It Took Three Weddings

Growing up, I never dreamed of my ideal wedding.  In reality, prior to Martin proposing, I used to have the same recurring wedding nightmare:  It was my wedding day and either I had forgotten about the big day or it was a surprise (as in surprise party). Either way, I wasn’t prepared…  I was still pale, flabby and not ready to get photographed.  Sometimes the dream included horrible bridesmaids dresses that were purple and from the 80s and sometimes Martin leaves me at the party to go hang out with his friends.  The one thing that is constant, I was anxious and ill-prepared.

So, when it is all said and done, I find it ironic that the girl who never dreamed of her wedding, ended up having three. 

Posed with two options: get married while Martin’s current visa was still valid and “guarantee” the process of a green card or wait until his visa ran out to apply for the fiancé visa with no telling when it would come through (making planning a wedding nearly impossible), we chose the former.   And so, this past Friday (November 30, 2012), Martin and I got married at city hall.  It would be the first of three weddings.

It was a simple civil ceremony with our immediate family present (no one else was invited or informed) but the occasion was absolute beautiful.  We said our “I Do’s” (or at least I said “I Do”, Martin said “Yes, I will”) in the rotunda in front of a gorgeous Christmas tree, with our families there to support us.  Martin wore his new suit and I wore a simple white dress with a bouquet of flowers from my dad (the always thoughtful man who wanted to make the day perfect).  And, after a few photos, we took a limo (also compliments of the family) back to North Beach and Original Joes for dinner.  Tucked away in a private dining room, we were able to celebrate the nuptials over champagne, wine, and a classic San Francisco Italian dinner.   As my brother put it ”the evening was perfect and that much more special because we actually got to hang out and celebrate our love as a family without the obligations of 100 other guests.”

Martin and I spent the night at the Washington Square Inn, a cute B&B I pass everyday on my way to work.  And we headed down to Moss Beach that Saturday for a “honeymoon” at Seal Cove Inn.    With the first one absolutely perfect, I am excited for the next event “the Big Show” in June!