(no subject)
I'M A MARRIED LADY!
Oh my god, it was the best wedding ever! And I'm not just saying that because, you know...it as my own. I had everybody telling me it was amazing. Anthony's mom told me we need to get married next weekend too. I literally danced almost the whole night, and the dance floor was pretty much packed the whole time. Even my HUSBAND danced quite bit, and he doesn't dance. The DJ was done around 11, and nobody wanted to leave, even after the music stopped, so Anthony's brother continued the party in his hotel room for a little while. I never thought my wedding would have an after party! In the words of Anthony's best man Nick, "Wedding was 100% E-P-I-C."
Everything was absolutely perfect.
The wedding party stayed at a Hampton Inn the night before (girls in one room [minus one bridesmaid], guys in the other). We got there too late to go swimming (finishing up wedding things and then a late dinner). We decided we were all going to wake up early to go swimming. The guys decided to play laser tag, and the girls just chilled in the rooms. I didn't end up falling asleep until 2 in the morning.
We woke up at 7 the next morning, and chilled for a while in the whirlpool, then went swimming for a bit. After that, we showered, and went down for breakfast. The continental breakfast was fabulous and delicious. After breakfast, we went to the nail salon. I got a mani and a pedi. After the nail salon (which took probably 2 hours), it was time for hair and makeup appointments. My one bridesmaid Karen met us at the salon at noon for her appointment. We all got our hair done, but only Karen and I had makeup appointments. By 2 we were headed back to the hotel, where Anthony's mom brought us lunch. My parents showed up around 2, when we got back to the hotel. The photographer, Mike showed up around 2:30 to start taking getting ready pictures and some other shots.
Everyone kept asking if I was nervous, but I truly was not at all, the entire day. I think everyone else was a lot more nervous that I was. From the time we got back from the hair salon, I was dancing and moving the entire time. I could not stop grooving. After Mike took the individual shots of each side of the bridal party, it was time for the First Look. I stole this idea from . I was so excited to see Anthony for the first time, and I couldn't wait for him to see me. We turned the corner, and I think I took his breath away. He told me I looked beautiful. We kissed each other and our parents started semi-freaking out because "you're not supposed to do that until the ceremony!" Seeing each other before the ceremony worked out really well. I think my nerves would have shown more if we had waited to see each other.
Mike took some more bridal party shots on the patio at the hotel. We noticed a bunch of kids watching from a 2nd floor window, which made me laugh. At about 4:15, Mike went over to the hall to get pictures of the decorations and everything over there. The guys and parents went about 4:20 to the hall. My bridesmaids and I went back to the room to freshen up and use the bathroom one last time. At about 4:40, we left for the venue.
We were rocking out in the car the whole way there. Once we got there, the girls went in to let the coordinator know I was there. Then they came back out to get me. This is the part that went the quickest. I basically got in there, and then had to go line up to start walking. The girls walked down the aisle to the Hawaiian version of Over the Rainbow. When the music started playing, my Maid of Honor Christie started crying hard, which set off my other bridesmaid Karen. Apparently Christie could be heard sobbing down the aisle! I got a little misty eyed before I walked out there, but I am happy to say I didn't cry at all. And still no nerves. I walked with my father out to the string quartet version of Don't Stop Believing (like in The Wedding Singer). The aisle wasn't very long, so much of the song didn't play, but whatever.
The ceremony went by pretty quickly. We didn't have any readings or special things, so the officiant basically talked the whole time. It lasted maybe 20 minutes? Then we were MARRIED! Everyone walked out to I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles. We went right onto the floor to do the receiving line. Everyone came through, and after that we signed the marriage license. Christie was so excited to be a witness! We had a cocktail hour during this time, so everyone got their drink on. We also had a chocolate fountain out for guests (which as included with the price per person for the hall).
After we signed the marriage license, we did some more family pictures with Anthony's grandparents, then we went out to the garden to take some more bridal party and family pictures. After the pictures it was time for the entrances. Parents went in, followed by the bridal party (all to I'll Be There for You by the Rembrandts [Friends theme], and then Anthony and I came in to Detroit Rock City (fitting, since we're big Red Wings fans). After entrances, Christie and Nick gave their toasts, which were short and sweet (my kind of toasts). Then we had dinner! It was a buffet with lemon chicken, roast beef, buttered potatoes, corn, and fettucine alfredo. The Riverhouse provided us with servers, who went through the line with us and plated our food, and then brought it back to the table for us. They were also very attentive during dinner, refilling our drinks and all that good stuff. I didn't even have that much food put on my plate, but I was so full about halfway through!
