After our grand entrance, we joined our guest who were enjoying cocktail hour. Because time was limited at the church, we did not have a receiving line. I was bound an determined to get to every guest (or at least every group of guests) to say hello and thank them for coming. I figured the more hellos I got in now, the more food I could eat during dinner. As it turned out, our table was right in front of the buffet, so everyone filed by on their way to get food. This was totally unplanned but totally awesome. We chatted at length with everyone. We got to sit and eat our dinner. We may have talked with our mouths full. I am sure this is some kind of major etiquette breech, eating while your guests wait for food, or something, but for our casual brewery reception, it was perfect. And really we did not do that much mouth-full talking.
I'm getting ahead of myself though! After we had made the rounds, our DJ told us it was almost time for toasts, so we rounded up our toasters (wait, is that what you call them? Toastees??) And settled in.
Fist up was Papa Aardvark, he is a great public speaker, so I knew even if he went on for a while it wouldn't be too ramble-y. He kept it short and sweet, thanking everyone for sharing our day, welcoming Mr. Aardvark's family to ours and saying as a parent, all he could hope for was happiness for his children, and it looked like I was on the right track.
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| Yes, my dad is wearing red shoes. They are limited edition "podium shoes" for bike racers...I gave them to him a few months ago and he asked if he could rock them for the reception. (See where I get my cyclist geek tendencies from?) |
One down, no tears! We are rocking and rolling. Next up was BIL Aardvark. (Also know as Best Man Aardvark)
Things were going well, he told a really sweet story about how, as kids on a winter camping trip, Mr. Aardvark helped him chip frozen pasta out of bowl they were trying to wash dishes. His (great) point was that Mr. Aardvark was the type of guy who will do what needs to be done, even if it is a crappy, soggy, cold job. He also talked about how I was so cheerful, all the time and he imagined us coming home from our adventures with sink full of clean dishes and smiles on our faces. That was one of my favorite lines of the whole night, because it's pretty much spot on. It was a truly sweet toast and it looked like I was two for two on no tears!
Of course, things on a wedding day can never go perfectly according to plan. As BIL Aardvark came over to give us hugs, something happened, something in slow motion, something I think every bride fears in the back of her head.
I don't remember the exact logistics of it, and the videographer had panned to the guests to get their reaction to the toast, so no hard evidence exists. However somewhere between the "lets hug" and the "lets clink glasses" Mr. Aardvark's beer got knocked over. ALL OVER my lap. I am pretty sure he knocked it over himself, but his brother was mortified! I stood up, and miracle of miracles, most of the beer rolled off my dress (cool unknown per to dupioni silk?). Without thinking, I pulled out my grandpa's hanky and sopped up the rest from my chair (so far I had been tear free I shouldn't need it!). waitresses came running with more napkins and in no time at all everything was as it had been. Except the hanky which was soaked in beer still. My uncle later pointed out that this was fitting as grandpa would have wanted some beer if he was there.
Surprising even myself, I was not the least bit upset by the entire incident. My dress was fine, no harm was done (aside from loss of beer) and now everyone had a great story to tell about our toasts! Poor BIL Aardvark felt HORRIBLE though! I eased his worry by telling him I was relieved he was the one to spill on me, because if someone else hadn't, I would have! Let's be honest, there is a good reason there is no white in my closet.
With all of the excitement contained it was time for MOH MD's toast. I should preface this by saying, I grew up with MD, we were always going on trips together with our families, and we have been through everything together. I should also say that she is a crier. She cried watching Full House when we were little, she gets misty reading magazine adds, and so far today, she had been pretty dry eyed. It had to end sometime.... She told everyone how she had written six speeches, each one making her bawl, but each seeming way to rigid and formal for our friendship. \
In, what I can only imagine was an attempt to keep things light, she told the story of how, when her brother was born, I insisted on wearing a dog costume to the hospital when we went to see him. And how upon getting there and realizing that despite my dog costume, I was not the center of attention, I pooped my pants! (I was 2!) I was a little shocked that she had brought up a pants pooping story on my wedding day (I guess I just told it to the whole wide internet...), but I assured her, and everyone else, that I was getting plenty of attention today, so, no need to worry....
But then after a good laugh, she did what she does best, she spoke from the heart, about how I've always know who I was and what I wanted, and how some people get into relationships and those things change, but with Mr. Aardvark and I, that was not the case, he made me a better person not a different person, and she was so happy that he would be part of our family now. Of course, at this point she was full on crying, and for the first time all day, I was too. I was so touched that she felt so strongly about our marriage. I was so touched that she had such sweet things to say! I could not believe that a toast that started out with pants pooping could turn out so heart felt!
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| Guest Photo (theONLY one of me crying all day) |
I dried the last of my tears, and we thanked our guests for coming from near and far to be with us.
Mr. Aardvark and I lead grace which was a very nice, symbolic first act as a newly married couple.
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| Guest photo |
Then it was time to dig in! We filled our plates and chatted with guests as they filled theirs. Everyone raved about the food and we spied a few people going up for seconds! Before we knew it, the DJ was giving us a 5 minute warning for cake cutting. HOLY COW! The day was flying!
All photos by Michael Terri Studios Unless otherwise noted.
Miss a recap? Don't fret! Here they are!
1.) For the Love of Love: Practice Makes Perfect
2.) For the Love of Love: DIY Flowers]
4.) For the Love of Love: Dudes Become Gentlemen
5.) For the Love of Love: The Girls get Fancy
6.) For the Love of Love: Final Moments as A Miss
7.) For the Love of Love: Before God & Everybody
8.) For the Love of Love: "Formals"
9.) For the Love of Love: A Stroll in the Park
10.) For the Love of Love: The Switcheroo
11.) For the Love of Love: Time to Party
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