I Have Found The One Whom My Soul Loves.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

I am so excited to finally share with everyone that Shannon and I got married, I am officially Mrs. Crawford. It is still surreal in the best possible way and there is nothing we would change!  Our wedding day, from start to finish, was perfection.

There have been so many questions as to why we would scrap the entire wedding we planned for next October in Williamsburg. So, without further adieu, here is the story of our unconventional but nothing short of spectacular New Years Eve Wedding at Rockefeller Center under the Christmas Tree!

Shannon and I started evaluating everything regarding our wedding and our lives. We realized that we have both put so much on the line to be together and there was no reason for us to postpone what we have known from the beginning, we love each other and want to be married. There is nothing traditional or conventional about who we are and our story as a couple (and I mean that in the best possible way) so we thought, why would we ever have a traditional or conventional wedding?!

In late September we decided that one way or another, we would be getting married in New York City on New Year’s Eve. After we found an officiant and spoke with our amazing rabbi, we decided that Rockefeller center was perfect. It is the site of the start of our first official date, the night after we met! We thought, what would be better than to go back to where it all started. It was the site of our first chapter together, so it might as well be the site of our life as husband and wife! We were able to get a reservation at The Sea Grill for our guests to watch the skaters and have an amazing view of the tree! Within a few weeks we had all the essentials lined up (family, a few friends, a new dress, new suit, rings, a hotel, a reception site, a rabbi and our love … what else did we need?!) and with that, we went full force ahead.

For anyone that knows me, they are privy to the fact that I have a tendency to stress about anything and everything and the irony of this entire wedding is, I never once stressed about any of it. Knowing we were getting married at a NYC landmark on the busiest day of the year, I realized I would only have so much control anyway, so I had to let go and let God, so to speak.  It was the best decision we could have ever made. Without exaggeration, it was one of the calmest days I can remember … a true wedding miracle haha!

A few days before the wedding and was joined by Shannon and his mom in Vermont, at my parent’s new house. It was the perfect location to take a deep breath and prepare myself for the amazing journey we were about to embark upon. It snowed on and off so we took the train down to the city and got to take in the beauty that is New England.

On the morning of our wedding day I was surrounded by my mom, dad and David! They were the perfect people for me to be around and truly take in everything that was happening and about to happen.  Shannon met us and our guests in the lobby of 30 Rock. Mom, dad, David and I met him there and the look on his face is by far one the greatest highlights for me! Our ceremony started just a few minutes later and it was truly magical. It will be the closest thing to me being Kate Middleton. We had people yelling congrats the whole day and taking pictures of our ceremony … it was wonderful! We immediately proceeded downstairs to The Sea Grill and were treated to one of the best meals of my life.

As I write this, I am realizing that there are no words that can truly express this amazing day.  All I know is we were truly blessed to be surrounded by family and friends that have loved and supported us every step of the way during this journey. It would have been easy to write our us off but we have so many people that have seen the love that Shannon and I have for each other and realized a little thing like being from opposite sides of the world was nothing compared to love we share.  I will leave you with a few of my personal highlights and some fun facts! And, one last THANK YOU to my parents for making this all happen! I don't know where I would be without all of your love and support!

A Few Fun Facts/Highlights From The Wedding:

The reason Shannon and I went to New York City in November was actually to get our marriage license!!

The gifts were snowflakes with an octagon shape, the same as my ring and the tie tack I got for Shannon.

We stood directly on the 30 Rock under the Christmas Tree for the ceremony.

My mom sewed a blue heart made from my Papa’s blue jacket he would wear when I took walks as a child and it was stitched with my Nana’s thread and I had it next to my heart during the ceremony.

Our cake topper was my Nana and Papa’s wedding cake from 12.21.41!!

I grew up with the story that my Papa slid down the banister at Grand Central right after he married my Nana. Hence, the pictures of us at Grand Central!

We got snacks and spirits at the Food Emporium while still in my wedding dress and Shannon his suit! It was pretty epic and I wanted to wear my dress as long as possible!

Having such amazing people partake in our ceremony truly made our wedding … THANK YOU to each and every one of you that were able to be a part of our special day.

No matter where we got married, what made our wedding is the fact that I got to marry my best friend. A man that I truly did not believe existed in this world and by a miracle I found him and he loves me as much as I love him. I am so excited what this next chapter of our life hold for us … Shannon Joseph Crawford, i.love.you.

Best Wishes Always,

Kate 

This is us at The NYC Clerk's Office after we got our marriage license!

Saying Our Vows!

 Post Dinner!