It’s unbelievable to think how quick life changes and how good it can feel if you embrace it without fear of the unknown! Knowing that both Tammy and I were very ready to be married again, and without fear for the undoubtedly difficult times ahead; we made the arrangements for our marriage.
In this post I aim to share some of the things that were going on behind the scenes, as well as some photos of my visit you won’t have seen yet, it is written from my point of view and I’d imagine Tammy will write one from her side shortly.
Best laid Plans
With my 40th birthday fast approaching, the date for the wedding stuck out like a sore thumb, and so Sunday July 8th 2012 would be a the special date, a date we shall never forget and more importantly I have no excuses for missing our anniversary 😉
You’ll appreciate that planning a wedding can be hard work and stressful at the best of times, let alone when both parties are separated by 5000 miles! As ever Skype and the internet came to the rescue!! Allowing us to plan, purchase and communicate all of the things that go into a wedding. That said, I know I had the easiest of it as Tammy and a couple of her friends Samantha Hensel and Lisa Lanier, along with The Pastor’s daughter Angie Cagel and her hubby David really got stuck into the preparation. Thanks guys x
All I could do was be there for Tammy when we needed to discuss plans or let her vent off some of her stresses, she had a few bless her.
Tammy really is an amazing woman, hence my love for her, for example how many of you could cope with this?
- Full time mother of 5 wonderful, yet untidy kids lol.
- Degree student with final exams in the period running up to wedding!
- Co-caring for her Grandmother who has Alzheimer’s
- Preparing for a visa application for 5………complicated and stressful
- Endless housekeeping
- Whilst living apart from your partner.
Not easy hey?!
Yet she finds endless courage and faith to get up out of bed every morning and crack on with all that the world throws at us, incredible inner strength and it hurts not being able to be there a share her load. But that will be a thing of the past soon!!
I digress!….. Where was I?…… Oh yes!
All of our plans were set and eventually the date for my trip to Texas came round. Unfortunately it was only going to be a short trip, 8 days in fact and so with that in mind we made a pledge to ‘max out‘ the days, donning the mantra ‘Sleep is for whimps’.
On Thursday the 5th of July I began my journey to Tammy’s-ville, it was a really nice and heart warming experience actually, as I posted at different stages of my journey on Facebook and received lots of encouragement and best wishes from my family and friends xx
So after a little while travelling 😉 I made it to Texas!!! It was about 9pm (Friday 6th), in Texas and after dropping off my luggage at a genuine Motel it was time to go over to see Alex and wish her a Happy 18th Birthday!!
Yes! I wasn’t the only person celebrating a birthday that week, both Bryant and Alex had birthdays that week and another reason to visit when I did. Bryant was 12 on the Thursday and Alee was 18 on the Friday, great month for a birthday methinks 😉
My poor mum will be beside herself next year as June and July must now hold at least 15 birthdays for her to remember lol.
Rehearsal
On the Saturday we went and got my tuxedo fitted and gathered a few last minute items before going over to the church to deliver the cakes and prepare the chapel for the wedding. We’d decided to go Anglo American with the decor, with the Stars n Stripes and the Union Jack on display, no brainer really it was simple and gave the proceedings a nice, colourful feeling.
Anglo American
The weather nosedived quickly after my arrival lol, Texas was relieved to have the rain, but I’d just left the UK with some of the wettest weather on record!!
During a break in our preparation and before the wedding rehearsal there was an almighty storm, preceded by this cloud formation, to which both Tammy and Lisa both said “oh! that doesn’t look good!” I’m thinking this looked amazing and then the penny dropped, they were really worried that a tornado was forming and then I said “come on then, let’s get off the road and somewhere safe”, I don’t mind admitting I was more than a little concerned lol.
Big weather in Texas!!
Luckily the torrential rain that followed several massive thunder claps helped dissipate the forming tornado and we made it safely to a burger restaurant, albeit a little wet lol.
After our brief snack at ‘Wataburger’ (my favourite burger chain in the US…..official lol) we headed back to the chapel to meet the Pastor, Herb Pederson and to go through the proceedings and to make sure that everybody knew what they were doing beforehand. I’m so glad we did this and it gave everyone a chance to ask questions about the service and for us to decide finally exactly how it would go.
Sunday Morning………
saw myself and Bryant, who’d kept me company at the Motel, seek some much needed breakfast! We went big 😉
IHOP was the venue, yes Ladies and Gentlemen the INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES!!!!!!!!
(The scene of much devastation last September when I attempted to eat 4 blueberry pancakes and spent the rest of my day (travelling back to the UK) in some discomfort and swearing never to return to said place!)
However on the morning of our wedding, the nerves were kicking in big time and fortification was a necessity!!! I had to eat, so I settled for a spicy chicken sandwich and fries at 9.30 am lol, you gotta love the Americans!
After this mahoosive feast we both went back to get ready and await our lift from my best man, Terry and his wife Ginny (Tammy’s Sister). We stopped at a Walmart and got some last, last minute items for the wedding lol
Clockwork
We arrived at the church about 12.30 and both Terry and myself set about setting up the Skype transmission for my family. I couldn’t expect any of my family to come to the wedding, it’s so expensive and so the next best thing was to hook Skype up and broadcast back to the UK live.
However, my Dad’s brother, Uncle Malcolm did come to the wedding with his wife Sharon, they live in Sho lo – Arizona and it was great that they both could make it! I haven’t seen them in ages and it was a real treat xx
Uncle Malcolm and Auntie Sharon (and my beautiful wife)
By this time the nerves were really setting in and whilst Terry, an IT consultant by profession, finished off the Skype connection; I went and got dressed in the Tux.
From left 2 right: Bronc (Alex’s friend), Bryant and me
Here we are after just after hooking up with my family on Skype
My best man – Terry Moorhead
Terry really is a stand up guy, I’ve known him for just under a year and I really like him, he’s a cool customer, unflappable it seems, he’s very laid back and yet you can tell that he will not suffer fools gladly. We both hold many of the same values and thoughts about life and politics, and I knew instantly that he’d be my best man! Cheers Terry, you’re a star!!
It was a shame my boys couldn’t have come over for the wedding, there were several reasons why this wouldn’t have happened and I know that Lewis was unhappy about it. However, we have a plan that will hopefully make up for the disappointment a little, when we finally have a date for Tammy and the kids arrival we aim to hold a wedding reception for those that couldn’t make it in England. This will give family and friends the opportunity to meet my beautiful wife and a chance for Lewis and Jack to get in on the act 🙂
Breathtaking
So the time came for the ceremony to start! I’d been pacing about the place, trying to remember my vows, everything that we’d worked so hard for was now in sharp focus! It was great!! Everything had come together perfectly and besides the obvious nerves I was confident that we had all bases covered.
My wedding vows.
When I saw Tammy come into the chapel, her beauty literally took my breath away!! I was so happy and couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be her husband! We’d worked so hard trying to get our special day right and as all it went so smoothly, just perfect and I want to say a very big thank you again to those that helped us, that we love you and without your help it just wouldn’t have been so special!
Mr and Mrs Dixon!
C’mon!!!
Adam x
Love, Hope, Skype 