We Got Married - Part Two

At first I didn't take him seriously.  But he did seem to mean it a little more this time. 

Then my pregnant sister (due in December) called to tell us they were coming into Dallas to go to the fair 2 weeks from then.  So I said why don't we do it that weekend?  Because I knew this would be the last time she'd be in town for awhile. 

He said okay let's do it.  And we went with it. 

We planned on going to the justice of the peace because we didn't want to make a big deal out of it.  And we were broke.  Friday night was the plan because we would be going to the fair on Saturday.  Then we realized the JP closes early on Friday so it would have to be more like Friday afternoon.  Then I thought, we can't have my sister & his BFF & his family come to the JP for a wedding & then do nothing afterwards.  We have to have a little party. 

I immediately thought of Bella Bar & Restaurant.  They are one of the restaurants we represent.  The owners are like family, and they have a very elegant atmosphere, perfect for a little wedding celebration.  And I thought Friday evening right after the JP - happy hour.  That was the perfect time for a casual little party, and we would be out of the way in time for their Friday night dinner. 

Marcus's mom wasn't too excited about the JP idea because there would have been no minister.  We talked of doing it at her house or at the church.  No, I said.  I liked the idea of having it at one of our restaurants, so if there must be a minister, he should come there.  The family pastor happened to be free that Friday.

Everything else was like that - it just came together.  My parents were going to come with my little sister.  One of my best friends from high school, who is a doctor in Washington just happened to be coming into Dallas that weekend.  My other best friend who lives in Dallas but is always traveling happened to be in town that weekend.  Most of our family & closest friends were going to be able to make it. 

I decided that we would have our favorite cakes - carrot cake (me) & german chocolate cake (marcus) - in the form of cakeballs from our favorite bakery.  My big sister arranged for table centerpieces, notecards for our guests to leave us notes, and a bouquet for me.  I found the perfect dress on the first day shopping for it.  I found the most perfect perfect outfit for Isaiah at my favorite kids resale shop. 

Marcus happened to have the perfect suit already.  I arranged for my old stylist from Henderson Ave to do my hair.  And my old neighbor makeup artist from Willis Ave to do my makeup.  We picked up a ring for Marcus at James Avery.  We ordered mine from a website.

Marcus asked a good friend of his, Ivy, to do the photography, and she said yes!  I thought we were going to my little sis & friends be the photographers. 

He invited another friend from highschool to the wedding.  Fitz asked us if we had a DJ already.  Later he told us that he never does that but just felt the need to.  I was so excited.  Music?!  I've always imagined music playing a huge role in my wedding, but I didn't think I was going to have any.  The DJ thing was confirmed 2 days before the wedding.  I was so tired from work & baby, but we stayed up one night thinking of songs we wanted.  I knew I didn't want to walk in with the traditional song, but I wasn't sure what I wanted instead.  I practiced walking to my final three possibilities, and I knew I found the right one when I started crying during the practice walk. 

Something I also always imagined was writing our own vows.  But I never thought Marcus would go for it, especially with only a few days before the wedding.  But he brought it up after leaving the marriage counselor.  Ummmm, yes I would love to write our own vows! 

Things were coming along nicely. 

We Got Married - Part One

Once upon a time, 4.5 years ago, I met Marcus Briggs at a restaurant named Cuba Libre.  He was my trainer one day, although he didn't do much training because he was too busy talking to everyone else in the restaurant & probably drinking to nurse the previous night's hangover, because that's how we did it back in the day. 

We were coworkers.  Then friends later.  Then business partners.  Then 2 Aprils ago we started dating.  (Okay, there was a little more to the story leading up to the dating part).  Well a lot more because at the time, we were already in love.  He told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.  And I felt the same way.

There were some things he needed to work on though.  Like he was almost 30 years old and had never lived away from home.  So we decided to take it slowly; we weren't in a hurry.

Then...  Oops, we got pregnant!  Sorry Isaiah, but we definitely did not plan to have you. 

When I started this blog at the beginning of my pregnancy, we talked about getting married.  It was something his mom wanted us to do, so Marcus said he wanted it too.  It wasn't that important to me; I've never been a big fan of rushing into life altering decisions (on purpose).  But I did want to spend the rest of my life with him, so I agreed. 

I started imagining being married.  Mostly I just liked the idea of calling the father of my child something different than my boyfriend.  But nothing ever happened.  His mother, his friends & I would occasionally ask about what was going on with the wedding, but he would always change the subject.  So I stopped asking. 

The baby came.  His best friend got married.  We started a business.  During all of this he talked of marriage.  But it was just talk; he never acted upon it. 

Until 3 weeks ago, when there was some drama with BB's (Isaiah's big brother) mother.  I don't know if I'm going to write about that drama yet.  Have to get permission from my husband.  The important piece of the story (for this post) is that the experience made him cherish his family. 

So one night he asked me when we were going to get married.