.:the most awesomest vows ever:.

For those who were curious about the infamous vows we mentioned in the previous post, Adam and Lilly have so generously let us re-post their vows. Engaged couples, take note:

[I preface Lilly's vows to remind readers Lilly is in vet school.]

My dearest Adam:

I know it is a grave tradition
For one standing in this position
To offer solemn vows of love
Sanctified by the one above.
In this duty I don’t mean to be remiss
While you wait there impatiently for that kiss
I wish to offer you this contract
which I would always like to keep intact.

I will forevermore try to do my part
To create new verbs such as ‘to shark’
I will hopefully exceed your culinary needs
And only defer to you the most unpleasant deeds
Like killing an occasional spider.
I’ll do my best to not get wider.
I’m game for most adventures like jumping from an airplane soaring
I will strive to not be old and boring.
On the number of furry friends I will try to keep a cap
So that we don’t end up living amongst massive piles of crap.
I will always seek to improve my mind body and spirit,
When you have a good point I’ll take the time to truly hear it.
I so enjoy our relationship and know we will encounter change
Over the years our experiences have had quite a range
For you I am willing to go all ten rounds
And I do not care who it astounds.
We will be defined by our achievements
And learn to handle gracefully any bereavements.
I vow to be honest
I vow to be fair
I vow to be playful
Do not despair!
I vow to be thoughtful if my angry switch is toggled
And never, ever, EVER let you win at Boggle.
I vow to be open to your thoughts and suggestions
I vow to never give in and to keep asking questions
I promise to do my best in this love and now mawwiage
To have you in my life has been a great privilege.



[I must preface Adam's vows by reminding the reader that he was a very recent law school graduate when they had their wedding.]

Lilly, this is my Opening Statement:
Lilly, I love you. I love you so much and I have loved you for so long.
I vow to love you each and every day, more than the day before;
I vow to hug and kiss you as if it were my last hug and kiss, but to look into your eyes like the first time I knew we belonged together;
I vow to dance crazy with you when our favorite music comes on,
I vow to always prepare garlic for your fabulous meals, because I know that other than that I am in the way in the kitchen;
I vow to protect you from any and all harm, including any spider that threatens you.

The Evidence.
From when we were foolish kids at the movies, holding hands and kissing, to teenagers at football games; to college students separated but not apart, I have loved you.
We have traveled from California to New York together, and from St. Louis to St. Croix, and our love has grown.
We have survived birthdays, Valentines days, weddings and funerals. We have survived vacations and Christmas, (and if we can survive Christmas with our families, I think we can survive anything).
We have sky-dived, scuba-dived, and hiked the Grand Canyon and yet all of this is slight adventure to what we will share together. I vow to take you on so many adventures, because this is just the beginning.

Lilly, this is my Closing Argument:
As your husband I promise to care for you, trust your love, be responsive to your needs, communicate my feelings, and show my love and respect for you, my better half. I say these things because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. -Homer

To summarize:
I will love you on the sea
I will love you in a tree
I will love you here and there
I will love you anywhere

I will love you every day
I will love you come what may
I will love you more than pie (the food not the number)
I will love you ‘til I die

I will love you here and there
I will love you anywhere.
Lilly, I love you.

.:lilly & adam:.

Some love blossoms early. When Lilly's family asked Adam if he remembered how the two of them started dating, he naively shook his head, "no". (We'll get to that in a minute).

Lilly and Adam are like vanilla and chocolate, like peaches and cream, like peanut butter and jelly. They fit together perfectly and they've been together for what seems like an eternity. The fact is, some love blossoms early.

