he morning turned out to be partly sunny but cool - some of the clouds in the sky looked as though they may turn ominous at some point. But I was happy - there was some sunshine and the clouds over the lake would make for a great backdrop for our outdoor pictures. Clea and Heather had woken up early so that they could get ready for their hair appointments - and so that I could take my time in the shower that morning. I thought it was absolutely very sweet of them. (Clea actually woke my mom and I up! Talk about a sound sleep) I took a nice semi-long shower and got ready to take the girls to the salon. My mom went off to be errand-woman and taxi cab for the family. I dropped the girls off at the salon so that I could make a run for the Dunkin Donuts to pick up some goodies for the salon and all the other girls who would be showing up throughout the morning.

s I waited for my turn to get in the hot seat I played photographer and took some shots of the girls with their hair all sorts of crazy. I also took this time to blow dry my hair and drink my Dunkachino. The next thing you know Heather was done and it was my turn...YIKES! I was sooooo not ready - actually my stomach became all sorts of queasy! And so it begins with Sahar, my hairdresser, making my hair do all sorts of things I was not aware it could do. My hair was beginning to take on a life of its own - it curled with no problem and each curl was getting pinned very high on my head in ringlet elegance. Sahar kept taking my tiara and testing where she would place it on my head.

t one point, Pamie arrived with a very nice bottle of champagne! Which of course I promptly asked Norbert (the man who cuts my hair) to open and pour the girls and me some champagne! A TOAST TO THE BRIDE & HER BRIDESMAIDS!

s we sipped our champagne, with my hair was about 98% done, Sahar places the tiara on my head and all I could do was just stare very blankly at the mirror. I had been transformed. She finished the last bits of pinning the curls and secured the tiara on my head and then she asked for the veil. I was still quite mute at this point. Pictures where being taken by the plenty and Sue had her digital camera on the move!

he girls get the veil that was hanging off the rafters and brought it to Sahar and she then begins placing it onto my head, just beneath the curls. And this is when it hits me - HOLY GOD THIS IS MY WEDDING DAY - and I lose it, and when I say I lose it, I mean I lost it. I started to cry and hyperventilate and I couldn't stop. Everyone was saying for me to get it out now because once my make-up is done I can't cry anymore. But by then everyone else started to cry (even Sahar) and that is when I began to relax again - as quickly as it started it ended.

ahar had completed transforming me from Maria to MARIA and I was completely enthralled and so very happy with the results. Unfortunately, that is when I realized that my veil is floor length and I hadn't a clue how I was to maneuver in it. Brilliant Idea Number Two: we loop the veil through the base of the hanger it was on and hook the veil to the collar of my shirt - I was the ever-styling bride-to-be! And it was off to the make-up chair.

y make-up came out better than I ever imagined - Dana, the make-up artist, is a magician. She made me look like I had the smoothest complexion without any foundation - it was amazing. And so, after two glasses of champagne, a dunkachino and some chocolate glazed munchkins, hair all done up, veil in place and make-up finished I bid everyone good-bye at the salon and left with Heather to get the wedding bands. We walked into Bentley's Fine Jewelers, amidst many a stare, and picked up the rings and received our first bits of 'Ooohhhs' and 'Aaahhhs'. The day was flying by and it was only the morning of my wedding day.

e get to my house by 10 am and now I am stuck with the dilemma that I have several hours to pass me by before I need to get ready for the photographer. So I take one look at my carpet and decide - it needs vacuuming! So 'Yes', with hair up in a tiara and veil hooked on the back of my shirt, I pull out the vacuum and begin to clean house! I am still vacuuming when my Dad arrives followed by Mandee and Amanda. Mandee takes out the camera and takes the most classic picture of a bride-to-be or the 'cleaning bride' as they called me. My father then proceeds to tell me that only his daughter would think of cleaning house on her wedding day!

t's now about 10:45 and the flowers arrive - and they are gorgeous! Lee, owner of the Bedminster Florist, drops off all the flowers and gives me a kiss and wishes me good luck and off he went. And following right behind him is the photographer - 45 MINTUES EARLY! Not all the girls have arrived, no one is even close to be dressed and I hadn't even thought about how I was going to change into my gown since my mom was running around playing taxi to all our family from all over and she was not there!!! I was getting REALLY PUNCHY AND NERVOUS!

