Brightest memories from the Day:

My little sister came and prayed with me before the wedding craziness began on Sunday, and I am so grateful that she did that. It was wonderful that we spent a few minutes honoring God and internalizing why this event was so important.
Walking down the aisle was just so exhilarating. The adrenaline suddenly rose, and it really hit me that this was the moment – I was finally getting to marry this man that I love so much! When I was walking down the aisle with my mother and uncle, I also couldn’t believe how blessed I was to have so many people supporting me at the synagogue. At that moment, I was overwhelmed with feelings of incredible joy and gratitude.
The ceremony itself was really a happy memory for me. Everything from the circling to the reading of the Ketubah, to the Sheva Brachot reminded us of the significance of the vows we were making to one another in the eyes of God. Additionally, the way vows are exchanged in a Jewish ceremony – directly between the bride and groom – rather than by a cleric (as done in other faiths) heightened the intimacy of the promises we made to one another. It was incredibly special in a spiritual way.
The Yichud (time Braden and I spent alone together after the ceremony) was especially meaningful. We spent a few minutes reflecting on the ceremony events and the commitment that we had just made to each other. We shared our mutual joy and affection at that time, in addition to our hopes for the future.