Our reception was so much fun!!!! The food was good, the music was good. I had such a good time!!!
We got to the venue and not all the guests had gotten there so we waited outside of the room. It turned into a mini receiving line for the guests who got there after us. I was pretty cool with that. It made me wish we had done an official receiving line.
While we were out there waiting, the DJ came out and talked to us. We were standing there and all of a sudden, the DJ says, "Don't move!" Then Dane looked and said it too. I thought my dress was caught on something, but it was much better than that. My dress is satin with an embroidered lace organza overlay. There was a grasshopper between the organza and the satin. It was all the way up close to my hips. I have no idea how long that little fellow had been in my dress. He may have been there for a while. It was so funny. The photographer wasn't there to catch it. Darn it!
After that, Alex came out and she pulled me to the side. She said, "Mom, what color is your cake supposed to be?" Now you know when you get asked what color is it SUPPOSED to be that it's not the right color. I told her ivory. She proceeded to tell me that my cake had parts that were green with a purple stripe. Our wedding colors were plum and yellow, so purple I could see maybe, but green? Anyway, I laughed about it. The only thing I was concerned about was what flavor the cake was. I had waited almost a year and a half for my hot buttered coconut rum cake with pina colado frosting and I was going to be very disappointed if it was the wrong flavor.
The DJ announced us to the room and we walked in. Everybody clapped for us. We were starving so we immediately went through the buffet. When we had our food, the buffet was opened for everyone else. We made sure we got to eat since we were starving! When I got a chance, I took a look at the cake. It was beautiful. Absolutely a beautiful cake. It was the right shape, but it had parts that were green and then a stripe dividing the ivory and green was not purple, but chocolate brown. It also had edible handmade flowers on it. Gorgeous! I just have no idea why it was green and brown. Turns out it was the right flavor, so I didn't really care about the color. The groom's cake was exactly as it was supposed to be. It was gorgeous too.
As soon as we were done eating, we cut the cake, then had the best man toast, and immediately went into the first dance. We got through with our first dances and Dane was talking to some friends. I walked over and chatted with them too. It had been maybe 15 minutes since we cut the cakes. I looked around and the platter for the groom's cake was empty. I thought the caterer must have cut pieces and put them on another table, so I was looking for the pieces of this chocolate cake. There was no more chocolate cake. I could not believe it. That cake was gone faster than I've ever seen a cake disappear in my life. Thankfully the caterer had cut us a piece and put it at our table so we could definitely get some. Problem was we only ate a few bites between all the craziness and next thing I knew, they had collected all the plates. :-( Oh well. The cake is for the guests and they apparently enjoyed it a lot.
Awesome events from our reception:
First dance - We danced to I Don't Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith. It's really too long, and we realized it while we were dancing. You can only dance and kiss alone on the dance floor for so long before you really just want everyone to be able to dance too. I'm sure everyone was tired of watching us by the time that song ended. But it's a beautiful song. I just wish it had been shorter.
Father/Daughter, Mother/Son dance - We danced to My Wish by Rascal Flatts. First thing my dad asked was, "Is this going to be some crazy rock song too? I hope it's not as long as that song you two danced to." I laughed and told him it was a country song and not nearly as long.
Anniversary dance - My Uncle Roger and Aunt Karan were the couple married the longest. Their advice to us was to keep talking. I think that's some good advice.
Cotton Eyed Joe - My mom is 74 years old and she could put some young people to shame when it comes to dancing. She started dancing and everyone circled around her and clapped. If only I had a video. It was awesome. Everyone was very impressed at her energy.
Thomas - Our ring bearer was tearing up the dance floor. He was spinning and sliding and doing the splits. It was so great!!!
Babies - There were three babies under age one at our wedding and I did not hear one cry until after the reception had ended and one was a little hungry. Jonah was crawling around the dance floor. Lizzie was being held by all Dane's family. Lydia was being passed around my side of the family. All beautiful babies and all very well behaved. I'm so glad they were there!
Train - The DJ had me start the train and lead everyone around the room. There was barely anyone left sitting by the time we got around the room. It was really fun. He kept making us turn around and go the opposite direction. We were laughing pretty hard.
