Jamie tipped sufficiently, we immediately started in on the 7 hour drive back to the Salt Lake area, arriving with one scant hour to get us and six highly energetic kids ready for the ceremony. There were a lot of mismatched socks, hastily pinned boutonnieres, and my hair that looked like it hadn't been brushed in 15 hours (because it hadn't)...but we made it. And as my oldest son Z walked me down the aisle to the lilting strains of Mr. Perfect's daughter playing Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the ukulele...

It all made sense.

There, surrounded by our precious children, our closest family and friends, those who had cheered us on and made it all possible.There was SO. MUCH. LOVE. present. Even Uncle Perfect had been released from the hospital and felt up to performing the ceremony after all.

 

We did it.

Despite the odds that would have said GIVE UP! in front of us (as they had repeatedly over the last two months) we were given divine guidance, found a way, and made it happen.

And oh...what a story!!!

The reception that followed was picture perfect. My dear friend M made the most delicious salted caramel cake, Mr. Perfect's dad made centerpieces, there were six different kinds of pie, and...

a visit from Darth Vader--courtesy of Mr. Perfect's brother who is in television and got the giant man who plays all the villains in his show to come down, give us some dark side-style wedding advice, and pose for pictures. (I offer evidence...)

By the time Mr. Perfect and I are sealed in the California temple this time next year, we will have had 3 different wedding ceremonies in 3 different states. But you know what?

Worth it.

I'll say yes every time. Willingly, happily, joyfully.

Because being Mrs. Perfect is the most perfect thing ever--no matter how crazy the route to get here was :)