I got an early Christmas present! Our E-Photos are here and I have not been able to stop looking at them since yesterday!

The pictures totally tell the story of how we came to be. As I started looking through the photos, I got to see how often he looks at me with genuine affection and how practically every time I hug my Old Dude, I sigh and close my eyes. It was bitterly cold the day we took these, however, I am thankful that we have these photos to share with our family and friends, especially my extended family, some of whom will not have a chance to meet Old Dude until our wedding day.

Before, I debut the photos…can I share a totally selfish reason that I’m glad we have these photos?

I’m hoping one of them will replace the portrait that’s been hanging on the wall in my childhood home for 20+ years. It is a senior portrait from the ubiquitous, Olan Mills Studio, and my Dad friggin’ loves it. He refuses to take that picture down because he says, “I think you look very pretty”. Pretty? Try tragic. In the photo, I’m leaning against a giant, fiberglass “88″ on a stark, white background. My Anchor Woman hairdo is sprayed within an inch of it’s life. I’m wearing the ever popular, Wet and Wild brand lip color in “freakberry” {I can’t remember what it’s called, but man is it “magenta-y”}. And, I look like I fell into a vat of Clorox bleach in my ultra stonewashed denim, matching pant and shirt ensemble. Yep, I’m in head to toe stonewashed denim. Did I mention the stonewashed denim, trimmed in silver ballet flats? {Go ahead, picture it. OK, you done laughing yet?}

Now, since any image of me is 100 times better than the one you now have in your head…may I present: Our E-Photos!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Credits: The photos were taken by the awesome Inhar Chong Photography. Make-up artistry by Ms. Garland. And a super special shout out to my super spectacular planner, Syreeta Collier, of Celebrations Event Planning for braving the cold, helping me avoid dry hands and lips, and for providing assistance with my various “costume” changes.