Bio

We're married! Honestly, nothing can prepare you for how quickly the day passes you by. Here are a few pro pics from our photographer, George Day of http://geo35.com/

Please email me at Leum18@msn.com

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How We Met

Tony and I met in the only feasible way possible: through the aid of the internet. Tony, oh-so-sauvely, first contacted me through MSN Messenger which was a service on my phone. After our first interchange we proceeded to email quite frequently while I was home for my Christmas break. Tony couldn't wait to meet me, while I couldn't really think of him as more than 'fictional perfection.' But somehow, Tony convinced me to agree to meeting him before heading home back to school. The stage was set for the first phone call, the night before the first meeting. It was over the phone that we discovered that Tony's cousin, Shanna, was roomates with one of my good friend's, Gracia. After a few quick phone calls to double check our references we were both able to meet knowing that the other was exactly who they had portrayed theirselves to be. We hit the ground running and have never looked back.

It's been very interesting and challenging to plan the wedding under just under 10 months, while finishing my degree 3 hours away. While the long distance cannot be helped, I can't wait until we are finally Mr and Mrs!

The Proposal

Tony and I had been together for 8 months, joking almost daily about marriage and the proposal, before Tony actually did it! I never once suspected it. It was too simple, he had me come home from school with the promise of a surprise. Who would actually say that they have a surprise when the surprise is a proposal?! Atleast that’s what I thought, so I was completely unprepared when he turned me towards himself in the grass at a downtown park. He kissed me and as I noticed his hand in his pocket, I pulled away and repeatedly said, “You’re not doing this right now!? You’re not! You can’t be!” But he was and it was perfect, up until the moment that I cut him off before he actually asked me to marry him. I was so excited to tell him yes that I didn’t realize he hadn’t yet asked! After my gorgeous ring was safely on my finger and I actually pried myself off of Tony we went on a horse drawn carriage ride of downtown St. Paul. He had arranged the special tour and that it conveniently ended right outside of a special restaurant for us both, the Downtowner Woodfire Grill. We then had a romantic dinner as the ultimate completion of the best night of my life!

It was perfect!

Vendors as of 8.5.06

Ceremony: Way of the Cross (Blaine)

Officiant: Pastor George St. Cyr

Reception: Courtyards of Andover (Andover) http://courtyardsofandover.com/

Photographer: Geo35 Studio (George Day) http://geo35.com/

Videographer: Rachel, Moments in Time http://www.momentsintimemn.com/

Wedding Gown: Wedding Shoppe

Bridesmaid: Netbride Dessy 2026 Cornflower http://netbride.com/

Alterations: Louise Kegley (FI's family friend and knot superstar)

Shoes: Marshall's Nina $30!

Veil: Shananigans (all three of them)

Tiara: Wedding Shoppe

Jewelry: Borrowed

Florist: Molly's Flowers, Molly Trio http://mollysflowerstudio.com/

Bakery: Queen of Cakes, Teri http://www.queen-of-cakes.com/

DJ: Instant Request http://instantrequest.com/Pages/home.cfm

Formal Wear: Savvi Tuxes Roseville

Centerpieces: IKEA very reasonable!

Chair covers: Heartstrings, without assembly

Linens: Midway

Makeup: FI's cousin, MAC freelancer

Hair: Simonson's http://www.simonsons.com/loca/index.html

Honeymoon: Secrets Excellence Cancun http://www.secretsresorts.com

Rehersal Dinner: The Seasons - Bunker Hills GC

DIY Invites

Love this purchase! http://www.impressrubberstamps.com/index.html

That is my happy face!

That is my happy face!

Two tubs full of handwritten addressed invitations . . .

Looking a little something like this.

Bridal Party

There is a laer of matte satin and then a layer of chiffon. Purchased through Netbride.com for a savings of $50/dress!

Flower Ideas

I'm very excited to work with Molly! We were able to communicate very well and I'm confidant that she will deliver the lush, feminine impact that I want through flowers.

Peonies are not available in August of course, but that did not stop me from falling in love with them!

So we will be using English/Garden roses, spray roses, double edged lisianthus, hydrangea, sweet peas and hyacinth. My bouquet will be mainly white, with green hydrangea accent and purple hyacinth.

Love this bouquet! But with a little more variety of flowers!

So excited for the gorgeous arch that Molly will be recreating!

FFIL made this beautiful arch for us out of cedar.

Clearance at JoAnn's! We have two double wood doors that will be closed until my entrance . . .

Love, love, love this mix! Will be used for tossing outside of the church, trying to convince coordinator to let me use it to line the aisle as well. http://flyboynaturals.com/prsoblbl.html

Our petal cone basket, all stocked and ready. I will be attaching some kind of decorations as well . . .

Actual petal cone, envelope labels my dears!

DIY Unity Candle and Aisle Runner

Gotta love Marshall's! $12 candelabra that I will definitely reuse!

Now I know why those people can charge $600+ for "customizing" an aisle runner! Lol I'm glad I did it though!

Music

Prelude: Contemporary Worship

Seating of Mothers: Instrumental A Page is Turned - Bebo Norman

BM processional: Instrumental Only Hope - Mandy Moore

Bridal processional: Amazing Grace - Chris Guttormson (Mushygal's DH)

Lighting of Unity Candle: Offering - Third Day

Additional ceremony song: Nothing Else I Need - Jeremy Camp

Recessional: This is the Day - Shane and Shane

First Dance: Making Memories of Us - Keith Urban

Father/Daughter Dance: Butterfly Kisses
Mother/Son Dance: Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) - Dixie Chicks

Ceremony

Question

Pastor -- Who gives their blessing of this marriage.

