My journey to becoming Mrs. Sellers

Well yall, it’s official. I am now Mrs. Sellers! Our wedding day was truly a fairy tale. I wouldn’t change a single thing about that day. It was the day that Devin and I were joined together as one in the presence of God, family, and friends. Okay, now let me tell you about the big wedding weekend...

Friday morning, the day of the rehearsal, I was given a Bridal Brunch by two very sweet ladies, Mrs. Kathy Kincer and Mrs. Penny Coxe. These two ladies gave my bridesmaids and myself such a wonderful brunch. We had the most delicious foods and yummy drinks to go along with it. It was so refreshing to have all of my girls together that morning. My girls always know how to have a good time and just kick back and relax. This is where I gave them their bridesmaid’s gifts. I gave them monogram tote bags, pink jackets with their monogram, and the jewelry that they would wear the next day at the wedding. After we finished up at the brunch, we all parted ways to go and get ready for the rehearsal.

Brennan and I headed back to my mom’s house to get ready. She was very patient with me and never rushed me once. (I only did my hair a million times.) Once I finally got ready we headed to Whiteville Vineland Station, the place where I would marry Devin the very next day! Eeeeek! Once we got there and I walked in, everything started feeling so real. It hadn’t really hit me that I’d be married the next day until I walked into the building and saw all the beautiful decorations. The inside was set for rehearsal and it also had a lot of our ceremony décor set out. My “princess wall” was lit up when I walked in and I just started to cry. Tears of joy of course. It was a flood of emotions of anxiousness, to joy, to excitement, to just plain ole giddiness. That was the place where I would meet Devin the next day.

Once we got our wedding party all together that evening, we rehearsed the ceremony a couple of times. As the bride, I wasn’t allowed to walk down the aisle (bad luck), so I had a stand in bride fill in my place. I got to watch them practice walking in and every time the song played and as I watched them walk down the aisle, I would just get so emotional. I was filled with such joy seeing all of our friends and loved ones there practicing for our big day. I was reminiscing a bit on how much fun it has been spending so much time with our friends over the course of our engagement. After we got the ceremony down pat, we wrapped up rehearsal and dinner was served! We enjoyed a delicious dinner from Middle of the Island along with cupcakes from Cooper and Chloe Cakes and Cupcakes. Once we finished eating, we had an open mic hour for anyone to come up and share stories that they have had with Devin and I. Each and every story or speech people shared with us we will always remember. Your kind words will forever be with us.

Mrs. Susie had a surprise for Devin that night. Mr. Donald’s father who passed away a couple of years ago asked Mr. Donald and Mrs. Susie right before he passed if they thought Devin loved me like they loved their wives. They told him yes. He then gave them his wedding band and told them to give it to Devin on his wedding day. This touched Devin and I both so much. Devin was so happy to know that his mother, father, and grandfather knew how much he loved me so early on in our relationship. They believed in our relationship when most people didn’t.

After we finished up with open mic, I pulled all of the wedding party over to Wanda’s Dance Studio for a private practice for a big surprise that we had for the next day….

Once the night was over, Devin and I had to part ways. He went to white lake where Will Edwards was kind enough to let the boys stay at his motel, SilverSands. I went back to my mom’s house where I spent my last night at home. Emily came and spent the night with us that night. I needed my sister there to help get me to actually sleep! I was so excited I could barely sit still. That night was the last time I would see Devin as my fiancé. The next time I’d see that sweet face, I’d be in all white and walking down the aisle as his bride.

Saturday morning…

IT’S THE BIG DAY! I woke up so calm and relaxed. All of the nerves were gone, and I knew that no matter what was to happen that day, that at the end of the day, I would be Devin’s wife. I wasn’t going to let anything bring me down. I got up, had a nice relaxing bath, enjoyed my morning coffee, and read my daily devotional. My devotion that morning was to appreciate all of God’s grace. What a beautiful saying for that beautiful day. After we all got dressed, we loaded up the car and off we went. We were heading to the train station to get me married!