o the photographer, Jim, and his assistant, Ray, arrived super early to the house - which in the end turned out to be a pretty good thing because Jim kept us all on our toes and ready to spring into smiling action the entire day. HE GOT US ALL MOVING AND ON TIME!

im began taking pictures right away - wonderful before and after shots of everyone in black & white. (After receiving the proofs back, I was truly amazed at how many shots he actually took.) While all the girls were getting ready in the second bedroom, Alissa and Amanda were having their own little photo session - since they were the only ones ready to go. Meanwhile, I was in a panic in my bedroom because my mother still had not arrived to help me get dressed.

o I call out for Clea and Margie, the only two girls who have seen me in various states of undress in my life (due to spending my college career with them). I commissioned them into helping me with my bra-contraption and slip - and this was filled with many a giggle, especially when Margie commented on how she would just like to borrow my chest for one day to see what it was like. With bra and slip on, Jim comes into the bedroom to photograph my gown that was hanging on the door and the 'Getting dressed' pictures.

t this point it dawns on the three of us that I was never going to get into my gown, as I couldn't step into it. The slip was too big and putting it over my head was a very frightening thought, not to mention an impossibility with just the three of us. That is when I called all six of my bridesmaids to the room and explain that they have to lift my gown over my head, and that I would have to swoop in under it. So they each take one part of my gown and hold it over my head (and since I'm short and they are all taller than I am - they held it WAY OVER MY HEAD).

pretend to be like superman and swoop under the gown and have them lay it over me. With a little bit shimmying to this side and that side the gown was on and zipped and good to go - and not a hair on my head was out of place! I can honestly say that this is one of my fondest moments of the day - there was many a laugh and a lot of snapping of pictures. With the gown on and veil in place it was time to start the formal shots. This is when my mom comes running through the door and realizes that I am already dressed and she starts to cry - it was the one thing that I truly wish we could do over so that she would be there to help. I assured her that it was all right and for her to get her gown on so that we can begin with the family pictures.

om got ready in lightening speed and looked simply marvelous - she did not have to worry about make-up as she had that done earlier at the salon. We posed for many a picture in the living room and this is primarily where Bridezilla made her appearance several times. Mostly because I didn't know what time it was and I was so completely panicked. Not to mention that to me it seemed like everyone was just laa-dee-daa-ing around.

remember that I almost tore poor little Amanda's head off when she didn't move fast enough removing some magazines out of the way. It was so bad that she ran upstairs crying. I also had several short words for my mother and father and of course my mother HAS to have this picture taken and that one - my nerves were shot. We then move to the front of the house for the outdoor pictures. The limousines had arrived and THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD was out waiting for us to walk out. It was incredible, awesome - all the 'Oohs' and 'Aahs' (especially from the little girls) All I could do was smile!

he limousines were gorgeously white and impeccable shiny! In front of the house were a Stretch Excalibur, and two extra-long Lincolns! My limousine driver, Greg, was a great man although he did manage to step on my veil as I was walking to my limousine and almost yanked it out of my head that I almost lost it right there too. He apologized profusely and was ever so gentle and gracious with my veil form that moment on. Me father and I posed for a few more standard shots at the limousine and then we were off.

y mother and father were in my limousine with me and witnessed as the panic attack begins and my dad turns white and my mom tells me to breathe and all I do is wave my hands in front of my face and roll down the window. And my mom then starts to worry that my hair will get messed by the wind, and all I can think is 'I CAN'T BREATHE!!!'

e arrive at the church and I see some of the groomsmen outside and a lot of people mulling about. Fr. Joe comes to the door of the limousine and compliments me and tells me its time to get married! So mom and dad get out of the limousine first and then they help me out - ONLY TO REALIZE THAT I HAVE THE HUGEST WEDGEY IN THE WORLD! I whisper to my mother my little dilemma and she lets out a hoot (thanks mom) but then proceeds to lift the back of my gown with all the grace in the world and helped me with my predicament. This little fiasco helped to lessen the tension - or so I thought! We joked that she changed my diapers when I was first in the world and it was only fitting that she helped me again with my undies when I was on my way to becoming a married lady!

