Wedding Part Two:Reception Fun!
Everything about the wedding was wonderful. Everything. But the reception was just incredible.
Right after the wedding ceremony the families gathered nearby in the park and took our family photos. It was so windy, my heels were sticking into the mud and we were all shivering. I wanted them over because, as much as I knew I'd want those family shots, I really wanted to get into the limo and savor a few quiet moments with my NEW FREAKIN' HUSBAND!
The family headed off to the the reception hall (The Grigg's Reservoir Boathouse) and we hopped into our limo. We kissed, we smiled, we looked at our hands and fidgeted with our rings on our fingers.
When we arrived at the boathouse we snuck around the gorgeous, river side property taking intimate, beautiful pictures.
The sun was setting, the leaves were changing, the wind had all but stopped and it was just us, and our fabulous photographer.
I LOVE this.
Stephen's favorite.
What a gorgeous,gorgeous Boathouse.
<3
*swoon*
Love the composition here. And colors. And us.
And the most romantic picture EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR:
We came inside and the girls bustled my gown, while I spruced up my hair, touched up my makeup and we waited to do the big fun announcement.
The DJ came out and even though I had recorded myself saying all of our names on his phone weeks prior at our meeting, he was asking again, how to pronounce Matt (the best man)'s last name. We went over it with him and he laughed it off like "well yeah, of course!" and went back to his DJ booth.
The music started (of course I picked Guns N Roses) and then the introductions started! Except, when he went to say the name he had JUST re-learned he said it WRONG!!!! We laughed it off, Matt air-guitared and Jess awkwardly smiled. The others walked in pair by pair and the music changed. The Alan Parsons Project started and the guests were asked to hold up their (pink and turquoise) napkins and swing them in the air as he announced the new bride and groom.
As we walked in, much to my horror, he announced "and now..... MR AND MRS STEPHENNNNNNNNNN STOKE"!!! I couldn't believe my ears as I yelled back, over the music, "ITS STOCK!!!! I AM MRS STOCK!!!" and he said "I'm sorry, once again... MR AND MRS STEPHEN.... STOKE!!!" and said it wrong, AGAIN. Ugh. We all laughed. Everyone knows it's Stock but COME ON DUDE.
As soon as the announcements were over, we asked that everyone follow us down around the building for a group photo. Ever since I saw the amazing balcony on the back on this building, I knew I wanted Becky up there with all of us down below for one big group picture. The walk gave us all a chance to begin chit chatting and mingling with guests and the group shot was just EVERYTHING I wanted!
We came back inside and started with Matt and Jessica's toasts. Matt was a character, he made jokes, he got up and walked around, he really owned the room-like we knew he would. He made a very sweet, heartfelt speech. Jess had rehearsed hers a million times over and she stood nervously with a large, crumpled piece of paper in her hand as she read a really well put together, and sincere message to us. I teared up and we toasted and kissed before Matt made a sweet,simple blessing and we began dinner.
Dinner was AMAZING. People raved about the food and I slammed a plate of monterey chicken and twice baked potatoes before we headed out to talk to each guest table by table.
It was nice to see everyone face to face and smile and laugh and joke, and soak up compliments.
After dinner we cut the cake. I knew Stephen had planned on covering me in cake despite my wishes. Erika didn't help when I asked for backup. She said "well,Brian did it to me. Be a good sport, Amanda!" Thanks alot, Erika.
Stephen tried to hold the knife upside down but we still ended up cutting out two tiny pieces of chocolate cake with fudge ganache filling. He went first and as suspected-UP into my nostrils and eyebrows it went. Of course I retaliated and he THEN, retaliated again! The crowd roared with laughter and Stephen beamed with pride. It was all in my hair and took a fair amount of time to cleanup in the ladies room while they moved our cake table out of the way and prepared for our first dance.
Once I'd fixed myself up I came out to the dance floor and met my gorgeous husband. The DJ started our special Jason Mraz song, the one STEPHEN picked out, and I swayed with him in the dimmed lights and sang the words to him. We had a good 3 minutes of smiling, snuggling, kissing, giggling and being husband and wife. I cherished it.
Stephen danced with his mom after that to a Boys 2 Men song. She looked totally in love with her son and he held onto her and they smiled and talked. It was very sweet.
We went right into dancing! We drank our special Skittle vodka I'd made for the girls (that Jess and Raelynn helped me finish late the night before!), we hopped in and out of the photo booth, I snapped the boys' suspenders and twirled in our big dresses with the flower girl. Jameson cut a rug and breakdanced his heart out, the couples all kissed and loved when I secretly played their anniversary songs for them. The grandparents all became fast friends, the groomsmen congregated on the balcony so they wouldn't be forced to dance and my husband participated in an impromptu dance routine with Adam.
Toward the end of the night the Dj secretly told me he'd be playing mine and Jameson's song shortly. I wanted a mother/son dance with him but he is in a shy age and didn't want everyone watching so I opted not to announce it. Thankfully, everyone just kind of knew, so Jameson and I had the entire floor to ourselves.
I picked him up and cradled him. He put his head on my shoulder and wrapped his arms around me and then I lost it. I sobbed. I sobbed and sobbed, I tried to stop, and I sobbed some more. He just hugged me so tight, the song has been something we've sang together for so long and I hadn't cried once the entire, long, emotional day because I was too caught up in the whirlwind.
I just held him and I cried.
The room was a mess. Tiffany was wiping tears, Jenn was holding her face, Becky was snapping pictures while she wiped her own tears and Stephen was stifling his own crying while Adam wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
What an amazing part of my night.
At the end of the night they called last call. He started my "last song of the night" that I had secretly and specifically picked out. Within the first few chords my remaining, awesome friends began slowly taking the dance floor and wrapping up arm in arm. We swayed, he held our 1/2 full champagne bottles and we air guitared/drummed/piano'd. We head banged and we screamed the lyrics off key. Bohemian Rhapsody with 15 of my closest, funnest friends was the most epic ending to any wedding reception I can imagine. And you know I have it on tape ;)