Alex Ostler: Life of Adventure: November 25, 2017

November 25, 2017

Turkey Coma for many. Black Friday for the crazies. A sunny and very happy wedding day for us.

I orginally had written a pretty long and disgustingly sappy explanation on the intricacies of "true love". It legitimately had phrases like "discovering what fabric their soul is made of" and "evolve over eternity". You can thank me for sparing you the rage that would have certainly been yours if you had read the entire thing.

One thing I must say, however. I love Jackson more than anything else, which is why trying to put it into words sounds so silly. Sometimes people ask if I love being married. I love being married to Jackson. the institution of marriage isn't what's blissful, it's the person who you've joined that institution with.

Ugh. This is gross. But what else do you expect from a post about our wedding???

More than anything, we wanted this day to be really simple and laidback. I feel like sometimes people get really wrapped up in the tiny details of the day, taking away from the whole purpose of the event. Ultimately though, we're lazy slugs and not that creative, so simple just seemed like the best option.

In the spirit of that laziness I was my own hair/makeup stylist (which meant I put some mascara/eyeliner on and washed my hair). There were no beautiful bridesmaids to clothe me or handfeed me pretty pastries either, but my beautiful sister Jessica was there to chat with me and take this picture that documents the proper makeup application stance.

One thing that I did want (but didn't properly explain to Jackson) was a "First Look", where I come and surprise Jackson in a flower-filled meadow and he weeps uncontrollably at my overwhelming beauty. Instead, he just sauntered through my grandparents door while I was shoving my face full of Frosted Mini Wheats and said, "you ready? I'm excited!"

Not exactly what I had envisioned in my overly romantic imagination, yet it seemed to capture our relationship much more accurately.

Alex and Jackson, on their way to the Senior Prom. We look like such babies here!

We were married in the Manti, Utah LDS temple. Temples are very sacred edifices for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They're holy places where families can be "sealed" for all eternity. We believe that there is life after death and that it is possible to be with those we love forever. Nothing fills me with more comfort to know that whatever happens, Jackson and I are together. Christ "breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory"(Alma 22:14, The Book of Mormon). To us, death is simply a brief, albeit painful, separation in the scheme of forever. It doesn't matter if you don't believe what I do, but you have to admit that that is a joyous concept. You can learn more here.

We were married at the top of one of those towers. Our relationship is based a lot on chasing summits so it only seemed right to make it to the top of some "peak" on our wedding day!

This is the Manti Temple. It is in the middle of nowhere in Utah, surrounded by mountains and turkey farms. My grandparents and parents were married there, so it has special significance in our family. We were actually married in the same room that my parents were, almost exactly thirty years prior. I can't even begin to describe the euphoric serenity I felt during the whole experience, I barely had any real thoughts at all. I remember walking up the tall spiral staircase, hand in Jackson's, and feeling so much peace. I just knew that it was the right decision at the right time in the right place and that it would bring us so much happiness. The actual ceremony was so surreal, we knelt across the altar and it felt like my face was going to fall off because I was smiling so much.

I'm aware that a lot of people don't see the point of marriage because "it doesn't really change anything at all." In a way, I totally agree. The act of getting married didn't seem to alter my feelings towards Jackson in the least. I had already decided to be with him through thick and thin a long time before November 25th. However, I did feel like getting married was a critical step in our relationship. It was our way of letting God know that we were willing to do it "his way" and that we wanted to include him in our lives. It gave him the opportunity to ratify the bond we had developed, as if it was a contract that needed to be notarized in order to be authentic and legitimate. Just like a contract is invalid without a notarized signature, we needed that approval in order to feel secure moving forward in our relationship. Our spirituality plays a substantial role in our interactions and decisions, so it felt amazing to acknowledge God's hand in our marriage by getting married in one of his temples.

We opted to have a very small wedding party (only 20 people). It was humbling to see each person there who had played been positive influences in our lives. I love each one of these people so much. Thanks everybody for giving up all the Black Friday deals (RIP cheap TVs and toasters) for us. You must love us back or something.

TYSON'S FACE. (Right above my Grandpa's head)

Jessica lives in Abu Dhabi , yet still flew all the way across the world to be there. Jessica is my absolute hero. There is no one I look up to more than her, she was the one who encouraged me to choose a path that would lead me to happiness. I wouldn't have served a mission, or experienced all the wonderful things that have come as a result, without her. I can safely say that I owe most of my present happiness to her, as she loved and encouraged me in a pretty shaky time of my life. This picture is missing the babies and Dan though!

