"When planning our reception out, I had asked my mom what their first dance song was, and she responded with, 'Oh I can't remember; our band couldn't play the one we really wanted.' I stood up after my dance with my dad and immediately started crying trying to choke out how appreciative I was of them. 

They have the most beautiful loving marriage that they modeled for my sister and me, and I wanted to honor them the best I could. After I spoke a little about their marriage, and how they have led by example, I retold the story of asking about their first dance song..."

 "I explained that my band could play it, and that I wanted to give them the first dance they never had 31 years ago. 

With the fireplace crackling in the background and the Jazz band playing 'The Way You Look Tonight' by Frank Sinatra, I will never forget standing with my new husband watching the two most in-love people I've ever known dance together."

"Wedding planning was so stressful, but I've never been as blissfully happy as I was on my wedding day. I made the choice to not stress a moment more (having a wedding planner who took care of day-of decisions helped). 

Take it all in and remember all of the little sights, whispers, and emotions because those are what you'll relive for all of the months after."

"We chose to use special vows that the pastor of our church had written. Neither of us had heard them before, but others had told us how special they were. 

I had not cried all day until we got to our vows. The last sentence of my vow was, 'I am so glad you are my best friend, and I'm honored to be your wife'. I immediately got teary thinking about how incredibly blessed I was to have a whole future with Jacob ahead. 

We still say the last sentence of our vows as greetings or goodbyes on a daily basis, and it still makes me emotional."