february 22nd...and the day came.

The whole thing felt surreal, I look back and I'm still not sure it happened, so it's a good thing I've got picture evidence!

 My sister Caitlin came and spent the night before with me, we were up quite late putting together bouquets, River's mom Rhonda and Caitlin had gone out and bought a huge variety of flowers in all the colors I was looking for. I actually love that we put together things ourselves rather than have them done, it was fun and a great time for us as sisters to spend before the wedding.

Woke up bright and early that morning, loaded up the car with everything, and went downtown for some breakfast, but more importantly, coffee!

Then it was to the salon, I used the stylist that I've had for the past couple years, she doesn't normally do weddings, but gave this to me as a gift. We had a bit of a mix up with things at first, the week before the wedding I had gone in to get my color done and ended up with purple hair, purple! Needless to say I had a bit of a freak out moment. But she managed to fix things for me, after freaking me out some more by doing some bleaching, and then some toner over it all. 

And off to the church! After another coffee stop, how I was not shaking I have no idea.

We wanted the day to be relaxed, no stress, no feeling like we were performing a ceremony for a huge audience, just us joining together as husband and wife and then celebrating that fact! 

We had a brunch beforehand with the family and enjoyed spending some time together before things started, then once I was in my dress didn't see each other until that moment the doors opened for that walk down the aisle. Gotta say, I was never nervous, just extremely happy and excited!

My grandparents flew up from California and Grandma brought with her a Norwegian penny that brides in the Carstensen family have worn in their shoe for many generations.

I am not a glitzy glamour type girl, but I had always wanted to wear a sparkly pair of high heels for my wedding. Guess a little bit of me does like the glamour.

...but for when those heels became too much, I had my cowboy boots on standby!

That moment before those doors opened, I had everything and nothing going through my head, it was a whirl, and as it all spiraled around in there the only thing that came out clearly is that I was about to be married, to my best friend, my blue jean knight, the man who I had cared for and hoped and dreamed about for so long, and I was glad we didn't pursue anything sooner, I needed that time to learn who I really was, I loved my single years, and this wasn't an ending or a beginning, just a continuation, of life. Life was about to change...

We decided to have River walk back down the aisle to come get me, not traditional I know, but I loved it! Wouldn't have had it any other way.

His father and grandfather performed the ceremony, and we wrote our own vows, it was all so quiet and simple, no fuss, just us, getting married! 

More to come...

february 21st...just one day more!

 Of course the day started out with coffee, lots of coffee! Made a stop at my favorite little coffee shop down in Bigfork before driving to the church that morning, miss that place!

The reception was amazingly easy to get together, we held it in a ballroom in downtown Kalispell which was already gorgeous so didn't need a whole lot done. We set up table around, lanterns for centerpieces and candles, lots of candles!

 I had so many emotions going through my head that day. Did some beaming, some crying, laughing, both happily and hysterically. It was a lot of ups and downs.

But all in all, it was a wonderful day, pulling everything together for my wedding, my wedding! It was hard to believe that this was actually mine. I've spent a long time helping with friends weddings, it was so hard to comprehend that this was my own. 

It was exhausting... =)

december 14th... we got engaged.

Looking back at the way everything went over the fall makes me want to squeal with excitement and anyone that knows me knows, I am NOT a squealer. Ever. But this guy...

I haven't been able to get a smile off my face since we started things. I had a huge crush on him when we were sixteen, he became one of my best friends, someone I could talk to about anything, I could never figure out if I was completely comfortable or totally nervous around him, it was always such a exhilarating combination of both. 

He has always been able to make me laugh, no matter what I might be going through, or how down in the dumps I might be. 

He is one of the most caring loving people I know. Always looking to help and protect others, always there for his friends. And every time I broke down through trying to plan things and deal with my own emotions in it all he was there, never tried to talk me into a better mood, or snap me out of it, just was there whenever I needed him. Is here, whenever I need him.

When he asked me to marry him, I couldn't have been more thrilled, the prospect of getting to spend the rest of my life with the man who has been the best friend ever.

look again...

Okay, now to really change things up. That last photo from the previous post, of me and a group of friends hanging out at the rodeo. Look at it again, but focus on this guy...

That's River, a great friend for many years, we drifted apart for a while, started talking again over the course of that spring and summer, and now... he's my husband! More to come on that tomorrow!

to continue...

As I consider all the changes that came about in my life after this point, it almost difficult for me to believe it all actually happened and happened so fast. In June of last year, we went back down to California for my Aunt's wedding, along with spending some time with my grandparents on the coast.

Loved spending time with the littles at the beach and zoo, there's so much for them to learn and discover and it is such a joy watching them. The road home included many coffee stops and a super crowded car due to getting a little too enthusiastic in Ikea.

And this sums a lot up...

Spent a lot of time on the lake and river, and hung out with this guy...

Went on some great hikes.

And to some great plays at the Summer Theatre!

Okay, all that and I haven't even gotten to any of those big changes I previously mentioned. So... here goes, in July I moved out and stayed with a friend for a while before getting my own apartment! Even though my apartment was in the same town where my parents live it was a huge change for me, being on my own, working things out, and figuring out how to handle it all. Had a great time with it all, my apartment was a 5 minute walk from downtown and another 15 from the lake. Met some great new friends, got better acquainted with old ones and had a blast!