My best friends!

This picture of Jackson's parents gives me the chills. There is so much being said between them! They're wonderful humans.

I spy with my little eye, someone who looks different than the rest.

According to this picture, we make everyone feel slightly uncomfortable.

We feel so lucky that we had some non-related friends with us too. There are so many other wonderful little buddies we would have loved to have there, but we understand that some people want to spend time with their own families over Thanksgiving. (I guess) Sitting on the shoulders of Elise and Kristen seems perfect since Elise and I are each other's shadows and poor Kristen is the first person I call to invite to some ill-planned adventure.

Elise and Kristen are obviously over the whole holding-Alex-on-their-shoulders thing.

Bruce's hair was so dreamy. He cut it into a horrible mullet for LAX and it genuinely braks my heart.

I love them so much! My siblings are the coolest. I'm glad that extended family gatherings in the future are going to be so fun. We actually like each other.

This is what happens when you get an astrophysicist, conservation biologist, and artist in the same picture.

I always say that I will forever be T and Jackson's "third wheel". I have no idea what they are talking about 87% of the time.

sal y pimienta

The picture below is a special one. Bruce was the missionary who introduced Jackson's parents to the church. He gave up two years of his life to teach the people of Massachussetts the gospel and so we owe all of this to them. I love missions! It helps me recognize the value of me and Jackson going on them. I went to Peru and Jackson went to Kiribati (it is a really country, although I didn't think it was at first either).

love love love love her

Then we really had to turn on the "sap" for our pictures, which honestly was the easiest thing I've ever done, besides eat a dozen cookies by myself. Beware: The rest of this post is very light on the verbiage. (All photos by the talented Sarah Meyer.

Elise Taylor made this bouquet herself! She managed to use my favorite flowers (sunflowers) without making it look cheesy.

And a flower crown that didn't make me look like I was getting my brain sucked out by zombie flowers. She is amazing! And can you believe this was her first time ever making one??

Favvvvvvvvvvorite

I've been pretty anti-high heels since I came back from my mission. It's not as easy to ride bikes, climb trees, and jump off things with heels (although Shannon will vehemently deny this). Jessica was so generous to buy my white converse for me, they came in handy with all the dancing.

My ring: turquoise, gold band with diamonds. Jackson's ring: Walnut and elk antler (which he now has traded for a silicon ring). Oh well.

These two pictures of us under the tree are, in my mind, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. Except in this case Romeo and Juliet are not lustful prebuspescents who are in despeate need of some solid get-to-know you dates and some heart-to-hearts with their parents.

Jackson's ONLY picture request was that he hug this tree and kiss it. Most easygoing person I know.

yum yum

We got married at the top of one of those towers!!!

Another absolute favorite. I feel like it really captured the emotion of that day and every day since (except that gets better all the time).

hahahahahahahaha. We had to. Jackson dips me all the time and I swear this is the only time it had looked remotely good.

Double the chins means double the joy, right?

The time between our wedding and the reception was so surreal. We kept looking at each other and saying, "hello......*long pause* wife (husband)." I have to admit that the conversation wasn't super deep or meaningful. We mainly just giggled a lot and ate some Wendy's.

Highs and Lows: A lady asked if we were on our way to Prom, but I didn't spill ketchup on my dress.

Our reception was at the Springville Art Museum, which was pretty special since my Grandpa regularly has his art there. We also wanted to stick with our whole lazy scheme and art museums require no decorations because ART. The whole thing was kind of a blur of dancing and smiling and socializing. We didn't have any of the typical formalities like a photographer, bouquet toss, speeches, first dances... We are just edgy like that.

I've always said that all I needed to dance was a little bit of moving space and (maybe) some music. Luckily we had both of those things at our little dance party. I have been told that we made some people feel pretty uncomfortable, including my grandparents, but pay that little tidbit no mind! I couldn't move my neck for about a week after from whipping my hair around so much. I'm actually not positive if anybody else danced, I just remember a lot of people staring and making for the door... whoops. Good thing Jackson becomes possessed when he starts dancing too... otherwise we might end up having marital problems.