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Showing posts with label Reception. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reception. Show all posts

Friday, February 3, 2012

Our Indiana Reception

Since the wedding was in Pennsylvania, most of my family couldn't make it.  So, we also did a reception in Indiana.  I don't think I posted this on my blog, but this is the invitation that was sent out for that:


Well, not exactly.  I obviously blacked out some information so that you can't go stalk my parents!  :)

The reception went really well.  It was calm, which was exactly what we wanted.  My dad roasted a hog and we had salads and sides and such.  And my mom ordered some sheet cakes from a local bakery.  Everything was delicious.  And we got to see a lot of my family and friends from Indiana (and Philip got to meet most of them for the first time!).  There weren't really set times, so people just came and went throughout the day.  It was nice that way because we could spend a little time with people before they'd leave and then new people would come in and we'd spend time with them before they left.  And so on. 

I don't have a whole lot of photos from that day.  I think we mostly forgot about photography and just had fun.  But, here are some photos that we did manage to snag.

Mom set up some of the pics that she had taken of the ceremony and reception and displayed them here.  There are also some leftover vanilla favors up there.  And our photo frame card box.  :)
This cake was far less expensive than the wedding cake, but somehow they were able to decorate it better -- smooth, not half-assed, doesn't look like it was done in 5 minutes before the delivery... I'm not even a big fan of frosting flowers, but the cake is pretty.  :)
This one makes me laugh because it could have been awkward.  Philip and I are sitting at a table with my high school sweetheart's parents and grandparents.  ;)
It was an absolutely beautiful fall day.  :)
Yeah, great photo right?!  I mostly just wanted to show what I was wearing that day!
My dad and his brother playing horseshoes.  :)
Technically, this was after the reception had ended, but Philip is just too cute for me not to post this.  ;)

Those paper lanterns and string lights (along with the rest of the decor) got used again at the Indiana reception.  We wanted it to look as close to the Pennsylvania reception as possible.  Mom and Dad even bought a tent (they'll get plenty of use out of it for future parties!). 

And, there you have it.  There wasn't any drama.  It wasn't formal (or even semi-formal).  It wasn't over the top.  But, it was wonderful.  

Monday, January 30, 2012

When I *Should* Have Had a Bridezilla Moment...

For the most part, our wedding day was incredibly happy.  I will forever cherish the memories of me walking down the aisle with my parents at my side to see my wonderful husband.  The photos of us with our wedding party will always make me smile.  And I will definitely never forget my dad wearing his tie around his head for most of our reception.  

However, there were several things that went wrong on our wedding day that weren't things that I could just forget.  I had thought about just leaving it alone and not blogging about this stuff, but this is my wedding blog and it wouldn't be honest to just leave out my true feelings.  

Our wedding ceremony was scheduled to start at 4:00pm.  All family members were supposed to arrive by 2:00pm for photos.  So, imagine my surprise when 2:30 arrived and part of Philip's family still hadn't arrived.  And then 3:00.  And then 3:30.  Still not there.

Philip continued to try to get a hold of his mom.  Finally he texted her and told her that if she didn't arrive immediately, she just wouldn't have any family portraits. Philip was embarrassed and apologizing to me that his own mother couldn't show up on time to take photos.  I was getting pissed.  

Philip's mom was actually in the last group of people to arrive at our ceremony.  Almost two hours late.  By the time she arrived we only had a few minutes to go until the ceremony started.  I was fuming so I went to finalize some things with Jon (our celebrant) while Philip explained to his mom and step-dad when they'd be walking down the aisle.

Here I am talking to Jon right before the ceremony started. 
After the ceremony, I was on cloud nine.  So we got pictures with Philip's mom and stepdad at the reception site.  When we got back to the tent, Philip's grandfather started in on us about cutting the cake.  He said that people wanted to leave so we needed to cut the cake. 

I spent months planning out our wedding day.  There was a schedule to it.  We had an ipod reception, so the music was timed based on the schedule I'd created.  So, I wanted to just tell him to tell people to leave then.  I mean, WTF?  If you want to leave an hour into the reception, why is that my problem?  But, I took a few deep breaths, found the right song on the ipod, and we cut the cake -- smiles and all.

