Shared with Christina Block’s kind permission, the pictures featured in this blog post were taken by the incredibly talented team behind Christina Block Photography.
Catching up?
Ross and Leslie’s Wedding: Part Two
Leslie, her bridesmaids and her flower girl all arrived at the wedding venue 45 minutes before the ceremony began. We wanted to be sure the bride was hidden from her groom and guests and while we chatted away, Ross and his groomsmen finished their pictures on a quiet St. Augustine street.
Recognize anyone? Ryan was one of Ross’ groomsmen!
As longtime blog readers know, Ryan and Ross were fraternity brothers and best friends in college. (Ross was also a groomsmen in our wedding!) I’ve known Ross for 10 years and could not have been more thrilled when he started dating my sister. It was wonderful to see Ross surrounded by men from all stages of his life and a handful of guys I know and adore from college.
Before their wedding day, Leslie surprised Ross with peach argyle socks to wear which I thought looked awesome with his classy black tuxedo.
Once the last of the groomsmen pictures were done, the guys walked to The White Room to greet guests before the ceremony began.
While I waited with my sister and her bridesmaids downstairs, Leslie’s photographer told Leslie is was time for a special pre-ceremony moment with Ross where they were able to hold hands, talk to each other and pray on either side of a wall without Ross seeing his bride.
Though I wasn’t there for this moment, I can say that when Leslie returned to the room where we were all waiting, she was beaming. Her nervous energy seemed to evaporate and she was filled with an excited calm. More than ever, it seemed like she was ready to marry Ross.
In the moments before we were ushered upstairs, Leslie’s bridesmaid Allyson said a prayer for the wedding ahead and Ross and Leslie’s future together.
After some tears and hugs, it was time to pack into the elevator and line up! It was almost time to walk down the aisle!
The mothers of the bride made their way down the aisle first. Ross’ mother was escorted by his brother and best man, Jeremy.
Ryan escorted my mom down the aisle before joining the other groomsmen by Ross’ side.
As the bridesmaids began walking down the aisle, my sister, dad and I huddled together and shared some last-minute “I love yous” and hugs. As I left the two of them together, I took a deep breath to keep the tears back.
When I took my first step down the aisle, I remember immediately locking eyes with Ross. He looked confident and nervous at the same time. As he stood under the gorgeous wooden cross, I walked toward him and knew he couldn’t wait to see the woman who would follow the precious flower girl behind me.
My little sister. His bride. His wife.
When I asked Leslie whether or not she thought Ross would cry on their wedding day weeks before the ceremony, she said, “No. He feels like there’s pressure on the groom to cry… like everyone wants the groom to cry or something. He thinks that will psych him out, so I don’t think he will cry.”
She was wrong.
Her groom cried.
And I will never forget the way he looked at my sister that day.
I will also never forget the way my sister looked at him.
That is Leslie’s I’m trying as hard as I can not to cry face.
And this is my dad’s Forget it, I am crying and I can’t stop face.
As the pastor asked my dad the standard, “Who presents this woman to be married to this man” question, his reply was barely audible as he hugged and kissed my sister and placed her hands in Ross’.
After the pastor welcomed everyone and shared some beautiful words about Leslie and Ross, it was time for the bride and groom to exchange their vows. They elected to write their own vows and share them with each other for the first time on their wedding day.
They were emotional, funny and extremely heartfelt.
As Ross and Leslie recited their vows and the tears started flowing, my dad and Ross’ mom stepped up from their seats in the front row and handed them tissues for their tears which they gratefully accepted!
More laughter came once my sister was done with her soggy tissue and decided to hand it to me. Some things only sisters can get away with, right!?
That was one of those hilarious, “Did that really just happen!?” moments for sure!
Hearing Ross and Leslie speak such loving words to each other made everything inside of me overflow with happiness. I have all the faith in the world in their relationship.
They are wonderful apart, but even better together.
Soon after their vows, it was time to exchange rings. I was responsible for carrying Ross’ ring and made sure to keep it safe on my thumb until it was time for me to pass it off.