Caterer - JoAnne Vaughn at Special Touch Catering. Okay, honestly, our caterer must be the best caterer known to man. The DJ asked if I was ready to toss my bouquet and I had no idea where my tossing bouquet was. The photographer went to look for it. The caterer looked and there wasn't one there.... so she made me one. We had a huge arrangement on the buffet table. She took some of the flowers out of it and took one of the organza tables runners and she made me a bouquet to toss. It did not look like it had been made on the fly. Awesome!
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Wedding!!!!
My wedding was as close to perfect as I think a wedding probably can be. The only hitch was the music guy. He didn't get there to start the prelude music when he was supposed to. Guests sat in silence for about 15 minutes. Then apparently the officiant had to prompt him on when to start the music because everyone was ready to go and he wasn't changing out the CD's.
But once the correct music was playing, everything went smooth as glass. My wedding party walked in to Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I walked in to Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney. Both songs are beautiful and sounded really beautiful in the chapel. I was crying as soon as I heard the music start to play. I wasn't nervous, but I was very emotional.
I was holding my dad's hand right up to the point that we started to walk in. Then I let go of his hand and took his arm. I kinda wish I had kept holding his hand. I have to say I love my dad. He looked handsome in his tux too.
I cried all the way through our vows. I heard later that no one could really hear me and that makes me a little sad. Our vows were beautiful.
At the end of the ceremony, we walked out and then walked around the side of the chapel. Everyone else filed out of the chapel and grabbed a hand full of rose petals. We came back through and everyone three the petals instead of rice or bird seed. It was so pretty. When I got to the truck, I looked behind me and my train was covered in yellow rose petals. It was so pretty. I have no idea if anyone got a picture of it, but I really hope and pray that someone did.
But once the correct music was playing, everything went smooth as glass. My wedding party walked in to Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I walked in to Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney. Both songs are beautiful and sounded really beautiful in the chapel. I was crying as soon as I heard the music start to play. I wasn't nervous, but I was very emotional.
I was holding my dad's hand right up to the point that we started to walk in. Then I let go of his hand and took his arm. I kinda wish I had kept holding his hand. I have to say I love my dad. He looked handsome in his tux too.
I cried all the way through our vows. I heard later that no one could really hear me and that makes me a little sad. Our vows were beautiful.
At the end of the ceremony, we walked out and then walked around the side of the chapel. Everyone else filed out of the chapel and grabbed a hand full of rose petals. We came back through and everyone three the petals instead of rice or bird seed. It was so pretty. When I got to the truck, I looked behind me and my train was covered in yellow rose petals. It was so pretty. I have no idea if anyone got a picture of it, but I really hope and pray that someone did.
Wedding Day - before the wedding.
July 4, 2009 - Dane and Jennifer's wedding
First of all, I had originally told Dane that he had to spend the night somewhere else the night before the wedding because we weren't supposed to see each other that morning. After the bachelor party incident, and him not being home the night before, I really wanted him to stay home. So I got to sleep next to him the night before the wedding. I slept well. I don't think I would have if he hadn't been there.
We got up really early. I had to take a shower and dry my hair. We put all the dresses in Kristi's car, and she and I went to the hotel to pick up Robin and Ginny. Alex took her car and dropped Felicia off at the hotel. She then picked up the fruit tray and some other breakfast items. We all met up at Drab 2 Fab. Mary Jane was already there and waiting for us. We started hair at 8:00. Tess got there a little before 8:30 to set up and start working on our make up.
Mary Jane did Robin's and Ginny's hair first. She had their's done so fast, I wondered if we had scheduled our appointment way too early. But then she worked on Alex's and that took a lot longer. Our photographer, Kari Nichols, came in between 9:00 and 9:30. Mary Jane, Tess, and Kari are all in the same age range as Kristi and Alex. They were all talking about tattoos and Twilight. We had a really good time. After we were done, I was really glad we had started at 8:00. We were never rushed. Everything was done around 11:00 and our pictures were to start at 12:00.