The two had decided once she was finally in vet school and he had finished his final year in law school that they would tie the knot in a small ceremony surrounded by their immediate family. So Adam and Lilly (or Lilly and Adam, if you prefer) dressed up in their finest to celebrate their new life surrounded by beautiful floral designs by My Secret Garden and a family with just enough spunk and character to keep everyone laughing and entertained. Lilly's mother put on her pink, self-labelled "monkey suit" paired with sparkly heels(which later she moved back and forth quickly every time she noticed me trying to take a photo of them during the wedding-which, as she had planned, messed up those shots) and kept Lilly in all smiles while Adam greeted the arriving family in A.P. Green Chapel upstairs.

When the moment arrived, Lilly approached the front of the small chapel arm in arm with both of her parents to the sound of a gong and Adam took her in with eyes that showed how long he had been waiting for this moment. Their claim to fame during their simple ceremony were their vows which they not only wrote, but made sure rhymed. After the ceremony and quick family photos for all Adam and Lilly made their way to Columbia's fine Wine Cellar & Bistro where they were greeted with a surprise.

They knew something was going on when they arrived to see Lilly's mother (already changed out of the sparkly heels and into tennis shoes to match her skirted pink "monkey suit") keeping watch for their arrival. Apparently, all of the family had pitched in to help create a slideshow (which they were finishing the set up of) of the couple from birth to present. But, not only did the slideshow include photos, it included the beginning of their courtship so very long ago.

After enjoying their first slice of cake together (which I might mention was a cake decorated with vet symbols for Lilly) the two finally sat to enjoy this surprise (that they were getting a little nervous about, knowing the nature of their family). Lilly's mother asked Adam, with a sly smile, if he remembered how the two began dating. Adam's face turned a little red as he slowly shook his head, "no," scared where this was going...

Turns out, as their families quickly reminded them, Adam asked out Lilly by writing a little message on Lilly's bedroom wall in sharpie one fine day in high school. Luckily, Lilly's mom snapped a photo of it, and then typed it out so that we could all read it on the screen. Everyone shared the laughter.

This is the love of Adam and Lilly.

[Adam and Lilly had their engagement photos taken the *week* of their wedding! We did a few photos downtown and got them ordered in time to have them displayed at their actual ceremony. So when those wedding books tell you that you have to have your engagement photos done a year in advance, these two are living proof that it isn't always necessary!]




And because it's technically "doppelganger week" on facebook (and strangely has been for the last three weeks...) I noticed as I was going back through their photos that Lilly bears a strange resemblance to Stana Katic, who plays a character named Kate Beckett on the show "Castle".














Notice the adorable little animals on their cake?






I bet Adam had this same suave face when he was writing that message on Lilly's wall. = )


And just because it's my goal this year to finally enjoy the taste of wine, I give you more wine corks.


The end!

.:26:.

So as of yesterday, it's been 26 short years. I always thought 26 was old (after all, it's closer to 30 than to 20). When I was little I thought that by the time I was 26 I would definitely be taller than 5'4", be a ridiculously famous cellist/singer/actress/artist, and look as old as Kelly from Saved by the Bell (who looked 27 when she was supposedly 16 on the show). Alas, I am still 5'2", am neither a famous cellist, singer, actress, nor artist and I tower at an intimidating 5'2". But life couldn't be more fantastic. I may not look like Kelly Kapowski or be known in Hollywood circles, but I am blessed. My husband is more amazing than I could have ever asked for, and I am loved.

So, as I never do, I'm posting photos of myself to placate you silly friends that continue to request them.

This is me at age 11. Pretty hot, huh? Standing tall at 5'2" I was convinced that since I was one of the tallest in my class for the first time in my life that I would have to be at least a lofty 5'6" someday. I also held to the theory that since I was an ugly duckling I would thus grow into a beautiful swan as an adult (with my gorgeous classmates obviously doomed for uglydom). Wow... if it only worked like that in real life. (Note to all readers, never, I repeat NEVER choose "Blossom" hats as your signature "style". They date you quickly and look even worse when paired with fuzzy sweaters, glasses, braces, and a perm gone wrong on Christmas.)