For my parents’ 30-year wedding anniversary, my mom and dad changed out their original wedding rings. The ring that now sits on Ross’ left hand is actually my dad’s original wedding band, melted down and fitted to Ross’ finger and style preference.
After the exchange of rings, it was time to kiss the bride!
Husband and wife!
I have never seen Ross or Leslie look happier than they did that day!
To be continued…
Reception fun to come!
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The cross behind them looks soooo beautiful.
I loved it, too!!
What an absolutely beautiful wedding! I just love everything about it from the romantic, vintage look to how clearly Leslie and Ross are just so in love with each other! I kept hitting refresh on your blog today to see if you posted part 2 yet. One question, what is that beautiful peach-colored flower?
A peach garden rose! They were gorgeous and I kept telling Leslie I wish I would’ve had a million of them at my wedding. So pretty!
This recap warms my heart so much…..The pictures from your sister’s wedding day are just gorgeous!
Thank you, Amanda!
I am soooo in love with everything about this. Swooning!! I can’t wait to see the rest!
So gorgeous!!! I love the flowers and the cross in the background of the ceremony 🙂
Very beautiful! Teared up a bit myself haha
Congrats to them!
Oh my GOSH this pulled so hard at my heart strings! must not cry at the office, must not cry at the office! absolutely beautiful. so blessed!
Aw thank you Holly!
What a beautiful recap, Julie! You totally had me tearing up!
I am planning my wedding right now, getting married August 2nd of this year (YAY!), and I am in love with how beautiful Ross and Leslie’s wedding was! It looks like it was filled with so much love and happiness! I can’t wait to see more. Thank you so much for sharing! I really like the idea of giving the groom socks, I feel like it was so he wouldn’t get “cold feet” I will for sure have to use that idea!
Congratulations to you, Molly!!
awwwwwww I love his face when he sees her!!! I hope my groom (whoever that might be one day) reacts the same 🙂
That is so very cool about the ring that Ross now wears- makes it even MORE special.
& gosh, Julie, I wish I had hired you to come to my wedding & then write about it. AMAZING words, absolutely PERFECTLY put. – again more tears – happy, happy tears 😀
The part that got me the most was that after she got to talk to Ross all her nervousness went away. My husband and I did a “first look” and while I know a lot of people don’t want their groom to see them before they walk down the aisle, it was truly THE BEST decision I made about that day. I was such a ball of nerves before I got to talk to him, and he admitted that he was as well, but afterwards we were absolutely relaxed and READY to get married. I like the way you and Leslie both did it where you got to talk to your grooms but they didn’t see you. I would recommend that any bride do it that way or the way I did it, with the First Look. There is just something about getting to talk to your groom before you walk down that aisle that makes everything a million times easier! Congrats Leslie and Ross! It’s clear how much they love each other from these photos.
Totally agree!! That was one of my favorite moments of the whole day!
My husband and I had a first look at our wedding too and I recommend it to everyone, I agree that not everyone wants their groom to see them before the wedding … but it was the best decision we could have made, It calmed my nerves and allowed us to have our moment together instead of in front of all of the wedding guests. And, since we took all of our pictures before the wedding (6pm evening wedding) it allowed the day to flow and have no awkward breaks for guests.
Seeing my groom before the ceremony didn’t make the moment I walked down the aisle any less special for us. And, now we love to be able to look at our pictures and have our first look captured so nicely 🙂
Love the pictures of the groom! So sweet!
Absolutely beautiful!!!
What a lovely wedding! I loved hearing the wedding through your eyes. It was so emotional when my sister and brother got married. What a special day.
Oh my gosh, her dress is so gorgeous!! Beautiful ceremony!
“They are wonderful apart, but even better together”
What a beautiful sentence!
I am so happy for Leslie and Ross! Even though I don’t know them they seem like such good people and I wish them many happy years together!
Thanks for sharing Julie. Its always great to see people so happy and by sharing you’re spreading happiness 🙂
Can’t wait for next wedding post 🙂
Absolutely beautiful! What a great time. These pictures are wonderful! So, so many great memories 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Looked like a beautiful day to remember!
Long time reader here but rarely comment but I just had to tell you that I’m sitting here at work balling like a baby. That picture of Ross crying was the sweetest thing ever!! …..Pass the tissues please!
