And we lived happily ever after. (so far)
14 years ago today I went on a road trip to St. George to visit my grandparents with my super-cute boyfriend named Kelly. We stayed with them for the weekend, but on the last day of our visit, we decided to leave early and drive to Las Vegas for the day just for fun.
The next part of the story is where that the facts are in dispute. He says it was my idea, but I say he talked me into it. Either way, this is the story of our wedding day. (for better or worse)
We ended up in the Treasure Island Casino/Hotel. Looking through the yellow pages to find a place where we could afford to get married. I even took a picture of Kelly doing this very thing. This is mere hours before we tied the knot!
We settled on the Silver Bell Wedding Chapel because they offered the wedding itself, witnesses if needed (and they were!), and free limo service to the court house for the marriage license, then to the chapel, and finally back to your hotel. All for the price of $80!
We had planned on attending church with my grandparents, so we had decent clothes to wear. Not your usual wedding attire, but it was better than shorts and t-shirts.
The ride to the chapel was full of laughter and chatter about how old and ugly the limo was. I guess you get what you pay for. When we arrived, we had to wait our turn. There were two couples in line ahead of us. We sat in the lobby in plastic lawn chairs. Top quality accommodations at the Silver Bell!
When it was our turn, they took Kelly to the front of the chapel to wait, while they escorted me to the back closet at the other end of the room. As I stood in this closet with our “wedding coordinator”, she was talking to me about what was going to happen next, telling me how fast to walk and so forth. I remember that her voice was raspy and deep, like a chain smoker. I wasn’t paying close attention to what she said, because I suddenly felt strange. I think I began to realize that what I was doing was real despite the obvious humor of the situation.
Inside the closet was a large stereo, and at the appropriate moment, she turned up the sound to a Celine Dion duet from the Sleepless In Seattle soundtrack, opened the sliding closet door, gave me a little push and said, “Now you go get your man.”
Touching, isn’t it?
So, I start walking toward Kelly, who is barely containing his laughter. When I saw his face, I couldn’t stop myself from cracking up. About halfway down the aisle, however, I again was struck by the fact that holy crap I am getting married!
So I started crying.
Which makes Kelly laugh harder, and that makes me start up again, only this time I’m laughing through tears and a runny nose. At the alter, the guy performing the ceremony says all the usual things…just like in the movies. We repeat our lines, all the while our limo driver, Owen, watches from the pews.
Did I forget to say that he was pulling double duty as our witness? Well he was. Now that I think about it, we probably should have tipped him better. Or at all.
We didn’t have rings to exchange, but the Silver Bell included these beauties… they’re adjustable!
The ride back to the hotel was quite a bit different from the ride to the chapel. It was pretty quiet. I can’t speak for Kelly, but I know I was thinking about how I’m married. Freaking married. And nobody was there to see. And, what do we do now?
On the drive home that day, I kept trying to convince Kelly that we could just go back to our normal lives, and just not tell anybody what we did. He wouldn’t go for it though. We arrived home late that night. He went to his house, and I went to mine. (I was living back at home at this point.) My parents were in bed watching TV when I told them. They didn’t seem upset, or even surprised for that matter. It took about a week or so for us to find an apartment to live in. My mom made us go have our picture taken so we could at least send out an announcement to the family.
So there it is. An fine example of what not to do. I never got to be a bride. Didn’t get to wear a pretty dress. I didn’t get to pick out flowers, or a cake or bridesmaid dresses.
But as far as grooms go, I really scored big. If I would have had a beautiful wedding too, then it would have been too much good fortune for one dumb, impulsive girl to manage.
25 comments
Happy Anniversary! I do love that story and it does make it even better that you are now in the wedding industry taking beautiful pictures of brides and weddings. Life is ironic isn’t it?
Are you kidding me? You don’t think we were upset or surprised? I remember thinking that you were just kidding with us until we found out it was for real! However…..it all turned out for the best. Look at all the money we saved!