The lady at the chapel had told me she would open up the bride's quarters a few minutes before noon, but Kari said we should go ahead and go because sometimes it's already open. We went ahead and started over there. On the way, we stopped and grabbed some bottled water to have on hand. We got to the chapel around 11:30 and the bride's quarters was locked, but after a few minutes a man came out. He had been doing maintenance and he was done. He left it open for us. We went in and immediately started changing into our dresses and started pictures.
Dane and I had our "special moment" at the celebration garden. He was waiting for me with his back to me. I walked up behind him and called his name. It still makes me want to cry to think about it. He looked so handsome in his tux. He was sweating bad, but he still looked so awesome. We took some pictures with the two of us outside, then we headed over to the chapel to take wedding party pictures.
We were in the chapel until 1:15. As we left, we could see some guests starting down the sidewalk to the chapel. We got out just in time! I was so hot! My petticoat was sticking to my legs and wrapping around them. I had sweat dripping down my legs, but I didn't sweat much from the neck up. My hair was up and I didn't have problems with my makeup coming off or anything like that.
After pictures, the girls and I headed back over to the bride's quarters to cool off and wait for the ceremony. The first thing I did was walk in and go stand over a vent. It felt so good, but then as I started to walk away, my dress snagged on some wood on the baseboard. It tore the edge of the organza away from the dress. Like a 8 inch long piece of the edge was pulled away from the dress. My mom came in and said she thought she might have some needle and thread with her. I told her I had a sewing kit. She got some needle and thread and did a quick stitch up job on my dress. It was enough that the tore piece wouldn't be noticable.
I stressed some because some of our parents didn't leave the chapel after the pictures. I mean, they were supposed to be walked in and seated after all the guests arrived, but they were sitting in the back of the chapel. ?????? I sent my mom to find out where they were. She came back and said they were at the chapel and weren't leaving. Dane's mom said her knees hurt and she couldn't walk down to where we were. My stepmom had a similar problem because she had foot surgery a couple months ago. Basically, the only air conditioning outside the chapel meant a walk and no one was willing to do it. So they were there in the chapel when the guests got there. Then they got up and left so they could be ushered in. Whatever.
First of all, I had originally told Dane that he had to spend the night somewhere else the night before the wedding because we weren't supposed to see each other that morning. After the bachelor party incident, and him not being home the night before, I really wanted him to stay home. So I got to sleep next to him the night before the wedding. I slept well. I don't think I would have if he hadn't been there.
We got up really early. I had to take a shower and dry my hair. We put all the dresses in Kristi's car, and she and I went to the hotel to pick up Robin and Ginny. Alex took her car and dropped Felicia off at the hotel. She then picked up the fruit tray and some other breakfast items. We all met up at Drab 2 Fab. Mary Jane was already there and waiting for us. We started hair at 8:00. Tess got there a little before 8:30 to set up and start working on our make up.
Mary Jane did Robin's and Ginny's hair first. She had their's done so fast, I wondered if we had scheduled our appointment way too early. But then she worked on Alex's and that took a lot longer. Our photographer, Kari Nichols, came in between 9:00 and 9:30. Mary Jane, Tess, and Kari are all in the same age range as Kristi and Alex. They were all talking about tattoos and Twilight. We had a really good time. After we were done, I was really glad we had started at 8:00. We were never rushed. Everything was done around 11:00 and our pictures were to start at 12:00.
The lady at the chapel had told me she would open up the bride's quarters a few minutes before noon, but Kari said we should go ahead and go because sometimes it's already open. We went ahead and started over there. On the way, we stopped and grabbed some bottled water to have on hand. We got to the chapel around 11:30 and the bride's quarters was locked, but after a few minutes a man came out. He had been doing maintenance and he was done. He left it open for us. We went in and immediately started changing into our dresses and started pictures.
Dane and I had our "special moment" at the celebration garden. He was waiting for me with his back to me. I walked up behind him and called his name. It still makes me want to cry to think about it. He looked so handsome in his tux. He was sweating bad, but he still looked so awesome. We took some pictures with the two of us outside, then we headed over to the chapel to take wedding party pictures.
