The whole big story of the whole big day

I woke up that morning as the sun rose, I watched it from the little window above my bed. I was calm, but I was giddy inside down to my core, like a little girl about to go on a grand adventure. It was gorgeous that day, the first Tuesday in April, the tall pines of Idyllwild swayed above us under perfect blue skies. My Dad had started the set up early that morning, making my day a bit easier to enjoy, then we began the work of transforming the "Silver Pines Lodge" reception hall and grounds into our wedding wonderland. The color purple started to drape over everything as we moved the furniture into place and unpacked the boxes full of decorations, wine glasses, picture frames, and lanterns. It was finally here. The day that has been stuck in my head for as long as I could remember, was leaping out onto the pages of real life. I was overhwelmed with happiness. 

When I saw the photos that were taken on our wedding day, I received a glimpse of what my groom had been up to, his afternoon was spent in the Pioneer cabin, along with some of the great men (and women) in his life. Jason is from England originally, he was born in London and raised by mother Pamela and his step father Nigel. When he was growing up near the city, he played guitar in local rock bands, where he met Jo, a young and spirited girl who would become his friend for life, spanning countries and oceans. Jo traveled all the way from England to share in this event, along with Jason's step father Nigel, a sophisticated and wonderful man I cherish and adore as my new father-in-law. In the cabin as they got dressed, there were moments of celebration, moments of rememberence, and moments of friendship hailing back to the good old days of rock. 

As the day flew on, I watched myself transform into a beautiful bride, as my long hair was lovingly curled and pinned up by the sweetest soul, Francheska, just her and I in her small sweet salon in Idyllwild. We spoke of everything while I sat there, from the wedding, to what us brought us to this town, to some of our deepest and kindest thoughts on the world and love. When I left, she hugged me tight and wished me luck. Back at the bridal cabin, the sun poured in through the second story windows of the room where I would slip into my shoes, be zipped up into my wedding gown, and adorn myself with special jewelry, each piece specially picked out for the day. Those are some of the moments that went by way too quickly, time suddenly stood still, but raced by as I came down the cabin stairs as a bride. 

I saw my Dad for the first time under a gazebo, I tapped him on his shoulder, watched him turn around, and saw every emotion rush across his face; he was so proud. We hugged, I twirled around a little, but mostly we just laughed, and we spoke to each other the way we always do when it comes to love, with the slight glimmer of tears in our eyes.

Then came a surprise, my maid of honor, Tiffany, had organized a beautiful moment for some very special people to give me some very special gifts. She said it was for tradition. I watched as my Mom pinned a small gold C-141 airplane pin to the inside of my dress above my heart, she said it was because if it were not for that airplane, she never would have met my Dad, and we wouldn't be here today, it was my "something old". I received my "something new" from my band of best ladies, who I named my "bride tribe" ; a cloth handkerchief to dry my teary eyes, embroidered with my new initials; HZA. My Father handed me my "borrowed"; my grandmother's brooch to carry with me, we pinned it to my bouquet to add a little family sparkle. Then my friend Rhiannon gave me a small white box with my "something blue" in it, a beautiful silver bracelet with blue gem stones and the words "you are beautiful" written across it. I loved it all. I was perfectly ready for my walk down the aisle with all the luck and love a girl could ever get. 

A little after four o'clock, my Dad and I stood in the lodge as the ceremony music started to play, I watched as my maid of honor walked down the stairs and along the path, I listened to the song I had picked for this moment, and hummed along to it while looking outside to the trees. My Dad stood at my side, my arm wrapped in his, as he prepared to open the door to begin our walk towards some of the happiest moments of my life. We stepped out into the sun and I felt my dress glimmer in it's warm light, I heard the familiar melody of Journey, I saw everyone smiling. I don't remember taking steps, it just felt like we floated down to ceremony. When I saw my groom he had tears in his eyes and the biggest smile I had ever seen, I was home. 

The ceremony was filled with giddy laughter, quirky moments, trembling voices, unexpected tissue use, and above all, affirmations of love. As it began we passed our wedding rings around to our small circle of guests, who each took a moment to bless the rings in some way. As they passed from hand to hand, from friend to family, and back up to us, our rings were given superpowers, all of the positive thoughts from our loved ones, all of their blessings, prayers, hopes, and support were given to us as our rings were warmed. We read aloud our handwritten vows to one another, and I was able to tell Jason everything he means to me, and what kind of wife I will always strive to be for him. We exchanged our rings and recited the traditional wedding vows, to honor, cherish, and respect one another, till death do us part. Then we kissed, and we were wed. 