What a romantic story! I don’t think I could have eloped, but the concept of it is so … magical! Happy Anniversary, by the way!
That is too funny! I thought I was spontaneous – far from it compared to you. Happy Anniversary!!
Happy Anniversary! You guys seem made for each other…such a fun couple.
You guys are the cutiest couple, and you can tell that you are madly in love with each other. I would have loved to have done that. I hope you have a wonderful Anniversary.
well at least you weren’t walking down the aisle surrounded by your whole family and a bunch of people your mom invited to the ceremony, knowing the whole time you were making a huge mistake and thinking, “well, i can’t back out now.”
that’s how my first wedding (cringe) played out.
you’re lucky you found your man on the first try!
14 years though…that’s really cool.
This is freaking fantastic! This is why life is so much better when it is unique. You should go back next year and renew your vows, limo and all.
cute post and so fun to read! I do like Greg’s idea for next year~ nevermind, Hawaii’s better!
I love this post. It’s nice to know all the trimmings are just that. Congratulations on 14 years!
HOLY COW!!! That is quite the story! Way to go… You guys are great! HOORAY for moms that make you get official pictures! Both are priceless! Happy WA!!!
this is my favorite wedding story ever! I hear the girl met boy, fell in love, had a huge beautiful wedding (which I incidentally got to film) story every day. BORING! Now your story, your story has that little something special.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY yesterday!!
That is hilarious! I could never be that spontaneous! Partially because I was (am..) a silly girl who loves tradition. My dad continually joked about skipping the reception, having a “nice dinner” and giving us the money he would have saved. A wonderful idea, but I was like, I need the reception!! IT’S WHAT WE DO.
LOVE that the rings were adjustable.:)
I’m a day late, but happy anniversary! Love the story. Glad to know some vegas weddings end happily
Happy Anniversary you guys!
do you ever look back on your wedding day and think, “who was that girl?” it’s hard to even conceive that we are the same people that DID those things, made those decisions, not that we’d make them different now. it’s just weird. happy anniversary.
Kelly’s,
I’ve been stalking your blogs since I left gallery 4.5 years ago (I can’t believe it’s been that long!) and I finally think it’s time to leave a comment. I love this story. I’ve heard it a few times, but never with so many details. Gavin was laughing when I made him read it. It’s a classic. I really miss you guys and I will always claim my place at gallery! The kids looks great and so does the business. I didn’t think it was possible, but Kelly D just keeps getter better! Good luck!
Happy Anniversary! I love hearing this story. And not to start a fight on your special day, but . . .who’s idea was it, REALLY?
I could never grow tired of your stories!
Someday, (if appropriate) I would love to hear about your temple sealing. Do you celebrate that day as an anniversary as well?
I had no idea. You know what I like about you, you really live life. You don’t waste time on the sidelines of life, you are in the game and sometimes I feel like I get stuck in the rut of survival and forget to really live, so thanks for the reminder.
I have also heard this story, but not all the details. It totally fits you two. I think it proves that usually the best decisions are when you just go with your gut, don’t overthink it. And look – 14 years later, wow! Plus, I am sure that Kelly D. was thinkin’ “I had better seal the deal with this chick before some other schmuck comes along.” I think that you are beautiful now, but you were smokin’ hot back in the day Kelly A.! Shelby has a great idea about renewing vows in Hawaii! That is what we want to do! Do you think we could get a group rate?
I love this story! (Maybe because Jonathan and I did something similar?) But we decided to have a “wedding” for our 10 year anniversary. All our family and friends that didn’t get to join in 10 years prior to out happy times got to do so then. It was amazingly fun! I have pictures on my wedding planner website at http://www.carissamasonweddings.com if you wanted to see.
Great post!
HOLY MOLY! I am shocked! That is so awesomely spontaneous. I never would have guessed that…
Happy anniversary!
[...] cute guy and on a whim, we decided that, Hey we’re in Vegas, baby! Let’s get hitched! So we did. And the rest is [...]