s we walked to the doors of the church and waited in the back of the to make our entrance, my cousins came out to wish me good luck and tell me they love me. At this point I have a full blown panic-attack - tears, not being able to catch my breathe and getting really dizzy - even my hands fanning my face was not helping! Everyone stops. First Fr. Joe tries to help me calm down, followed by mom and dad (they had no luck in the limousine I don't know what made them try now). Then my younger brother, Gabe, comes around and tells everyone to leave me alone and he puts his forehead to mine and tells me to breathe with him - in/out. We do this for about 5 minutes and that is when I ask him if Kenny is there. Gabe laughs and nods his head at me and then I laugh and then everything just calmed down. It was the weirdest thing in the world - it was like the hugest weight was lifted off my shoulders and Gabe gave me a kiss on the cheek and went to take his place in line for the processional. Mom put the blusher over my face and asked if I was ready to go. She and my dad both took my arms and we proceeded to walk down that aisle....

really flighty feeling came over me as I looked around us at the pew-filled church and smiled at all the people who had come out to see Kenny and me get married. I remember being happy but at the same time saying in my head 'Please don't trip, Please don't trip'! I looked straight down the aisle and thanked God that I had both my parents to hold me up and then the closer we got to the end of the aisle my only focus was Kenny. Kenny was hard to see since his sister was RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM - and Kenny said he couldn't see me until the absolute last moment because of this.

e arrive at the end of the aisle and Fr Joe smiles his great big smile at us. My Mom and Dad then both bless me, as per Spanish tradition, and kiss me on each cheek (this is where I started to tear up a bit). My Dad leads me over to Kenny and says something to him, I'm not sure what it was but Kenny leaned over and gave my Dad a kiss and hug. Kenny took my hand in his and squeezed, (and I think it is at this point that we both breathed) we looked at each other and Kenny whispers to me "That's some gown" and winked at me. Kenny led me to my chair opposite him at the altar and the ceremony begins.

he readings went off without a hitch. Donna, the mother of our ring-bearer started to choke up at the end of her reading as did my friend Meggie, but no tears fell. All I can tell you about Fr. Joe's homily was that he emphasized how a family is built on a strong foundation, like rock, and that is exactly the type of f foundation that Kenny and I have. The exchange of vows and rings followed the homily: Kenny and I wrote our own vows but we had Fr Joe recite them for us. Kenny teared up as he said his vows to me and I choked up at the last bit of vows - you know - 'the till death do us part' part. Then it was time for the Spanish tradition of the exchange of coins - again we had Fr. Joe help us with these vows. At one point he said about 7 words too many for Kenny to remember that Kenny rolled his eyes upward and adlibbed them (definitely one of the more light-hearted moments of the vows). We managed to get through all the vows in one piece and we were officially husband and wife - but the kiss would have to wait till the end of the mass.

fter Fr Joe gave us the nuptial blessing he announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wegener and we kissed. It was the sweetest kiss I have ever received from Kenny, almost like a first kiss but definitely better. Then we proceeded down the aisle to 'Whooplas' and 'Hollers' and I looked up to the sky and said "Thank you God, Thank you". We didn't have a receiving line so we just all gathered in the vestibule of the church and said hello to people as we mingled about. Fr Joe then asked Kenny and I to follow him to the back room so that we could witness Heather and Kari signing our marriage certificate. He gave us our copy and said congratulations and kissed and hugged us both. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get any pictures with Fr Joe, as he had to run to do another ceremony (a 70 year-old couple was getting married after us in the chapel).

e then walked out of the church and Greg, our limo driver was kindly gracious enough to hand us our glasses of champagne. We completed our champagne/limo toast- pictures and all - and then everyone piled into their limos and the bus and we were on our way to the reception. Gabe and Kari came in the limo with Kenny and I and at one point the limo sounded as if it wasn't going make it - it made somewhat of a puttering sound, not very reassuring. But I have to give Greg kudos because he got us to the reception within the allotted time and in one piece.