We took a walk behind the cabins with our photographers and videographers, just us and them. The light was starting to turn golden, we kissed and laughed and stumbled into a clearing of sun and trees above the creek that ran through the property. I looked over at where we had just said our vows, took my husband's hand, and took a little wander. We could not have asked for a more perfect moments, it truly seemed the sun was smiling down us that day. 

Then, it was time to celebrate...

We came back to our family and friends as newlyweds in the golden light, there was cheering and hugging and photographs. Our families made a line of people that surrounded us and we wrapped our arms around them and took our new family portraits, both Jason's and my family, together in a photograph, standing proud and standing happy. Again, I felt blessed by the sun as it fell from the mountain sky and wished us and our new families good luck.

As the sun sank below the treeline, everyone went into the lodge, and it became full of candlelight, music, and our loved ones. We walked in as Mr. and Mrs. Austin, we thanked our guests for coming, I think we made them laugh, and I was able to thank those had helped me make this beautiful wedding a reality, I never could have it done it without them. As everyone started to enjoy dinner, Jason and I looked out over the room from our table, I felt so blessed to be in that lodge, having this great moment there on those wooden floors. The lodge has played an important part of the town's history and sometimes I like to imagine all of the wonderful events, influential people, artists, and kind hearts have walked across those floors and laughed within it's walls.

We don't dance, Jason and I, but we made a special exception for our wedding day. We had practiced in our living room the week before, we moved the furniture and put on our wedding shoes. We practiced twirling and timing and movements. We talked about when to do "the dip", and how many spins I should do at the end. I realized how wonderful of a partner I had, who will do anything with me anywhere. The practice paid off, and I was able to twirl and sparkle across the dance floor with my new husband to a song that said more in the lyrics than we ever really could; "I don't dance" by Lee Brice.  

The speeches were incredible. The only words that could do them justice are the words that were written themselves. My maid of honor found the old text messages I had sent her upon meeting and starting to date Jason, she read them aloud and the whole room got to hear how special I knew he was right from the start. It was truly one of the sweetest toasts ever written. My mother surprised everyone with a poem she had written for the occasion, with words so perfect my eyes lit up and a joy filled my heart in a way I will always remember. My father made Jason cry, and Nigel made me cry. Jo made us laugh and made me feel like a sister, and my step Dad Michael toasted words of celebration and kindness. Glasses clinked and music played. 

I am a blessed woman who has three fathers, my Dad, my step father Michael, and now Nigel. Not only was I honored enough to have each of them share their words with us, but I was able to honor each of them with a dance as their daughter. Each of them a memory I will never forget and a song that I will always cherish. I was able to witness my mother dancing with her new son in law, and the two of them laughed the whole time. The songs seemed to play faster and faster as it was time to cut the cake, eat icing from my nose, and play a game that I probably broke every rule to. Before I knew it I was standing in front of my girlfriends, bouquet in hand, hoping that when I threw it, I wouldn't hit the rafters. Jason removed my garter and snapped it into the bachelors, the moments seemed to be speeding up even faster. 

One thing that seemed to stand still though was spent in full motion. My "bride tribe" joined me on the dance floor and we shaked, shimmied, and twirled our dresses around to the musical stylings of "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift. It was the perfect moment with me and all my girls, just being silly girls, out on the dance floor. That must have been when the dancing bug bit me, because that led into a conga line, as well as a big circle singing "Shout" around us, and saranading my heart out to Journey. It was all of my favorite moments of every wedding I had ever celebrated with friends, family, and loved ones, it was every wonderful moment I have photographed over the years as a wedding photographer, it was every moment I had hoped for, and it was mine to cherish as my own day. 

Everyone slept in their own cabins that night there at "The Silver Pines Lodge", each picked for them, and I have been told that many of the people who experienced the town of Idyllwild, as well as their overnight stay at the lodge, truly enjoyed themselves and the fresh air that it provided. We couldn't be more honored to have shared this special place and our special day with our guests and now I am happy to be able to share it with the rest of our loved ones through these photos and this story. We love you all, thank you for making us feel like such a blessed bride and groom. 

-Holli Z Austin -