After dinner, we cut the cake (to The Archies' Sugar Sugar). Although we had a receiving line, we still went around and spent a few minutes with each table. People kept asking when the dancing was going to start, so we hurried up and did the first dance (to Grow Old With You from the Wedding Singer, by Adam Sandler). We even busted out the fancy moves of a spin and a dip, with no practice. We were good. :) Then was the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances. We started with my dad and I dancing, and then the DJ called Anthony and his mom out to join us. We all danced to In My Life by the Beatles, and my dad said something like, "Ooh, good song choice."
After that the party got started! It was awesome. Like I was saying before, just about everyone got out on the dance floor! My bridesmaid Karen, who is usually a wallflower, danced for just about the entire night and totally let loose. Anthony's best man Nick danced quite a bit, and he's another one who isn't a dancer. Anthony's little cousin Daniel (who's like 5) was busting moves the entire night, and so were my little cousins (spinning on the floor even!). Anthony's aunt Diane, who is constantly in and out of the hospital, was dancing the night away, and it was so great to see her full of life. The DJ played a good mix of oldies at the beginning, and then towards the middle it was newer club-type music, and then back to some oldies. The DJ was fantastic at reading the crowd. I let the bridal party request some songs, and Karen requested 500 Miles by the Proclaimers (as a nod to our shared love of How I Met Your Mother). It wasn't one I thought you could dance to, but good lord if people weren't dancing their butts off during it! We did the usual Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle and Hustle. At one point, the DJ played Now That We Found Love, and everyone ended up forming an impromptu Soul Train line. Some time in the middle of the evening, we did the bouquet toss (to Michael Jackson's PYT), the garter removal (to the Mission Impossible theme), and the garter toss (to ZZ Top's Sharp Dressed Man).
My favorite parts were at the end of the night though. The DJ played I Want to Know What Love Is, and had everyone gather in a circle around us. A few of Anthony's cousins started moving in and then backing out, and at the end of the song, everyone was coming in towards us and then going back out, all holding hands. After the song stopped, we got the largest group hug I've ever been a part of in my life! The very last song of the evening was Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing. I managed to get everyone around me to clear the floor, so I could jump up like Baby does at the end. Everyone loved it!
The wedding was just fantastic and perfect, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. :)
And now the part you've all been waiting for, the (non-pro) pictures! These are from various guests on Facebook.
Getting pretty at the salon
Arriving at the hall
The Riverhouse Banquet Center in Mt. Clemens
We had to push everyone to take candy because we had so much left at the end! We still quite a bit left, including an unopened 5-lb. bag of Brite Crawlers. The candy buffet was definitely a hit with the kids we had at the wedding, and everyone else liked it too.
From L to R: my brother Paul, Ashley, Anthony's brother Michael, Karen, Anthony's brother Josh, my Maid of Honor Christie, Anthony's Best Man Nick, me and Anthony
Anthony's family
Me and my dad. I had spent a long time telling my girls, "Hold your bouquets by your belly button, so everyone will see your dresses!" and where's my bouquet?
FIRST KISS AS HUSBAND AND WIFE!
Signing the marriage license
The girls and Anthony
The clinking of the glasses to make us kiss didn't really bother me. I work with 3 year olds, so I could've sat through all of dinner with glasses clinking and I'd have been fine.
Our cake! We totally didn't need so much cake, because we had so much leftover at the end of the night. But everyone who had some said it was great.
Our first dance
Father/Daughter & Mother/Son dance
Everybody groovin'!
The newlyweds! The venue had a tiki bar in their garden, and we had daquiris, margaritas and pina coladas for everyone (both virgin and non-virgin)
Getting ready for the garter removal
"After the show, it's the after party, and after the party, it's the hotel lobby"
PHEW! Anthony and I were so exhausted today.
The Good: EVERYTHING! Everything went perfectly. It as the best night of my life, and the best party I've ever thrown or attended!
The Bad: Well, the pocket squares we had made for the guys got left at home, so none of them had pocket squares. If that's the worst thing about the day, I think I'd call it a success. :)
Is it weird that I don't feel like I'm married? When does that sink in? I don't feel any different than I do yesterday. Even getting ready, I didn't feel like a bride. Is that a good or bad thing?