These were taken yesterday on my birthday. Brian took them. I may not be the beautiful swan I'd imagined when I was 11, but I still feel pretty sassy sometimes thanks to a husband who takes the time to tell me at least a dozen times a day in a dozen different ways how gorgeous he thinks I am. How gloriously wonderful and rare is that?



On a last note, thanks to everyone for their wonderful birthday wishes on facebook! If we aren't friends, let's be. = )

-Mallory (Thomas) Taulbee

Cuz baby I'mma thug...

.:basketweaving:.

Brian and I have never been much for gifts. When we were in pre-marital counseling we sat down and made it a point to ascertain our love languages. We discovered that for me, spending quality time together was number one, for Brian, it was snuggling. Luckily, snuggling was a close second for me and time was a close second for him. The love language of gifts was dead last for both of us.

People ask us what we get one another for birthdays or Christmas or anniversaries. The fact is we rarely get one another anything. Honestly, we feel so blessed every day to spend time with one another that gifts are just extraneous in our lives. As Brian and I sat down almost three years ago now and mapped out what we wanted our future holidays to look like I realized the ones I remembered the most were when my family went somewhere or did something different. I could hardly recall any of the gifts I had been given but I remember the Christmas my family went to Crown Center and heard the caroler's at night and we watched A Shark's Tale together in our hotel room and played the game Block'em as we waited for our room service.

I am so blessed to have an amazing family and a few years ago my mom started deciding to use holidays as a time for quality family stuff rather than filling it with gifts we'd all just throw away afterwards. (Although I do readily admit that I miss the packs of Ferrero Rochers.)

My mom planned one such trip for our family this past winter. I took pictures of it long ago meaning to post them but they got buried under a growing list of things I had to do immediately. She took us basketweaving. Brian was reluctant to go, as he was last time, but he made it through. We all drove to good old Linn, Missouri (where my mom grew up and most of my relatives still reside) for the Dudenhoeffer's rare basketweaving class. The Dudenhoeffers are a talented pair. Not only do they have a log cabin they hold their classes and do their own basketweaving in, but she also throws pots and he carves many a wooden animal. I met their daughter many years ago when my mom brought us out to their farm to pick up our first goats. (I try not to hold it against them that they were the ones that got my mother hooked on goats. They, unlike my mother, were smart enough to get rid of the goats. My family still has theirs. Give me a holla' if you need a goat for Eid al-Adha or some other festival/feast. Seriously.) She is as kind-hearted and genuine as her parents but is no longer at home but is out continent hopping in the name of finding fantastic vineyards for making exquisite wine. Ahhh... if we could all be so lucky. = )

A photo of all of the lovely persons that were along for the basketweaving class. Poor things had to deal with my mother and I's very loud voices and Brian and I's stubborn determination to end up with baskets different than everyone else's. Notice how Brian's is thinner and mine is much wider than everyone else's? Yeah, we're dorks:

.:sarah & kris:.

Now that I can work fulltime I am bound and determined to finish posting all of the incredible weddings with the fantastic people we did in 2009. So today, I start with Sarah and Kris.

Once upon a time

Once upon a time in the far away land of Ireland, men and women of all different ages and from all different times decided to begin a new life in the distant land of America. They scattered all over the new nation and developed new hopes and dreams and ideals but never lost their heart for their homeland. Lo and behold, there weren't as many fiery Irish in the states as at home, of course, but somehow Sarah's mother and Sarah's father, both fullblooded Irish, found one another and fell in love (despite a few warnings from family and friends that their tempers might possibly make marriage a little more difficult). They loved one another with the fierceness that only an Irishman knows. They ended up having not one, not two, but three freckled, redheaded children. The middle of which was Sarah.

