Wedding write-up and a few more pics

It may only be up for a short time so get it while it's "hot"! Here is an online version of our wedding announcement that appeared in papers near Debra's hometown (located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) click here

Ed and I with Mary, the creator of our gorgeous wedding attire...isn't she an amazing seamstress?! I LOVE my cape!!

And a few more of our favorite wedding pics...

This one is of Ed and I just after the wedding. We had just left the church and were on our way to the reception.

If you look closely, you can see part of the inscription on Ed's ring. It not only has our initials, but also the words Forever & A Day.

Ed's Aunt Carol not only sang our unity candle lighting song, she also made certain that everyone processed in at just the right time! Here she is waiting with Duncan, our dashing young ring bearer. I love this picture!

Wedding party from left to right: Debra's brother Jeff (usher), Erica (matron of honor), Debra and Ed, Ed's nephew Duncan (ring bearer), Ed's brother Tom (best man), Ed's cousin Russell F. (usher)

Our dynamic duo, Ed's Aunt, Reverend Jean, and our Pastor Jennie. They ROCKED!

Erica and I have been friends since the 3rd grade!
Sara (reception hostess), Erica, Debra and Kim (reception hostess) Debra's mom, Mary, Debra and Ed, Ed's parents, Janet and Denny

The "seestors"! Debra's sister-in-law, Cheryl, Ed's sister, Dena, Ed's sister-in-law, Ayanna

So in love....

Hey Buster!! Wait for the cake cutting ceremony!! ;-) Mmmmm cake!

Ed ended our first dance with a romantic kiss. He's such a gentleman! Hard to believe I made it through that dance with a broken foot! The power of LOVE, I guess!
And our reception had a surprise guest....our very own court jester (Ed's Uncle Stewart). How many newlyweds can top that one?!

Check out these lovely Renaissance Ladies at the reception...cousin Dana, maid of honor Erica, Aunt Carol and Aunt Jean--aren't they GORGEOUS?!

Cheers!

View Our Wedding Pictures!!

I'm so excited....they are finally ready! View our wedding photos:
go to http://www.digi2photos.com/
Click on "To View and Order Your Event Photos" button
Select our names from the list of November 2007 weddings
PASSWORD: 031007

ENJOY!

We're back from a FABULOUS Italian honeymoon!

Oh my, words can't express how wonderful our honeymoon in Florence and Venice was. We bought a journal our first day in Florence and captured the essence of our trip in daily entries. We also took a lot of digital pictures on our new digi camera (a wedding present). Here are some slide shows of our time in Florence. I'll work on putting up some of our time in Venice later (these things are time intensive!!) Our Wedding Pictures still aren't finished yet, hopefully sometime this next week...stay tuned.

Florence 1

Florence 2

Florence 3

Florence 4

Florence 5

Saving the Best for Last

Both Ed and I are working part of this week. All of our relatives have departed and last night was our first evening "home alone" as a married couple. We are beginning to organize things for our honeymoon and will be focusing more on that as the week draws to a close. Our flight out of Chicago to Italy departs Sunday (11th) in the afternoon. We'll be spending time in Florence and Venice. Hurray! When we return, we'll be opening our gifts, our pictures from the photographer and videographer should be available and we will let all of you know where to go and what to do to view the images! In the mean time, I'm posting a few pictures that I took pre-wedding of some of the flowers that I made.

My wedding bouquet which has a lot of the decorative pieces that were in my Mom's bouquet when she married my Daddy:Here is the main altar arrangement:

These are the flowers that I made for Ed's Grandpa and Grandma. We were so happy that both of them could attend!

These are the flower bracelets that I made for my reception hostesses (Kim and Sara) and for Aunt Jean Holmes (co-officiant) and Aunt Carol Flanders (soloist):

Here are some of the flowers for the gentlemen:

We're Married! [Subtitle: Forever and a Day]

Erica and I had a good time at the rehearsal. I had on my "bride to be" tiara and E.O. was "sporting" my diva tiara--LOVELY!

This is me coming into the church and heading toward the altar and my handsome husband-to-be
Here we are getting ready to exit as Mom and Ed help me put on my cloak

Words escape me as I try to describe how incredible our ceremony was yesterday. Ed and I spent so much time planning it--making sure that the feelings in our hearts, minds and souls were reflected in all that was seen, heard, and spoken. Here are our wedding vows as well as what we said as we exchanged rings:

Edward and Debra’s Vows

Ed:

Debra, today I join with you to begin our life in holy matrimony.