We were in the chapel until 1:15. As we left, we could see some guests starting down the sidewalk to the chapel. We got out just in time! I was so hot! My petticoat was sticking to my legs and wrapping around them. I had sweat dripping down my legs, but I didn't sweat much from the neck up. My hair was up and I didn't have problems with my makeup coming off or anything like that.
After pictures, the girls and I headed back over to the bride's quarters to cool off and wait for the ceremony. The first thing I did was walk in and go stand over a vent. It felt so good, but then as I started to walk away, my dress snagged on some wood on the baseboard. It tore the edge of the organza away from the dress. Like a 8 inch long piece of the edge was pulled away from the dress. My mom came in and said she thought she might have some needle and thread with her. I told her I had a sewing kit. She got some needle and thread and did a quick stitch up job on my dress. It was enough that the tore piece wouldn't be noticable.
I stressed some because some of our parents didn't leave the chapel after the pictures. I mean, they were supposed to be walked in and seated after all the guests arrived, but they were sitting in the back of the chapel. ?????? I sent my mom to find out where they were. She came back and said they were at the chapel and weren't leaving. Dane's mom said her knees hurt and she couldn't walk down to where we were. My stepmom had a similar problem because she had foot surgery a couple months ago. Basically, the only air conditioning outside the chapel meant a walk and no one was willing to do it. So they were there in the chapel when the guests got there. Then they got up and left so they could be ushered in. Whatever.
Rehearsal and dinner
The rehearsal went well. Our officiant had everything under control. He knew exactly how everything should go and gave us very good directions. I'm so glad we found him.
Dane's mom and dad paid for the rehearsal dinner and they said all out of town guests could be invited. That meant that almost every wedding guest was invited to the rehearsal dinner and only a few didn't come. I really have to say that it was amazing.
The dinner was at Whole Hog BBQ in Hot Springs. They set up a buffet with pulled pork, brisket, and pulled chicken as the meat selections. We also had pototo salad, coleslaw, and rolls. The food was really good.
All of Dane's friends from Austin were there as well as my friends from all over the place. It was so much fun and relaxed. I'm so glad that his parents were willing to invite everyone. It gave us extra time to talk to all the people who traveled so far to come to our wedding. It also gave us a little time to relax and talk to each other since we really hadn't seen each other since the morning bachelor party incident.
I can't believe the distance people traveled to come to our wedding. We have really great family and friends. It really shows us how much people care about us.
Dane's mom and dad paid for the rehearsal dinner and they said all out of town guests could be invited. That meant that almost every wedding guest was invited to the rehearsal dinner and only a few didn't come. I really have to say that it was amazing.
The dinner was at Whole Hog BBQ in Hot Springs. They set up a buffet with pulled pork, brisket, and pulled chicken as the meat selections. We also had pototo salad, coleslaw, and rolls. The food was really good.
All of Dane's friends from Austin were there as well as my friends from all over the place. It was so much fun and relaxed. I'm so glad that his parents were willing to invite everyone. It gave us extra time to talk to all the people who traveled so far to come to our wedding. It also gave us a little time to relax and talk to each other since we really hadn't seen each other since the morning bachelor party incident.
I can't believe the distance people traveled to come to our wedding. We have really great family and friends. It really shows us how much people care about us.
bachelor party
Yeah... this was a problem. Not that there was one. I had no problem with that. When Dane left the house on Thursday night, he told me he would be home. I gave him plenty of opportunity to say he wouldn't be. I even gave him the don't drink and drive lecture. He said that he had too much to drink, he would have someone drop him off at the house. Either way, he would be home.
I spent the evening getting my laundry done and packing for the honeymoon. I went to bed around 1:30 wondering what time he would drag in. I fell asleep for a little while, but then woke up aware that he wasn't home yet. From about 2:30 on, I couldn't get back to sleep. I kept thinking he would be home any minute. Every time I heard a vehicle in the distance, I thought it must be him. Long story short, he didn't come home. And all the guys were supposed to be on the golf course at 9:00 Friday morning. I couldn't believe that he just hadn't come home.
