Wedding Bells: It's Shiner Time! Edition

Yesterday we celebrated the marriage of Hilary and John in Shiner, Texas with a beautiful Latin Mass. 

Hilary was beyond stunning in her lace dress that she wore so gracefully.  Unlike a Novus Ordo mass... they exchanged vows immediately after Hilary met her groom at the altar. Straight down to business!

The mass was beautiful, incense-ful, and reverent.  And two hours later... this happened!

ISN'T SHE AMAZING?!

The reception was literally 3 seconds away at the Knights of Columbus Hall.  It was decorated so pretty.... and there were even these little battery operated tea lights that immediately led us to do this...

Amanda became St. Jude....

and I, not so much...

Lumiere anyone?

It was clearly a natural progression.



We grand marched once again and it was awesome! I didn't happen upon the video man as much as at J&M's wedding so I might not be on there an obnoxious amount of times.  I see it as a lose/lose.  I'll go into training and come June 30th, IT IS ON!  We also kept the circle going while they danced to their first dance song... which led to these photos...

I LOVE THIS ONE

It was a really beautiful moment and I was honored to get to share in it.

Moving on...

Their cake was beautiful, buttercream on buttercream so you know it tasted like angels blowing kisses into your belly. Mmm... Hilary was so beautiful and animated and lovely I wanted to take a million photos of her... She was adorable as they cut the cake but hey what's new?

Since the wedding was in Shiner, there was of course tons of Shiner to go around. I believe our table even procured a pitcher of it.HA.  To add to the booze count, they did something I had never seen before.  For the dollar dance, you paid at a table and got a shot of whiskey (or gum for non drinkers) before dancing. TOTALLY. BRILLIANT.

Hilary made her way over to visit with us and we took advantage by barrading her with questions about her dress ( SO BEAUTIFUL, and all the lace on the arms and neckline was added by her aunt... jealous?).  Here's where she was hiding her something BLUE ....

 She pinned a crucifix and miraculous medal to her dress with blue ribbon! How smart was that?

and I stole a picture.  Her dress is eating mine.  Because its bigger and better.

The dancing went on all night. Seriously.  The band, Los Kolaches, played until it the newlyweds made a break for it... someone around 11... or midnight?  I wasn't paying much attention.  I was too busy having fun.

Alas, the fun had to end .  But it went out with a bang.  A bean throwin' bang!

and they lived happily ever after.

Wedding Bells: Hackemack Attack

So after whats seems like FOREVER Michael and Johanna finally tied the knot on Friday December 30 in my favorite place, College Station.

M&J are one of those couples that have just always been together, or so it seems.  I do distinctly remember one night freshman year in Studio 12 when I joined them in a sitting area to study... to realize about 20 minutes later that this was no normal studying situation.  All of a sudden they were laughing... and touching.... and flirting...! Color me a deer in the headlights.  After that it was all over. M&J have been going strong and with the help of their new sacrament the adventure has only begun.

The wedding was at St. Mary's in CS. Our jam.  We were seated in the back two rows of M's side (we came in as friends of both.. no discrimination here) which ended up being appropriate as we were behaving like bad school kids sent to the back of the classroom.  The CUTEST little boy sat in front of me and we chilled the whole wedding.  We're buds now.  

I saw M before the wedding when I ran back to get kleenex.  I always forget them, but I also always start crying before the wedding starts so I should probably remedy this situation.  Anyway, M was beaming.  He was so calm and peaceful yet overflowing with joy.  I even caught a glimpse of his beautiful bride before her main entrance and knew the waterworks were there to stay.

For some reason though I FREAKED out when I got to the back and thought it was too late for a kleenex run so I returned to my pew empty handed.  Luckily Baby Mama Kalina was sitting behind me and was of course packing.  Oh to have a baby bag of supplies.

Then Michael made his entrance.  The bridal party followed as they tend to do. And then we stood.

J was radiant. M's expression was perfection. If someone looks at me the way M looked a J someday, I'll be a lucky lady.   Oh, and he cried.  Which made me cry... more.

Father Charlie rocked the house with his general adorable-ness only to be trumped by his radiating holiness.  I'm pretty sure I become a better person by being in his presence. And he brought Jesus.  Overall he wins.

But this is about M&J.   They vowed. They knelt. They Jesus'd. They prayed. They kissed. 

THEY ARE WED!

then I stopped crying long enough to snap some shots... 

