note: this is part IV of V in a series re-capping that whirlwind weekend i got married!

The Girls’ Night Out
The Rehearsal
The Wedding
The Reception in Moose Jaw
The Reception in Nebraska

we laughed. we ate. we drank. we ate some more. and boy, we laughed a lot.

i was so pleased that almost everyone gave a little speech. my mom, dad, Brandon’s mom & dad, Sara, Tina, Christina, Ryan, Kyle, Christopher, and my brother Jeff all had something prepared. i loved how Jeff brought up the fact that i would get carsick if i sat in the backseat, so i got to ride shotgun most of the time. Christopher claimed that he knew Brandon and i were serious the first time he met me because i was wearing Husker red. Tina had an awesome story from our early film(!) photography days.

i believe Brandon’s dad said something along the lines of “marriage is for better or worse. Brandon, you couldn’t have done better. and Jennifer, you could have done worse.” hah.

i received the most personal feedback from Christina’s* speech. she read excerpts from an email i wrote to her from Nevis on July 10th, 2008, intertwined with her own tale of falling in love with her marvelous boyfriend, James. hearing her re-read it over a year later brought tears to my eyes. my Uncle Milton came up to me after and said he hopes all of his daughters find a guy like Brandon.

i was keeping very tight lips about the whole thing, but i think i sent you a random having-a-fling-with-a-younger-guy-in-my-class email way back when… it was St. Patrick’s day that started it all. Joyce was the only one that knew on this end. the last thing i wanted was to be the basis of any in-class gossip. suffice it to say, he treats me like gold (and then some) and makes me wonder what the heck i have been doing for the past 10 years wasting my time on guys that hem-and-haw over commitment.

so his name is Brandon. we have been good friends since the start of MED 1. he was the guy that would get up at 6am on a Saturday or Sunday to ride his bike and meet with me in the anatomy lab to go over structures. i had a tiny bit of a crush on him from the first time i met him, but obviously wasn’t single at the time and didn’t really think about it much other than “damn that guy is hot.” he is from a super small town. he was quarterback and pitcher and played every sport you can imagine in high school. he was chaplain of his college fraternity.

some of the scary stuff: he is just a little bit older than my baby-est brother (7 years younger(!) than me). he is from Nebraska. his hometown is 15 hours south of Moose Jaw. he has never been to Canada or traveled outside of the USA until coming to Nevis.

and now the REALLY scary stuff: i can honestly picture myself marrying this guy and having kids with him.

WHA?

i know.

scary. believe me, Joyce doesn’t let me live it down. she is so thrilled and happy and giddy and asking when we are all flying to Vegas for the elopement. it’s hilarious. she hears all of the wonderful things he does and says and claims SHE has a crush on him. haha. i said to her last night: “i have been waiting 10 years for a guy that would treat me like gold and not be afraid of commitment. heaven forbid I’M the one that acts afraid of commitment!” so i’m going with the flow and not fighting my heart with my head. just letting things unfold as they may. and loving life in the process.

some mornings he gets up at 355am to bring me coffee and eggos when my alarm goes off at 4am. he leaves little notes and candies in my car. he buys me oreos from the cafeteria at 2pm on a day i’m fading fast. he can tell when i need a hug. he tells me i look beautiful at least 10 times each day. he passes me notes in class. he can read my expressions like an open book. he is taking me to St Kitts for three nights during our August break. he is flying to Saskatchewan on Dec 27th to spend the last week of our holidays together at my house. i am (very probably) flying to Nebraska for a visit before we both settle in to write step 1 next April.

we must get you one of these boys. MUST. : D

shortly after that, Christina did find one of those boys. she met James and he — rightly so — fell head over heels for her. and she, him. i’m so happy she found a man that treats her like gold, and then some. a man with whom she learned it is possible to fall in love almost overnight and when you know, you know. as you can see by my profuse use of italics, i just can’t get enough of Happily Ever Afters. i hope they don’t elope to Vegas so i can return the bridesmaid favour someday.

around 10pm we made a break for the 4Runner and i squirmed my way into a seatbelt while piling my dress into every nook and cranny in the front seat. it was like i had my own personal already exploded airbag. my mom says the yard is still covered in confetti. it followed us all the way into our hotel room shower drain the next morning.

Brandon and i chatted in the car and compared notes about the day. we fiddled with and admired our new rings. i was exhausted and elated and so very happy.

did i mention that our wedding cake cost $14?

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*talented bridesmaid and graphic designer, Christina came up with our fabulously unique invitations. you can see (buy!) her work here.

[all photos in this post are by Darlene & Paul (Duke) Paetz]

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