After dinner, when we were trying to dance, Philip's family started breaking down the tables.  Mind you, the reception is still going on.  Our friends and family started leaving because they thought they were being rushed out.  We live on the other side of the country from all of the people at our wedding.  We see them very little.  So the fact that our reception was cut short  really upset me.  

After most of our guests left, Philip and I just gave up, went inside to change, and came out to help take down the decorations.   

Did we have a good time?  Yes.  The amazing thing is that through most of this, I was fine.  I was so happy about life that I just let it all slide.  It was only as we were cleaning up that I started to get angry.  And then the next day I was really irritated.  It's now been over 4 months, and I am still irritated by it. 

We spent so much time, energy, and money on that one day.  It was supposed to be one of the best days of our life.  Well, it fell flat.  Don't get me wrong.  I was totally happy that day.  I just can't look back on our wedding day without thinking about all the crap that went wrong.  I'm just glad that it's over and now I get to enjoy the rest of my life with my wonderful husband.

I guess my advice for all brides is just to try to let everything slide on your wedding day.  Just enjoy it while you can.  You've got plenty of time afterwards to think about all those irritating things that went wrong!  ;)  Kidding!

Friday, December 30, 2011

The End Has Arrived :(

It's that time, folks.  The end.  We partied a little longer, but Howie left before the end, so there are no more photos to show you.  We didn't have a send-off or anything.  We just kind of ended.  Don't worry, though.  I've still got some vendor reviews and some odds and ends to cover before I say farewell to my wedding blog.  But, as far as recaps go...

Photo courtesy of Howie Hartman of Double H Media.

...it's time to say adios.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.  I know it was a very long journey!  I've definitely enjoyed sharing it with all of you. 

If you missed anything throughout the recaps, you can catch up here: 

We Get Our Groove On: Part IV

After the slow song, it was time for more real boogeying.  ;)  Let me tell you, it's rather difficult to get down in a wedding dress (those things are heavy!), but I did my best!

My sister borrowing the kids' sunglasses and microphone. 
He's pretty proud of that garter. 
This has to be one of my favorite photos.  My dad is just hilarious.
Learning the dance for Cotton Eye Joe
My sister and I know how to get down.  ;)
Here you can see just how filthy the bottom of my dress was.  Oops!
He's such a pimp.  ;)

Yes, we had a ridiculously good time partying down in our pink tent.  It was fantastic.  We did it right though.  No one got sick and my dress did come clean.  :)

Photos courtesy of Howie Hartman of Double H Media.

Miss something?  Catch up here:
We arrive in Pennsylvania

We Get Our Groove On: Part III

After the tosses, a slow song came on.  One of my favorites: Blake Shelton's God Gave Me You.  So, everyone got on the dance floor and did their best 8th grade slow-dance shuffle.  :)


Photos courtesy of Howie Hartman of Double H Media.

Miss something?  Catch up here:
We arrive in Pennsylvania

The Bouquet Toss!

Immediately after the garter toss, we rounded all the single ladies up and did the bouquet toss.  Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as entertaining as the garter toss.  ;)  

Anyway, a little mood music:


I chose Bill Conti's Gonna Fly Now (that's the theme from Rocky).  Again, I thought it was cute (but I hoped that the bouquet toss wouldn't turn into a boxing match!).  


Thankfully, no boxing match erupted.  ;)  Unfortunately, more pink. I do love the paper lanterns, though.  :)

Photos courtesy of Howie Hartman of Double H Media.

Miss something?  Catch up here:
We arrive in Pennsylvania

The Garter Toss!

After a bit of dancing, it was time for the garter toss!  Of course, we need a little mood music for this...  


I chose ZZ Top's Legs.  I thought it was perfect.  :)  Anyway, at first I just sat down in a chair.  However, Philip's uncle insisted that I was supposed to sit on the best man's knee.  Now, for those of you who don't know, our best man is a very conservative man.  However, he was a trooper and allowed it to happen!  

First on the chair.
Then on Richard's knee.
I look absolutely ridiculous here.  I'm pretty sure Philip was tickling me while he was trying to get my garter. 

And then the actual toss!


And, just in case that crazy picture isn't enough, let me blow it up for you: 
That's my sister's boyfriend.  Apparently he really wanted that garter!  (and at least the photo of him catching it isn't pink! -- even though the rest are)

Photos courtesy of Howie Hartman of Double H Media.

Miss something?  Catch up here:
We arrive in Pennsylvania
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