First Step - Submit Letter
I had to write a letter to Todd's counselor stating the following information:

*My SSN
*Todd's Reg number
*My phone numbers (home & cell)
*State that we wanted to be married at the facility
*We were currently not married to each other or anyone else & legally able to be married

Misc. Info
*Wedding ceremonies are done quarterly as long as there are enough requests. The next date is 7/13/02
*They are perfomed at the chapel onsite.
*They are always performed on a Saturday.

thanks for the info!

I hope you get married on 7-13-02 that is my birthday.. :)

Shortie - you still haven't told me what your favorite flower is... if I can have a small bouquet I'll put one in to commemorate your bday :) k? :)

My favorite is fire and ice roses they are white with red tips very elegant and beautiful.. My second favorite is white Lilies..

I think that I posted it some where else maybe under the husbands forum... :)

sure did..didn't see it til after I posted this... gotcha covered :)

Thanks for the information Carla.

you're welcome...

Well, went to visitation over the weekend and Todd had to break the news that all 3 of my written requests have mysteriously vanished!

We've only got 33 days until we are "supposed" to get married. The way things are looking now, it may not happen until the Fed's are off his ass March 2003.

So sorry to hear that Carla...and now?

Found out the wedding pretty much isn't happening... I guess that's what happens when u have an incompetant b*tch employeed in a position that controls other ppls lives.

I hear that Carla!

On Saturday, when all the visitors were in the waiting area...the receiving CO called the names of 4 inmates and asked that all their visitors go to the front of the line. The list was for those that were getting married.

We got into the yard and got to see our grooms to be before the other visitors were processed. They just wanted to be sure that they didn't get stuck in the compound during the 10 am count.

At 10 before Todd went in for count, he got on his knee & proposed to me asking me to marry him in 10 mins. We had to wait for the rest of the facility to call in their numbers. Once that was done the fci chaplain came over & got all the couples.

Just a heads up tho, no one can go with you to the chapel to witness the ceremony. I got lucky and got to bring my daughter. At first they weren't going to let her go but I said I wasn't leaving her because she's a minor (she's only 10). So she was the only person that went with us.

All the other visitors & inmates (there were approx. 75) were all yelling "good luck". As we were walking towards the chapel, I got the smart ass idea to start yelling "dead men walking...dead men walking here!" They all started rolling!

When we got to the chapel we were lined up alphabetically. The first couple went into the chaplain's office to meet w/ the notary public. After they were done they went into the sanctuary for their ceremony. Then the next couple (which was Todd & I) went in to see the notary.

We signed the notary's book and the certificate. Then I had to show the rings to the chaplain so he can fill out the form to put Todd's ring on his property. Another heads up, not only can there NOT be any type of stone in the band, but you CAN'T engrave on the outside either. It has to be completely plain.

Into the chapel we went. Todd was so excited he started walking down the aisle WITHOUT me. I quietly said, "excuse me Mr Cain, but the appropriate thing would be to escort your bride to the altar." He laughed and walked me down. Men!

When we got to the altar, Todd gave the photo dockets to the photog and told him which pics we wanted (got him putting the ring on my finger & us kissing).

Then the ceremony started. Let me tell you... all the times & letters that we've talked & written about just brought a flood of emotions. We would talk about how we couldn't wait to look into each other's eyes & say our vows, couldn't wait to say "I do" and couldn't wait to put the bands on each other's fingers.

I was crying so hard.... that he had to keep whispering I love you it's ok... calm down! LOL I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the mass wedding that I was expecting!

We were sooooooooooo happy! As we were walking back to the visiting yard, the other inmates & visitors started humming the wedding march and clapping. When we finally got in the yard, not only did they line up to congratulate us but they orchestrated something that made all our days.... they tossed sunflower seeds from the packs they got in the vending machines!

Todd & I fed each other cheesecake and had more pics taken. He absolutely loved the rings & loved my dress. I wore an ankle length off-white lace dress with mauve roses on them (since i couldn't carry em I wore em). I wore my hair up and had pearls throughout my hair. It felt almost like the big day.

I am so on cloud nine. I woke up this morning and rolled over towards my daughter and said "OMG..." before I could finish my daughter said "yeah yeah ur married" and rolled back to sleep! LOL

I will tell you that today's visit was the hardest one to leave. I wasn't leaving my fiance anymore, I was leaving my best friend that I married the day before.

Overall, it was a grreat moment. Funny ancedote, 20 mins. after the ceremony Todd was arguing with me over the poses for the pics. I told him "man, we aren't married 30 mins and you're ALREADY giving your wife lip!" He laughed.

He should be getting the pics back next Thurs so I will post them in about 2 1/2 weeks. I can't wait to see them myself!

Shortie, I hope you had a wonderful birthday cuz as Bono sings "It's a beautiful day!"

Sounds like a truly special day. I am glad everything went well!

so happy for both of you, carla! can't wait to see all the pics! welcome to pto, MRS CAIN! *hugs*

SOUNDS WONDERFUL -- CONGRATULATIIONS!!!--CANT WAIT TO SEE THE PICS!

THAT IS SO GREAT.. I TOLD YOU ONCE YOU STARTED YOU WOULD NEVER REALIZE YOU WERE THERE. WELL THAT IS UNTIL YOU LOOK AROUND AND SEE A BUNCH OF INMATES. LOL I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE MARRIED AND I PRAY FOR A STRONG MARRIAGE AND AN EVEN GREATER LOVE...

I DID HAVE A GOOD BIRTHDAY THANKS FOR THINKING ABOUT ME. I DID HAVE A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE FOR YOU BOTH..

MRS CARLA CAIN,
Sounds like you and Todd had a beautiful ceremony. I am so happy for the both of you. Can't wait to see the pictures.

CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES

That is music to my ears (MRS CARLA CAIN)! Everyone at work was calling me Mrs. Cain! I would grin ear to ear everytime I hear it!

OK ... I'm here crying! Carla, that had me crying and LOL. The part when you had to say "Mr. Cain" when he was walking without you just struck me as funny (I have a wierd sense of humor anyway!... One of my fav comedies is "What about Bob?") so you know I'm a goof.

Sincerely, your story warms my heart and gives me hope! CONGRATULATIONS to you both!!!

Your 10 yr old daughter sounds just like my 7 yr old!!!

Blessings to you both!
Mrs. H