their story

Sarah, as the middle child, was the peacemaker. She was a hard worker, hated to make decisions, but felt drawn to help everyone she could. It was clear that she was a nurturer so when she chose to be a nurse, no one was surprised. One fateful day Sarah's cousin introduced her to this great guy [[enter Kris]] at a time Sarah wasn't expecting it. Kris saw Sarah like he'd never seen another woman and he loved her. Everyone could see it. These two gentle souls fit. She made it her job to take care of others but suddenly someone wanted to take care of her. Though scary at first, Sarah soon learned she could trust her life in the hands of this gentle man who had eyes for her and her alone. When he asked her to marry him, Sarah knew without a doubt that this was the man she wanted by her side to weather life.

the wedding day

They planned a wedding at Stephen's Lake Park on an unseasonably beautiful day. Sarah wasn't big on planning and Kris was even less so, so they let family and friends sweep them up and help them plan the seemingly overwhelming task of a wedding. Artistic family jumped in to decorate and somehow they all finally decided on the flowers that would go into their silk bouquets.

They nixed the rehearsal since how hard can a wedding ceremony be? The day was filled with laughter. Sarah & Kris saw each other beforehand to get all of their photos out of the way--they wanted to enjoy the rest of their day. The groomsmen made a last minute switch (they were on the wrong side) as the bridesmaids walked to the altar one by one. The flower girl and ringbearer approached the front as the wedding party waited. The parents of the little ones held their breath (as most parents in their situation do) but started to exhale as the little ones made it to the end of the aisle without a single hangup. Suddenly though, the ringbearer realized the flower girl had a much cooler job than he (you have to admit, throwing petals is a much more active job than carrying a pillow) so at the end of the aisle came a short tussle for the basket. Like a lady, the flower girl acquiesced her basket to the little boy who threw a few petals with a huge grin on his face and then took his seat with his grandparents. Sarah approached to the melodies of a beautiful violin played by a childhood friend.

The day was gorgeous. Afterwards, Sarah and Kris, took a run through the sprinklers at Stephen's Lake Park alone. Kris had brought a black suit to wear in lieu of his rented tux and they knew the fabric of Sarah's dress would be just fine. So they did it. As they walked back to Reichmann Pavilion for their reception festivities and Irish jigs, they were content. The two held hands, observed the wet trail they were leaving behind them on the sidewalk, and giggled as they looked into one another's eyes. All was well. Today was the mark of the rest of their lives together and they wouldn't have it any other way.




















P.S. I normally don't throw in bridal party photos but I had to throw this one in. Sarah & the girls realized after the ceremony that they'd all forgotten to use their bouquets that had been so painstakingly put together for the ceremony. They were bummed. So to make up for it they did a few pictures with their bouquets in prominent positions. This was probably the favorite of the day.

.:shandy & brad:.

This year began, again, with a wedding. = )

A photographer friend of ours oh-so-many-years-ago confessed that he had an opportunity that he had turned down to do photography fulltime with a company. His reason? He would be travelling all over the country with a partner--a female--and, well, when two people spend a lot of time together, they either fall in love or begin to despise one another.

Funny story--that's what happened with Shandy and Brad. These two lovebirds travelled around the U.S. taking photos of martial arts kiddos in front of gray backdrops and then photoshopping in super cool red flames (okay, maybe it's not so super cool but the kids think so). Somewhere in there they fell in love and realized that they would make a great team off the job.

The two tied the knot in a short ceremony at Reichmann Pavilion on New Year's Eve. They, like us when we married two years ago, decided that a quick ceremony flocked by a single attendant and a short reception for close friends and family would do because they were ready for their honeymoon cruise. They also had a slideshow running with photos of their younger years (one had a mullet and the other was a little pudgy--I'll let you guess who had what) which entertained more than a few of us. Speaking of entertaining, I'm sure because they've had so much experience behind the camera, Shandy and Brad made some fantastic faces!

P.S. Brian said I must mention that their processional was his favorite Thrice song, "The Weight" (so favorite, in fact, that he made it my ringtone months ago).

P.P.S. If you are reading this from facebook and aren't seeing photos, click here to see the actual blogpost.