Thank you for reading for so long, Jodi!
that cross is gorgeous, i love the string lights and could totally feel the energy from your post 🙂
I love weddings, and I absolutely loved this post. Made me smile, laugh and cry! Thank you for sharing, I’ve been looking forward to it! 🙂
Oh gosh, here I am crying at my desk at work! Such a sweet recap:)
They seriously have some of the most beautiful wedding pictures I’ve ever seen! Oh my gosh, I got teary eyed at the pictures of them crying, so precious.
I’m getting married in October and this definitely made my stomach leap…in a good way! Just so beautiful and makes it seem so real! Great recap!!!
Yayyy! Congrats to you! October weddings are the best 🙂
I read part one earlier and it had me in tears, and now you’ve done it again!! Beautiful story!
I can’t stand to see a grown man cry! And I got choked up looking at Ross’s picture! LOL
I love the wooden cross too. A nice change from the usual alters.
So beautiful this made me tear up!
DARNIT who’s cutting onions in the office again?!?!
So touching, so beautiful, and I lost it at Ross’ face when he sees his bride for the first time.
Weddings are my favorite, and I’m so glad that you decided to share Leslie’s wedding on your blog! After reading for a couple of years, it almost feels like you guys are family!
Everything has been absolutely beautiful so far, and I can’t wait to read more! 🙂
This story made me cry! What a beautiful and loving ceremony!
This is so beautiful! I’m tearing up just reading about this- I can’t imagine how emotional and gorgeous this day was for your family! Just beautiful!
Beautiful pics!!! And an even more beautiful recap!
Oh my goodness, Julie! All of this is exceptionally beautiful. The photos, the recap, the peach argyle socks (lol)!!! Ahh, isn’t it SO beautiful to watch someone you love and cherish so deeply get married to the man/woman of their dreams? Reading this post was like stepping into a little fairy tale! Thank you for that. So much love!
Thank you for such a sweet comment, Jordan!!
Didn’t start tearing up until I saw Ross. You could just feel the love. Beautiful post!
Lovely Julie, absolutely lovely.
Thank you <3
I just cried reading this at work.
why you do this to me?!
Haha!!
Such beautiful pictures – love how happy everyone looks. As a young adult with a parent who has survived cancer, it seems extra special to have your entire family celebrating such a wonderful day. Congratulations to you all.
Thank you very much, Mary!
So beautifully written! I don’t even know you personally but this made me tear up at how simply beautiful everything was!
I almost cried just reading this! What a special day for you all!
I’m preparing to be maid of honor in my best friends wedding this summer (and then a bridesmaid in my other best friends wedding this fall) and your post had me giggling (when she handed you the soggy tissue) and tearing up (when I saw Ross’s crying face). Oh man, you are such a talented writer! Thank you for sharing this and I can’t wait to read your next post!
Such a gorgeous wedding and a beautiful recap too!
Is it weird that I was tearing up!? Absolutely heartwarming and Leslie looked absolutely stunning!
OH how sweet that Ross’s wedding band was originally his new father in law’s!! So special! This wedding was just magical 🙂
The groom’s face is ALWAYS the very best part. Love this recap — so glad you’re sis was okay with you sharing these details!
*your sis
(That typo would’ve bugged me all day.)
Wow she was such a beautiful bride!! It looks like such a well thought out wedding, glad you had a blast!
What a beautiful testimony to such a special day. I was busted with teary eyes by a coworker passing by while I was reading this. So she came in and read parts 1 & 2, and together we are both crying at complete strangers.
::sigh:: … you should work for Hallmark.
Haha this is adorable! 🙂
Beautiful. This is essentially my dream wedding – the flowers, colors, vows, reactions, photos… I totally cried just reading about it! I’m getting married in 5 months and I can’t even read about a wedding without tearing up – I better warn my maid of honor she will need to hold my soaked tissues!
Yay! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
It looks like they had great weather for their beautiful outdoor ceremony too. That’s hard to come by in Florida. Gorgeous! 🙂
wow. seeing the groom look at the bride walking down the aisle…ALWAYS gets me. tears. so beautiful!