March 3

17 years ago today I officially became GinaEgg. Of course, all of Brad's fraternity brothers had referred to me as either The Egg Wife or MrsEgg for the previous four years - but on this day in 1990, it became official.

Photos from the day thanks to Greer and Skip Lile (awesome, awesome photographers)
My bridesmaids, flower girl and I -- yes, even the flower girl had a garter! This was a fun photo to shoot. Left to right: Kristen (flower girl); Mitzi, my college friend (who got married three months later), Sammie, my sister and maid-of-honor; Me; Liz, my high school and college friend and matron-of-honor; Terri, my cousin (who got married four months later).















The Bride. Gown was silk taffeta with Alenceon lace accents on the bodice, bow and train by Jena. And no, your eyes don't deceive you. I did not wear a veil. I didn't want anything covering the back of my dress. I mean, people were going to have to stare at my back during the ceremony, I thought they should at least be able to see the dress I'd spent so much time choosing and having altered to my liking! So, Mrs. Higman from The MaRu in Pine Bluff made a bow for my hair from the same fabric and lace as my dress.

Here we are, leaving the ceremony. Yeah, he's a dolt - arms straight at his side. He could've at least acted like he was a little bit excited. Instead, he was a lot hung over. (arrrrrrgh!)











This is what Greer and Skip (our wedding photographers) called "The Mafia Princess" photo. Me and all the guys. See that little bitty guy there? Our ring bearer, Eric, turned 3 about three weeks after the wedding. He's now a college sophomore and such a GREAT guy!
I loved our cake. It was not at all the traditional cake (a lot of things about my wedding were "tradition with a twist" -- as you notice above, my garter was black and it had sequins and feathers on it! ; I didn't wear a veil; you'll see below that we didn't leave to a shower of rice or birdseed - I wanted tradition, but I wanted my own stamp on it) Our cake was a hexagon rather than the traditional square or round cake, the only color came from the flowers, and rather than traditional white cake I chose a spice cake (I really wanted carrot cake!)

I didn't want rice/birdseed bags. I didn't want those rice/birdseed roses everyone was making in the late 80s/early 90s. I wanted two big willow baskets full of birdseed and everyone grab a handful on their way out the door. My matron-of-honor was absolutely aghast that I didn't want tulle bags tied with a little satin ribbon. Ick. No. "But you have to have them!" "Why? I don't want to make them!!" So, she said, "Will you have them if I make them?" "If you make them, fine. Just don't pull me into it." The morning of the wedding I called and asked, "Hey, are you bringing the birdseed bags?" She'd completely forgotten (typical, but don't get me started...there's a reason we're no longer close). What the heck am I supposed to do now, Liz? She told me not to worry, she would take care of it. Fine. Whatever. Go buy Silly String and instruct everyone on how to use it, that'll be fine (shoot it up in the air -- not AT us -- that way it dries before it hits me and won't stain The Dress). "No, I'll take care of it. I have an idea. You'll like it." So, she bought tissue paper rose petals. It made for a beautiful photo, but 17 years later, my grandmother STILL whines to me about having to pick them up. The church parking lot was newly paved -- as in paved earlier that week. So, the tissue paper hit that fresh new pavement and *stuck*. They weren't able to sweep them up - they had to pick up each individual one. My mom wasn't thrilled about it either. Personally, I think they should've made Liz pick 'em all up. ;) But, it was a happy, beautiful day - about 70-degrees (F), not a cloud in the sky - the kind of wedding day everyone should have. :)

And, for the first time in four years, my new husband told me I looked beautiful. Yeah. A good day.