My shower was Friday morning. I got out of bed around 8:00 and took a shower. I was so tired, and very upset. I've heard several times recently that people say he's pussy whipped... including his mother (that really pissed me off.) I didn't want to call him at 4:00 in the morning to see where he was and then him get teased about it. By the next morning, I was pretty much in tears because I hadn't even gotten a phone call. I kept thinking he would drag in, but then nothing. Finally around 8:45, I gave in and called him. He answered on the first ring. The FIRST ring! He wasn't asleep. He had just gotten in his truck and was coming home.
So what happened? He did so many shots that he passed out. And instead of taking him home... HOME!!!!!, they took him to his mommy's house. Yeah, his mommy's house. And no one bothered to let me know where he was or if he was okay. I was mad. I was hurt... still am hurt. I've sat and waited for someone to come home. Getting mad, then starting to think about what if something happened.. then getting mad again. It's horrible to go through and that's not what I signed up for.
He's the one who drank so much that he couldn't communicate, so it's his fault. I don't think it's funny. I don't like to hear people joke about it. I don't understand why anyone would have taken him to his mom's instead of bringing him home. And I really really don't understand why no one thought that maybe they should call and let me know where he was.
I spent the evening getting my laundry done and packing for the honeymoon. I went to bed around 1:30 wondering what time he would drag in. I fell asleep for a little while, but then woke up aware that he wasn't home yet. From about 2:30 on, I couldn't get back to sleep. I kept thinking he would be home any minute. Every time I heard a vehicle in the distance, I thought it must be him. Long story short, he didn't come home. And all the guys were supposed to be on the golf course at 9:00 Friday morning. I couldn't believe that he just hadn't come home.
My shower was Friday morning. I got out of bed around 8:00 and took a shower. I was so tired, and very upset. I've heard several times recently that people say he's pussy whipped... including his mother (that really pissed me off.) I didn't want to call him at 4:00 in the morning to see where he was and then him get teased about it. By the next morning, I was pretty much in tears because I hadn't even gotten a phone call. I kept thinking he would drag in, but then nothing. Finally around 8:45, I gave in and called him. He answered on the first ring. The FIRST ring! He wasn't asleep. He had just gotten in his truck and was coming home.
So what happened? He did so many shots that he passed out. And instead of taking him home... HOME!!!!!, they took him to his mommy's house. Yeah, his mommy's house. And no one bothered to let me know where he was or if he was okay. I was mad. I was hurt... still am hurt. I've sat and waited for someone to come home. Getting mad, then starting to think about what if something happened.. then getting mad again. It's horrible to go through and that's not what I signed up for.
He's the one who drank so much that he couldn't communicate, so it's his fault. I don't think it's funny. I don't like to hear people joke about it. I don't understand why anyone would have taken him to his mom's instead of bringing him home. And I really really don't understand why no one thought that maybe they should call and let me know where he was.
Veil drama
On Tuesday before the wedding, I realized that I had left my veil hanging in my daughter's closet in the house in Maumelle. Thankfully I remembered it on Tuesday and not on Saturday morning!
Kristi came down Thursday afternoon and she brought my veil. When I pulled it out to look at it, the bottom part of it was crinkled up and the crystals were sticking together. I just started bawling. Dane was trying to help me and trying to figure out how to fix it. He said we needed to steam it, but I don't have a steamer and I was worried about messing up the crystals since they are glued on. In the middle of this, I hear the doorbell ring. We weren't expecting anyone and I figured it was a neighbor or random person.
Dane went out to the living room and I was still crying about my veil. A couple minutes went by and he didn't come back, so I went to see who was at the door. I walked into the kitchen and my living room was full of Dane's family members. His dad had brought over all of his aunts and uncles without warning us. My eyes were red and puffy and everybody could tell I had been crying. When they saw me, the reaction was "Oh! Heyyyyy..." with the voice losing excitement. I was mortified. I went back to the bedroom and tried to get my face looking better. I came back out while they were outside. No one was going to ask what was wrong. Finally I apologized and told them I was having veil issues. When they heard that, I think they were relieved that it wasn't something worse going on, and they started trying to help me.
