The Secret Photos... Revealed
As tradition goes, the bride and goom exchange gifts at some point during the wedding festivities. This caused me a good amount of anxiety leading up to the event because I knew Ryan's gift would be mind-blowing. Any of you who have been blessed to received a gift from Ryan know he usually hits it right on the money with an appropriately thoughtful gift.
As I struggled to come up with a gift I realized I would never be able to match Ryan's gift, but I had to come up with something that would at least be a surprise. I believe I managed this by asking enough questions to make Ryan sure he was going to get a #23 Cubs jersey. So sure, in fact, that he decided not to buy himself another Cubs shirt at Wrigley the week before the wedding.
With the help of a great friend, Michelle Jacob, I was able to get Ryan a beautiful copy of a personalized "Four Horsemen" sketch that was stolen in his tragic Coors Field experience en route to Los Angeles in '04.
The "Four Horsemen": Reffett, Jacob, O'Connor, and Holtz!
While I did pull off a surprise, it turned out that Ryan had an even bigger surprise than I could've ever imagined. At the rehearsal dinner, before showing the video/slideshow he made for the occasion, Ryan said I needed to open my gift. He handed me a large, flat, heavy object wrapped in silver paper. As I pulled the paper away and uncovered a beautiful silver frame, I found myself looking at a photograph I had never seen. This picture was 18 months old and I didn't know it existed! At the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport, it showed Ryan down on one knee proposing to me! Beneath the photo was a lyric from a David Gray song that Ryan said to me that historic day.
I also received a second frame with a series of snapshots showcasing the entire event. You might be wondering how I hadn't seen the photos. The answer is that I didn't know they were ever taken. My husband-to-be had hired a photographer in Mississippi to take the pictures of his proposal secretly (as if the visit wasn't enough surprise).
Our friend Nicole has a short video of me opening the surprise on her blog. Thanks Nicole! Also, you can view all 53 pictures taken by sniper photographer Billy Herron of Gulfport at our new Be Yellow Snapfish Photo Gallery.
This was a lesson learned for me, as I clearly need to pay closer attention to my surroundings! But also, it proved my predictions to be correct. I was marrying a man who is the most thoughtful gift-giver I've ever known. Although, his secret keeping ability is a little scary, so I guess you have to take the good with the bad!
As I struggled to come up with a gift I realized I would never be able to match Ryan's gift, but I had to come up with something that would at least be a surprise. I believe I managed this by asking enough questions to make Ryan sure he was going to get a #23 Cubs jersey. So sure, in fact, that he decided not to buy himself another Cubs shirt at Wrigley the week before the wedding.
With the help of a great friend, Michelle Jacob, I was able to get Ryan a beautiful copy of a personalized "Four Horsemen" sketch that was stolen in his tragic Coors Field experience en route to Los Angeles in '04.
The "Four Horsemen": Reffett, Jacob, O'Connor, and Holtz!
While I did pull off a surprise, it turned out that Ryan had an even bigger surprise than I could've ever imagined. At the rehearsal dinner, before showing the video/slideshow he made for the occasion, Ryan said I needed to open my gift. He handed me a large, flat, heavy object wrapped in silver paper. As I pulled the paper away and uncovered a beautiful silver frame, I found myself looking at a photograph I had never seen. This picture was 18 months old and I didn't know it existed! At the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport, it showed Ryan down on one knee proposing to me! Beneath the photo was a lyric from a David Gray song that Ryan said to me that historic day.
I also received a second frame with a series of snapshots showcasing the entire event. You might be wondering how I hadn't seen the photos. The answer is that I didn't know they were ever taken. My husband-to-be had hired a photographer in Mississippi to take the pictures of his proposal secretly (as if the visit wasn't enough surprise).
Our friend Nicole has a short video of me opening the surprise on her blog. Thanks Nicole! Also, you can view all 53 pictures taken by sniper photographer Billy Herron of Gulfport at our new Be Yellow Snapfish Photo Gallery.
This was a lesson learned for me, as I clearly need to pay closer attention to my surroundings! But also, it proved my predictions to be correct. I was marrying a man who is the most thoughtful gift-giver I've ever known. Although, his secret keeping ability is a little scary, so I guess you have to take the good with the bad!
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