Couple's Photo Shoot

Forgive my vanity, I love these pictures and want to post as many as I can. So this will be a series of pictures.
Kellie was an excellent photographer, and she caught all the moments I wanted. So, here's how it went down!
As I mentioned before, I had one idea of a special moment we could take pictures of. We blindfolded Brandon and took him to a walking trail by our house. He had not seen me in my hair, makeup, and dress combo, so I wanted Kellie to get his reaction. Here's a series of pictures showing his reaction.

It was very tender.

Next, we walked around the walking trail taking random pictures... there were some gems in this photo shoot. If I could I would put every single picture on here, but I can't and nobody really wants to look through all of them anyways.

Brandon dancing...

This face most likely means "what did you just say?"... I doubt I"m actually mad though.

I could go on... but I have quite a few more posts to post. Kellie is so great! I love these pictures!

A little Note from Murph to Giull

This note is for posterity, so that we can remember how our first married semester went.
Dear Giull,
I hope you know how proud I am of you for working as hard as you do every weekend. Even though my "sacrifice" of the weekend means I spend nights in the front room doing homework/crocheting/being a bum, yours is so much greater. I know you do not like sleeping all day on the weekend, and I start to get teary eyed every time I see you get dressed to go to work, but I know it will be worth it in a few years when we can have some savings for a hard time. You've already given up so much, even a weekend with your mom in Jackson, so that we can have money to pay rent and keep ourselves afloat while we wait for our financial aid to come in. I wish I had a job so that I could help you out and that you don't have to do this every weekend. You're so great, and I wish I could help you out more. Just know that every time you come home and the kitchen's clean, or there's homemade bread or cookies on a plate for you, I'm doing it to try and make your life a little bit easier. You're doing this, and keeping up your grades in school, and still being a great husband and putting my life in a higher priority than your own. I will make sure to work for you while you're in PA school so that I can repay you somehow. You're my best friend, and I love you for everything you do. We will have a great life someday because of the work you are doing for us!!
Love,
your Murph

Gabrielle's Take

Did I mention I have a very talented best friend? It's not like it was that long ago, but I do get nostalgic when I see these pictures. I was sooooo off in La-La Land that day, it was great.
She took pictures in our pre-reception photo shoot, which was taken at a walking trail that was just built by my house. It was GORGEOUS.

The rest was cheesiness.

LOVE IT!!!

Dana Point Honeymoon

For anyone who is lactose intolerant or otherwise opposed to great amounts of cheese in one setting, do not read this blog. For it is the first newlywed blog post I have created!
So I am going to wait until I get all of my pictures back before I post on the wedding and stuff. I just feel wrong without them. Pretty much my whole wedding/reception experience was pretty surreal. I remember when we were having our first dance ("Til Kingdom Come" by Coldplay, which is also both of our ringtones for each other), I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was having my FIRST DANCE of my wedding reception! It was crazy! I don't remember much of what was said at the wedding, I just loved walking into the room and feeling the love of so many people that I have known for a long time there.
I'll continue. We got married, had our wedding dinner, which was filled with love and laughter. The laughter mainly came from my dad's impersonation of the walk he took with Brandon when Brandon asked him to marry me. He took the part of Brandon, and Tommy took the part of my dad. I just about fell out of my chair laughing. Some highlights were him spinning around the room saying "I'M IN LOVE I'M IN LOVE AND I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT!", getting on his knees and saying "I'm doing the work! Give me give me give me I need I need I need, give me give me give me!" from our favorite movie (what about bob?), and singing "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars and "The Power of Love" by Celine Dion. After all the toasts, I kind of stumbled out a few words. I was honestly still in shock and awe of how many people were there to support us and wish us well. After that, we were off to Dana Point for our honeymoon. We had some highlights from that:
We went to the beach that Monday. It was soooo nice, and I loved taking pictures there.

My husband, the puppy.

It was pretty good weather, I just watched Brandon get pounded by the waves. I didn't actually want to get beaten also.
We also went parasailing, but we still can't figure out how to put the pictures in the stupid Micro SD Chip onto our computers/anyone help???
Soon after, we went to New Hampshire. Which is the next blog post.

The Wedding Itself- August 20, 2011

So I'm finally blogging about the wedding itself.
What. A. Day.
I remember not even being nervous. I mean, what did I have to be nervous about? If anyone had the idea of being married made easier, it was me. I had my grandpa perform the wedding, I was surrounded  by many of my best friends and a LOT of my family, and I was going to be married in a temple I was very familiar with.
I remember seeing Brandon outside the temple, and looking around outside thinking "Wow, this is weird. I'm getting MARRIED". Still not nervous though.
The ceremony was beautiful. Let's be honest, I don't remember much of what my grandpa said to us. How many brides do? I do remember feeling so much love in that room, which was quite overwhelming. I couldn't even look at Brandon the entire time, because I was nervous about crying in front of everybody. I do remember one thing my grandpa said very clearly, "Ask your spouse, 'What can I do today to make your life better?' " I think that is one of the best pieces of advice I've EVER heard. Coming from a man who has been married for 54 years and still treats his wife like a queen.
So it was beautiful. I loved every second, and definitely loved getting back into my dress afterwards. Temples are so beautiful, and this was no exception.
Here are some pictures:

Seriously... we were happy to finally be married. Can you tell?

 I love that dress, I love that dress!!

 Thanks Brandon...

 Can you believe how much taller Bennett is than us?

 Grandpa Myres and Mom.

 Everyone who came from my side of the family.

 Family and grandparents.

 Dallin...

 Haha brothers.

 Gabrielle and Jen... two great friends!

 Giullian side.

 Family and grandparents.

 Twoo wuvvv.

 For a day I was a part of the Fairy Princess Club. I think it was my dress... normally I'm not allowed in.

 I love this temple!

 Us with the fairy princess club... and the flowers they took from the reception the night before.

 Us with Grandpa... so glad to have this memory with him.

Grandma and Grandpa Myres!

 I love that fountain!

 This is probably my favorite picture of the whole wedding... It's so great.

 Perfect... except the family sitting in the way over there for another wedding party.

 Flowers!

 So as you can see... I loved my wedding day. I wish I could go back and enjoy it more, but gosh dang it feels good to be married! I've loved watching other people get married, and hope that they feel the joy that I do every day.
So many thanks to everyone who made this day possible. Kellie Barlow for the pictures, Heather Mettra for the flowers, my mom for putting up with me, Sister Eaton for the beautiful beautiful BEAUTIFUL dress, Tiffany for my hair, my dad for paying for it, and everyone who came down to support us! I wouldn't trade having so much friends and family with me for the most expensive and "nice" wedding (by the world's standards) in the world.