I'll post vendor reviews tomorrow, because I need to gush but I am too tired. :)
Oh my god, it was the best wedding ever! And I'm not just saying that because, you know...it as my own. I had everybody telling me it was amazing. Anthony's mom told me we need to get married next weekend too. I literally danced almost the whole night, and the dance floor was pretty much packed the whole time. Even my HUSBAND danced quite bit, and he doesn't dance. The DJ was done around 11, and nobody wanted to leave, even after the music stopped, so Anthony's brother continued the party in his hotel room for a little while. I never thought my wedding would have an after party! In the words of Anthony's best man Nick, "Wedding was 100% E-P-I-C."
Everything was absolutely perfect.
The wedding party stayed at a Hampton Inn the night before (girls in one room [minus one bridesmaid], guys in the other). We got there too late to go swimming (finishing up wedding things and then a late dinner). We decided we were all going to wake up early to go swimming. The guys decided to play laser tag, and the girls just chilled in the rooms. I didn't end up falling asleep until 2 in the morning.
We woke up at 7 the next morning, and chilled for a while in the whirlpool, then went swimming for a bit. After that, we showered, and went down for breakfast. The continental breakfast was fabulous and delicious. After breakfast, we went to the nail salon. I got a mani and a pedi. After the nail salon (which took probably 2 hours), it was time for hair and makeup appointments. My one bridesmaid Karen met us at the salon at noon for her appointment. We all got our hair done, but only Karen and I had makeup appointments. By 2 we were headed back to the hotel, where Anthony's mom brought us lunch. My parents showed up around 2, when we got back to the hotel. The photographer, Mike showed up around 2:30 to start taking getting ready pictures and some other shots.
Everyone kept asking if I was nervous, but I truly was not at all, the entire day. I think everyone else was a lot more nervous that I was. From the time we got back from the hair salon, I was dancing and moving the entire time. I could not stop grooving. After Mike took the individual shots of each side of the bridal party, it was time for the First Look. I stole this idea from . I was so excited to see Anthony for the first time, and I couldn't wait for him to see me. We turned the corner, and I think I took his breath away. He told me I looked beautiful. We kissed each other and our parents started semi-freaking out because "you're not supposed to do that until the ceremony!" Seeing each other before the ceremony worked out really well. I think my nerves would have shown more if we had waited to see each other.
Mike took some more bridal party shots on the patio at the hotel. We noticed a bunch of kids watching from a 2nd floor window, which made me laugh. At about 4:15, Mike went over to the hall to get pictures of the decorations and everything over there. The guys and parents went about 4:20 to the hall. My bridesmaids and I went back to the room to freshen up and use the bathroom one last time. At about 4:40, we left for the venue.
We were rocking out in the car the whole way there. Once we got there, the girls went in to let the coordinator know I was there. Then they came back out to get me. This is the part that went the quickest. I basically got in there, and then had to go line up to start walking. The girls walked down the aisle to the Hawaiian version of Over the Rainbow. When the music started playing, my Maid of Honor Christie started crying hard, which set off my other bridesmaid Karen. Apparently Christie could be heard sobbing down the aisle! I got a little misty eyed before I walked out there, but I am happy to say I didn't cry at all. And still no nerves. I walked with my father out to the string quartet version of Don't Stop Believing (like in The Wedding Singer). The aisle wasn't very long, so much of the song didn't play, but whatever.
The ceremony went by pretty quickly. We didn't have any readings or special things, so the officiant basically talked the whole time. It lasted maybe 20 minutes? Then we were MARRIED! Everyone walked out to I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles. We went right onto the floor to do the receiving line. Everyone came through, and after that we signed the marriage license. Christie was so excited to be a witness! We had a cocktail hour during this time, so everyone got their drink on. We also had a chocolate fountain out for guests (which as included with the price per person for the hall).
After we signed the marriage license, we did some more family pictures with Anthony's grandparents, then we went out to the garden to take some more bridal party and family pictures. After the pictures it was time for the entrances. Parents went in, followed by the bridal party (all to I'll Be There for You by the Rembrandts [Friends theme], and then Anthony and I came in to Detroit Rock City (fitting, since we're big Red Wings fans). After entrances, Christie and Nick gave their toasts, which were short and sweet (my kind of toasts). Then we had dinner! It was a buffet with lemon chicken, roast beef, buttered potatoes, corn, and fettucine alfredo. The Riverhouse provided us with servers, who went through the line with us and plated our food, and then brought it back to the table for us. They were also very attentive during dinner, refilling our drinks and all that good stuff. I didn't even have that much food put on my plate, but I was so full about halfway through!