All the girls met at the dance studio that morning to get ready. I walked in and all the girls had on their jackets! They looked adorable! Once we got the ipod playing, we then got the hair and makeup going! Kayla Cheers, Crystal Striffler, and Sami Bracey were my hair dressers. Danette Yuricek was my makeup artist. As I watched all the girls slowly get ready, I was in awe of how gorgeous each and every one of these girls were. From in the inside out, these girls are beautiful. Since we had lots of help to get ready, there was no rush in the process. We got to sit and chat while we all took turns having our hair and makeup done. We danced and reminisced on all of our crazy times and of course took lots of pictures. My Aunt Sonya was so sweet and had our lunch catered to us. We had delicious wraps and fruit served.

12:00 rolled around and it was time for the bride to start getting ready. Kayla Cheers did my hair. She is the bomb at up dos and I loved everything about my hair that day! I then went to make up. Danette did a fabulous job! I loved my makeup! After I was ready, I looked in the mirror and I felt like a bride. Devin’s bride. I was ready to put that dress on!!

Still to that day, none of the girls had seen my dress so I slipped into the back room where I had hidden my dress. My mom and sister came with me to assist putting my dress on. Once I was all dressed and ready, I was then given a gift from my Groom. He had given me the book we had been writing to each other over the past 15 months and on the last page was the last entry we would write in our book. It was a letter from him that day. Also he had given me a beautiful pearl bracelet which I of course wore that day.

After I whipped all the tears off my face after receiving his sweet gift, I walked into the main dance room where the girls were lined up with their eyes closed waiting to see me. Once I stepped in front of them, they all opened their eyes and their reaction sent a flood of excitement through me.

My mother put my garter on me (pink and shiny of course). My grandmother then placed my necklace on me. Then here comes my adorable nephew bouncing around the corner. He looked up at me, then back at his mom and said “mommy, that’s a pretty dress!” Man, oh, man did that not tickle me to death! He was dressed in his tux and looked so handsome. Devin had some competition that day! Haha

Since we had a little bit of time, my sister decided to give me a gift that she and the girls had been working on for a while. It was a scrapbook that was filled with pictures of all of our adventures together during my engagement! There were also letters from each and every one of the girls in there that they had written to me. I don’t know about you, but I feel like God has placed some of the best girls in my life. I couldn’t ask for better friends. They are so supportive, thoughtful, and I look up to them so much. Each one of them have made such an impact on my life in so many different ways. I will carry their love with me for the rest of my life. I may be biased, but I do believe I have the best community of friends in the world!

Ok, ok….We then proceeded to take pictures outside on a beautiful brick wall that Amber Rhodes (my photographer) had found. After the girls finished up with our pictures it was time for my step father, David Ward to see me for the first time. My dress has been hanging in my mom’s bathroom closet for months now and my bridal portraits were hidden all in their room. He never once tried to sneak a peak at it. He was so very honest and respected me enough to know I wanted him to wait and see me in my dress on my wedding day! This was a very emotional moment for me. I had held my tears pretty well that day but he got me. His love for me is so humbling. He has been the best father to me and I could never thank him enough for all he has done.

Okay…here we go…off to the depot to get married

The boys were already inside by the time I was walking up the ramp to walk into the depot. I heard the song “Oceans” by Hillsong United start playing and my heart began to race. I was about to meet my groom!!! I had heard the song a million times before but this time was so much different. I truly felt the presence of God all around us. After the last girl entered into the depot, the big doors shut and it was my time to get ready for them to open up and enter in. Once they opened, there he was…my best friend, my babe, my groom. I couldn’t get down the aisle fast enough to him!

In the ceremony, we wanted to make sure that God’s glory, love, and grace was shown through us. Standing hand in hand with Devin as we proceeded through our ceremony, I was staring in the eyes of my world. I was so excited that the shaggy headed boy I fell in love with 7 years ago was about to be my HUSBAND! Devin and I were very specific about what we wanted in our ceremony. Our walk with Jesus hasn’t always been a straight one, but with the love, patience, and support we have given each other over the years, we strive to live a Christ centered life together. We have grown so much in Christ together and we wanted our love for Jesus to shine through our marriage ceremony.