Since God brought us together, you have made me so happy.

Thank you for accepting me as I am—loving me with your heart, mind, and soul.

As your husband, I, Edward Russell Smith,

promise to love you, Debra Jean Kakuk,

with all that I am and all that I will become,

to honor and respect you,

to comfort and support you

each and every day,

to laugh with you and cry with you,

to grow with you in mind and spirit,

to always be open and honest with you,

and to cherish you forever and a day.
Debra:

Today I choose you to be my life partner.

I rejoice and give thanks as I declare myself your soul mate

before our Creator and our gathered loved ones.

You have given my life deeper meaning

and filled my days with more joy and happiness than I ever could have imagined.

Thank you for accepting me as I am—loving me with your heart, mind, and soul.

As your wife, I, Debra Jean Kakuk,

promise to love you, Edward Russell Smith,

with all that I am and all that I will become,

to honor and respect you,

to comfort and support you

each and every day,

to laugh with you and cry with you,

to grow with you in mind and spirit,

to always be open and honest with you,

and to cherish you forever and a day.

Debra and Ed’s Exchange of Rings

Ed:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment.

I honor you in the name of God.
Debra:

I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment.

I honor you in the name of our Creator.

I don't have many pictures to share, yet, but will post them as we get them. Did you get some good pictures? If so, please email them to us!

*pause* My goodness, I just realized that this is my first post as Mrs. Debra Smith! :-)

The Final Countdown

It's been a busy week. Family is starting to arrive as the days before the wedding dwindle. I took the week off to attend to last minute details and wow am I glad. My phone and email have been busy. Not only am I dealing with our vendors, I've also been blessed to receive a lot of wonderful emails and calls from my close friends and family. Thanks to all who have reached out in friendship and love. Your support is wonderful.

Yesterday Mary delivered my dress and Ed's vest. They are both absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait for you to see them! Mary made Ed take an oath (raising his right hand and the whole bit) that he wouldn't so much as peek into the garment bag to see my dress prior to when I come down the aisle. He will be totally surprised and will see it at the same time as all my guests. So, I'm telling you right now, don't just look at me...check out the look on my handsome groom's face! *happy smile*

Mom arrived today filling my house with homemade baked goods. Mmmmmm....yummy! She even made me cutouts decorated with frosting in wedding colors! Ed's Dad, Denny, wants to stop by for some of her delicious rhubarb cake. My Mom is awesome at baking! There is fresh banana bread, apple crisp, chocolate zucchini cake, 3 other kinds of cookies besides the rhubarb cake. We sent Ed out to get some groceries so that I could try on my wedding outfit for her. I was SO excited. She is the first person to see it besides Mary, the dress maker. She made me cry because she offered to let me wear her Mother's 45th wedding anniversary diamond and sapphire ring. It is very beautiful, with 5 marquis shaped diamonds and 4 marquis sapphires (that match my engagement ring perfectly). I remember how excited my Grandma was to celebrate that anniversary and how pleased she was to receive that ring. She died just a short time before they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage. My grandma lived next door to me when I was growing up and I considered her my second Mother. I will also be carrying her gold purse and a handkerchief that she gave to my Aunt Beverly, who then gave it to me as an engagement present.

So that is the latest, we've been cleaning our vehicles and the house in preparation for all of our guests (my house will be full of relatives, friends, and assorted pets), and busy with last minute wedding details. My foot still hasn't healed and I'm still in a cast but I will take it off and wear my gold ballet flats for the wedding no matter what...better living through chemicals--Motrin will be my saving grace!

Tomorrow my two wedding hostesses arrive just in time to help us decorate the church in the afternoon. Aunt Jean will also come to the church so that she can meet Pastor Jennie. Speaking of the church...Ed and I finished writing our vows this weekend. :-)

For anyone that is coming in early, some of us will be heading over to the Holiday Inn bar/restaurant at about 9-9:30pm on Friday night after the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. If you're going to be in town and want to mix/mingle/meet some fellow wedding guests, feel free to drop by!

Legal Ties

Ed and I went to the DuPage County Clerks office this morning where we applied for and received our marriage license. *smile* One more "to do" crossed off the list. The woman that issued us the license was interested in my unconventional bridal gown, and she gave me her email address so that I can email her wedding pictures! LOL We just seem to make "friends" wherever we go!