All parents standing -- We do.

Welcome

Prayer
Guests seated.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Challenge to Bride and Groom

Tony and Leah, God has established marriage as the symbol of Christ's perfect relationship to His Body, the Church. We have come to bring you as one before Him. Tony, God has ordained the man as the spiritual head, as the responsible provider, and as the initiator of love in this human relationship. By His enablement, your strength must be Leah's protection, your character her boast and pride, and you must so live that she will find in you the haven for which the heart of a woman truly longs.

Leah, it is God's purpose that you be a loving wife, that you respond to Tony's love in tenderness with a deep sense of understanding, through a great faith in Christ who brought you together. It is His desire that you have that inner beauty of soul that never fades; that eternal youth that is found in holding fast the things that never age.

Tony and Leah ,Christian marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two uniting and joining hands to serve God. Seek His kingdom first, and His righteousness, and He will add all other things to you. Do not expect perfection from each other, perfection belongs solely to God. You need not minimize each other's weaknesses, but always be swift to praise and magnify each other's points of comeliness and strength and see each other through kind and patient eyes.

Tony, this woman whom you hold by the hand is to be your wife. She has given you one of the most sacred things under heaven: a woman's life and a woman's love. You may bring her great joy or cause her deep sorrow. It is not what you bring her in a material way that will make true happiness--riches without love are nothing. The gift without the giver is bare. The practice of those virtues as husband that you have shown as her lover will keep her heart won to your heart.

Pastor to bride -- Leah, this man whom you hold by the right hand is to be your husband. On your life, your love and devotion he will lean for strength and inspiration. He is going to look to you for encouragement, for cheerfulness and confidence. No matter what the world may say or think, people may forget him, lose confidence in him, and turn their backs upon him, but you must not. May your life and your love be the inspiration that will constantly lead him to greater dependence upon our Lord Jesus Christ.

God will lead you into such situations as will bless you and develop your characters as you walk together. He will give you enough tears to keep you tender, enough hurts to keep you compassionate, enough of failure to keep your hands clenched tightly in His, and enough success to make you sure you walk with Him. May you never take each other's love for granted, but always experience that wonder that exclaims "Out of all this world you have chosen me." When life is done, may you be found then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May you ever serve Him happily, faithfully, together until you return to glory or until at last one shall lay the other into His arms. And all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Special Music: Nothing Else I Need by Jeremy Camp

Intent

Pastor -- Do you Tony, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Leah to be your lawfully wedded wife?

Groom -- I have.

Pastor -- Do you Leah, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Tony to be your lawfully wedded husband?

Bride -- I have.

Pastor -- Tony and Leah, you stand before us as the children of God, redeemed through Jesus Christ. Is it your purpose to establish a home that is truly Christ-centered, where the Word of God is read and obeyed; a home that is welded together by prayer in which the Holy Spirit is your constant guide?

Vows

I, Tony/Leah, take you Leah/Tony with deepest joy as my wedded wife/husband. I pledge my life to you as your loving and faithful husband/wife, promising my unwavering love, my truest devotion and my most tender care. I will love you in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow, as in joy. I promise to comfort you, encourage you, laugh and cry with you, and grow with you in both mind and spirit, for you are my truest blessing. Forsaking all others I will be honest and open with you, and hold everything that you are in highest regard. Anticipating the future, placing our full faith in God, I promise to love and cherish you without reservation until death parts us. Exchange of the Rings

Unity Candle Lighting

Special Music: Offering by Third Day

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-17 NIV

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Lord’s Prayer (Congregation)

Benediction

Presentation of couple

Recessional: This is the Day (CD, Shane and Shane)

Hair, MakeUp and Jewelry

My beautiful vocalist Gracia borrowed me her necklace, earrings and bracelet, which remarkably enough lend themselves beautifully with my tiara! (oddly enough, this picture was before my makeup trial . . . )

Hair with Carrie Skovlund at Simonson's! Love her!

After my makeup as was escalated into a bad situation, I finally went ahead and scheduled a trial at my salon. All of the headache I could have avoided . .

Viola! The closed eye shot and semi smirk, because I knew FI snuck into the picture . . .

The Dress

Tony do not proceed ANY further!

I will get you Mister!

Lace and beading? I'm in love!

Arrived within one month of ordering it!

Good shot of my train.

The pretty bustle Louise did up for me.

The Details

Yes that is my LA showing up yet again . . .

$7 Old Navy clearance hoodie!

Detail of antique hanky my Mom got me.

Bathroom Basket's! Thank you Mom! Her's and His, no poem included.

Fantastic garter that my MOM made for me! I love every detail of it, we went and bought the materials together.

Gopher Hockey Garter from Morning Glory Garter, great turnaround! I ordered it a little over a week before the wedding and received it on Tuesday.

Our DIY Card Box, also curtesy of FFIL! And our free prints from our photog!

Beverly Clark - Blooming Love Toasting Flutes - Christmas present from FIL's! Absolutlely love them!

Teri - Queen of Cakes! We will work to incorporate blue and the floral motif from the invite . . . we will also be serving old fashioned doughnuts as a midnight snack! Our sample design, I'm extremely exicted how well our motif is being carried throughout the day!

Centerpieces

We have 3 centerpieces, alternating every third table, each of which will be placed on top of a mirror. All pieces were bought at IKEA for a total of $200, which isn't bad considering 36 tables. The hydrangeas will be taken from my Mom's garden.