After dinner, we cut the cake (to The Archies' Sugar Sugar). Although we had a receiving line, we still went around and spent a few minutes with each table. People kept asking when the dancing was going to start, so we hurried up and did the first dance (to Grow Old With You from the Wedding Singer, by Adam Sandler). We even busted out the fancy moves of a spin and a dip, with no practice. We were good. :) Then was the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances. We started with my dad and I dancing, and then the DJ called Anthony and his mom out to join us. We all danced to In My Life by the Beatles, and my dad said something like, "Ooh, good song choice."
After that the party got started! It was awesome. Like I was saying before, just about everyone got out on the dance floor! My bridesmaid Karen, who is usually a wallflower, danced for just about the entire night and totally let loose. Anthony's best man Nick danced quite a bit, and he's another one who isn't a dancer. Anthony's little cousin Daniel (who's like 5) was busting moves the entire night, and so were my little cousins (spinning on the floor even!). Anthony's aunt Diane, who is constantly in and out of the hospital, was dancing the night away, and it was so great to see her full of life. The DJ played a good mix of oldies at the beginning, and then towards the middle it was newer club-type music, and then back to some oldies. The DJ was fantastic at reading the crowd. I let the bridal party request some songs, and Karen requested 500 Miles by the Proclaimers (as a nod to our shared love of How I Met Your Mother). It wasn't one I thought you could dance to, but good lord if people weren't dancing their butts off during it! We did the usual Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle and Hustle. At one point, the DJ played Now That We Found Love, and everyone ended up forming an impromptu Soul Train line. Some time in the middle of the evening, we did the bouquet toss (to Michael Jackson's PYT), the garter removal (to the Mission Impossible theme), and the garter toss (to ZZ Top's Sharp Dressed Man).
My favorite parts were at the end of the night though. The DJ played I Want to Know What Love Is, and had everyone gather in a circle around us. A few of Anthony's cousins started moving in and then backing out, and at the end of the song, everyone was coming in towards us and then going back out, all holding hands. After the song stopped, we got the largest group hug I've ever been a part of in my life! The very last song of the evening was Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing. I managed to get everyone around me to clear the floor, so I could jump up like Baby does at the end. Everyone loved it!
The wedding was just fantastic and perfect, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. :)
And now the part you've all been waiting for, the (non-pro) pictures! These are from various guests on Facebook.
Getting pretty at the salon
Arriving at the hall
The Riverhouse Banquet Center in Mt. Clemens
We had to push everyone to take candy because we had so much left at the end! We still quite a bit left, including an unopened 5-lb. bag of Brite Crawlers. The candy buffet was definitely a hit with the kids we had at the wedding, and everyone else liked it too.
From L to R: my brother Paul, Ashley, Anthony's brother Michael, Karen, Anthony's brother Josh, my Maid of Honor Christie, Anthony's Best Man Nick, me and Anthony
Anthony's family
Me and my dad. I had spent a long time telling my girls, "Hold your bouquets by your belly button, so everyone will see your dresses!" and where's my bouquet?
FIRST KISS AS HUSBAND AND WIFE!
Signing the marriage license
The girls and Anthony
The clinking of the glasses to make us kiss didn't really bother me. I work with 3 year olds, so I could've sat through all of dinner with glasses clinking and I'd have been fine.
Our cake! We totally didn't need so much cake, because we had so much leftover at the end of the night. But everyone who had some said it was great.
Our first dance
Father/Daughter & Mother/Son dance
Everybody groovin'!
The newlyweds! The venue had a tiki bar in their garden, and we had daquiris, margaritas and pina coladas for everyone (both virgin and non-virgin)
Getting ready for the garter removal
"After the show, it's the after party, and after the party, it's the hotel lobby"
PHEW! Anthony and I were so exhausted today.
The Good: EVERYTHING! Everything went perfectly. It as the best night of my life, and the best party I've ever thrown or attended!
The Bad: Well, the pocket squares we had made for the guys got left at home, so none of them had pocket squares. If that's the worst thing about the day, I think I'd call it a success. :)
Is it weird that I don't feel like I'm married? When does that sink in? I don't feel any different than I do yesterday. Even getting ready, I didn't feel like a bride. Is that a good or bad thing?
I'll post vendor reviews tomorrow, because I need to gush but I am too tired. :)