Later that evening, I got Dane's iron, which has a steam setting, and I got the creases out. My veil was beautiful for the wedding.
Kristi came down Thursday afternoon and she brought my veil. When I pulled it out to look at it, the bottom part of it was crinkled up and the crystals were sticking together. I just started bawling. Dane was trying to help me and trying to figure out how to fix it. He said we needed to steam it, but I don't have a steamer and I was worried about messing up the crystals since they are glued on. In the middle of this, I hear the doorbell ring. We weren't expecting anyone and I figured it was a neighbor or random person.
Dane went out to the living room and I was still crying about my veil. A couple minutes went by and he didn't come back, so I went to see who was at the door. I walked into the kitchen and my living room was full of Dane's family members. His dad had brought over all of his aunts and uncles without warning us. My eyes were red and puffy and everybody could tell I had been crying. When they saw me, the reaction was "Oh! Heyyyyy..." with the voice losing excitement. I was mortified. I went back to the bedroom and tried to get my face looking better. I came back out while they were outside. No one was going to ask what was wrong. Finally I apologized and told them I was having veil issues. When they heard that, I think they were relieved that it wasn't something worse going on, and they started trying to help me.
Later that evening, I got Dane's iron, which has a steam setting, and I got the creases out. My veil was beautiful for the wedding.
wedding week start
One week before the wedding we moved into our new house. Dane had to work Saturday, so I went with Alex and David to pick up the uhaul. We packed as much as we could and loaded several things onto the truck. We decided to go ahead and make a trip to Hot Springs late that night for a couple of reasons. First, David was going to need his car to be in HS. No one wanted to drive it the next day because it has no air conditioning. Second, my dress and the bridesmaid dresses had to be moved and I was worried about where we would put them since we also had to take the dogs to the new house. So we loaded up the dresses late Saturday night and drove down.
We woke up early on Sunday and drove back up to Maumelle. We loaded everything that was necessary and then went back to Hot Springs. We loaded up Dane's stuff and moved as much as possible that day. It was a hectic weekend!
I had to work Monday and Tuesday and it was hard. I had so much wedding stuff still to do and no motivation to do any work. I spent those two evenings dipping pretzels in chocolate. Alex helped me package them and tie those little bitty bows. They were so cute!
I don't remember what I did Wednesday. I can't believe that. I do remember staying up really late making the escort cards. Cutting the seeded paper and punching the holes for the ribbon. And then tying a ton more little bitty bows.
Thursday was busy! I got up and made a trip to the florist to finalize things with him and make our final payment. When I got there and said my name, one of the women told me she had been working on my flowers. She asked if I wanted to see them and of course I did. She brought out my bouquet and I started crying like a baby. It was so pretty!
Dane and the boys made the trip to Little Rock that morning to pick up their tuxes. When they got back, Dane and I went to the Elk's Lodge to finalize things there. When we got done there, we made the trip out to pick up Felicia.
We woke up early on Sunday and drove back up to Maumelle. We loaded everything that was necessary and then went back to Hot Springs. We loaded up Dane's stuff and moved as much as possible that day. It was a hectic weekend!
I had to work Monday and Tuesday and it was hard. I had so much wedding stuff still to do and no motivation to do any work. I spent those two evenings dipping pretzels in chocolate. Alex helped me package them and tie those little bitty bows. They were so cute!
I don't remember what I did Wednesday. I can't believe that. I do remember staying up really late making the escort cards. Cutting the seeded paper and punching the holes for the ribbon. And then tying a ton more little bitty bows.
Thursday was busy! I got up and made a trip to the florist to finalize things with him and make our final payment. When I got there and said my name, one of the women told me she had been working on my flowers. She asked if I wanted to see them and of course I did. She brought out my bouquet and I started crying like a baby. It was so pretty!
Dane and the boys made the trip to Little Rock that morning to pick up their tuxes. When they got back, Dane and I went to the Elk's Lodge to finalize things there. When we got done there, we made the trip out to pick up Felicia.
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