After we shared our vows, exchanged the rings, we were now HUSBAND AND WIFE! After the first kiss we walked down the aisle, hand in hand, to the song, “My Girl.”

After lots and lots of pictures were taken, it was time for the party to start! As our wedding party entered into the reception, Devin and I anxiously awaited our entry! (I can’t wait to watch the video and see y’alls dancing by the way! I can tell by the pictures that y’all really showed out heheh). Devin and I did our first dance to “Mean to Me” by Brett Eldredge. As we swayed back and forth, all I could imagine was the rest of my life with him. I was falling deeper and deeper in love while the music played. It was our first dance together as Mr. and Mrs. Sellers. Once we wrapped up our dance it was time for the father daughter dance. Devin handed me over to David Ward and we danced to “You will always be my angel.” David and I have such a unique relationship. He is my dad, my friend, and my mentor. As we danced we both tried to not cry but get real….we are both saps so the tears came flooding out. I will always be his baby girl, even if I am an old married woman now. Devin then grabbed his mom and they danced to the song “I’ll be there.” If there was one person missing from our special day, it was Mr. Donald, Devin’s father, my papa bear. He would be so proud of the two of them. I wish so badly he could have been there to see me marry his baby boy but I know he was there hanging so closely to all of our hearts. His presence was definitely in the building that night.

TIME TO EAT. We then made our way to the buffet line where Middle of the Island served us the most delicious meal. After we ate dinner, we had Emily, my maid of honor, and Drew, the best man, come up on stage and give us a toast. They had the best speeches and I will cherish their words forever. After we toasted, it was time to cut the cake! The cake was so delicious. Cocoa Dots did a fabulous job and I can’t thank them enough for the beautiful cake!

After I smashed cake in Devin’s face, us and the bridal party were instructed to come to the dance floor. We had a little surprise for our guest. If you missed it, you missed out. My tiny little dancers were the bomb! They really know how to shake it. After that, we danced and danced and danced. I have never had so much fun at a reception before. I don’t think we left the dance floor the whole time. The bride and groom usually have to make their rounds and greet and thank the guest, but all of our guest were out on the dance floor!!!

Time for the bouquet toss! Guess who caught the flowers….MARY ASHTON!! Then AMY…then Mary Ashton…these two kept tossing it back and forth between each other hahahah sooooo no pressure Matt and Will…nooooo pressure…….

Garter removal time.

For those who know me, I do not like PDA…at all, so I was a little nervous for this part. Little did I know, Devin had a big performance he set up all by himself. He sat me in a chair and him and a couple of his groomsmen had their back turned to me. The music came on, they spun around, and they did a dance performance for me! Devin topped it off by playing the ECU purple haze song and sliding head first under my dress to get the garter….if you can only imagine. Hahaha

After a long night of dancing, it was that time... Time for the bride and groom to make their exit. We wanted to do a last dance to wrap up that night. The song “We danced” by Bethel is the one we chose to end our night with. As we danced, we were lost in the moment. It was the most beautiful song, most beautiful day, most beautiful wedding. When we looked up from dancing, we noticed our guest had circled around us as we swayed back and forth to the song. What a humbling and beautiful moment this was. We had planned for them to all exit during this song but instead they turned it into a beautiful moment that we will never forget! This is the moment I truly felt the presence of God at our side. Our loved ones surrounded us as we were about to begin our journey as Mr. and Mrs. Sellers.

I can’t thank those enough who helped make our special day perfect.

Big thanks to my Mom and David. Thank you for all of your patience, love, and support. I know over the course of preparing for the wedding, there were moments that were not always so pretty, but we made it! You created and made my fairytale wedding come true.

Emily, You are my best friend and you were the best maid of honor. You went above and beyond your duties and I am forever thankful for everything you did for me.

Mrs. Susie, thank you for always being there for us and always having loving arms when needed.

To all of our friends and family who helped with decorations, set up, and break down, I am forever thankful for all of your hard work. I know you all worked so hard and I appreciate everything you did for us.