I warned you!

"oh, let me stare loving into your eyes..." (i'm. not. bitter) 

EPIC priest kissing altar shot!

LOVE!

Now it was time to party... don't mind if I do.

The reception was at the Bravos Valley Expo Center...so off we went.  Before the bride and groom arrived I had ample time to check out the room.  BUT I did suck at taking pictures of everything and I am kicking myself in the butt over it.  I now offer you the following as an opportunity to use your imaginations.  

When you walked into the building they had the table set up with engagement photos along with a frame to sign and my favorite, an heirloom wedding dress that her grandmother and mother wore (er, i think) 

Then through a set of doors you were in the reception hall.  We planted ourselves at a round table near the dance floor, I also strategically place myself in a chair facing the head table so I could see them whenever I wanted without straining and also have an epic view of the dance floor for the first dance and parent dances.  Doesn't everyone think about these things ? 

She had a photo booth set up (LOVE IT) complete with props that we took full advantage of in the back corner. Their favors were s'more packets stuffed in a M&J wedding koozie (LOVE IT) . But my favorite touches to the reception (besides M&J, duh) were these little guys ...

STAR WARS CAKE TOPPERS !!

I love them. I love them. I love them.  

I think it also shows how much J loves M too.  But mostly I just love them.  I think they are beyond fantastic. 

The rest of the cake was beautiful too.   It was so feminine and elegant... with just a touch of fiction.

M's groom's cake was pretty sweet also... alas I guess I was too Star Wars struck to think to take a picture of it.  Let me paint a picture for you... It was a chocolate iced round surrounded by chocolate covered strawberries and topped with a giant A&M seal molded out of chocolate.  I'd say... sounds like the perfect amount of chocolate, eh? 

M&J made their grand entrance which quickly moved us into the next phase of the reception... the grand march.  Say what you will about grand marches... I think they're great.  You gotta make it awesome, and it will be awesome!  So I grabbed myself a partner (like a lady) and marched we did.  This was my favorite grand march because it included concentric circles (boom, take that geometry) and a tunnel.  Everyone likes themselves a good tunnel every now and again.   OH and grand marches are also an EXCELLENT time to ham it up and make it on the wedding video.  My goal of wedding receptions is to make it on the video as much as possible.  Especially when I don't really know the bride and groom super well.  Because its funny.  Laugh with me here.  But I know M&J ... so hopefully in 20 years when their kids are watching their wedding video they won't say "oh that girl, the one who won't stop jumping in the camera.... we don't remember who she is."   

Moving on. I also got a boyfriend for about 45 seconds during the couples dance.  I refuse to sit down during them.  So technically were weren't in a relationship. Meh.  I don't need another reminder that I'm single while at a wedding.

not. bitter. 

Then we danced the night away... I also danced with my new bff... you may remember him as the cutest kid ever in the pew in front of us... 

 

I let KTC borrow him too 

And then took what I'm pretty sure is the first picture of me and Sister Rafaella.  This woman should be a saint just for what she put up with from me in the 3 years she was my Spiritual Director.  

Can you see the angels around her? I can .

We danced. We laughed. We were jolly.  

In a surprise turn of events M&J changed clothes before making a break for it.  J put on some super sassy jeans and blazer with even SASSIER and dare I say SEXY red heals.  Go. Michael. She put her garter on over her jeans for the garter toss, which alleviates some of the reservations people have around that whole situation.  So I thought it was a super creative solution.  Don't know if that's what they were going for.  But that's what I took away from it ! And he put the garter around a football before throwing it which is my new favorite idea. 

And then through a pathway lit by  sparklers they were off ! Driving away into their new life as man and wife.  

CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL AND JOHANNA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Bells: Cape May Edition

Saturday August 13, 2011- I woke up at 6:30 in the morning, an unheard of hour for me.  Alas, I did it! I brushed my teeth, dressed and headed downstairs to "Founder's Hall," a room in the hotel that the bridal party had to get made up in.

The room itself is something to write about, much like most of the rooms in Congress Hall.  It has bright sapphire blue walls, ornate gold trim everywhere and fun fuchsia infused fabric!  Bold and beautiful.  We were supposed to be down there by 7 to begin our hair and makeup.      

Eileen getting veiled... jumping the gun, but the best picture of the room I have!

Over the next five hours, we were all hair'd and make-up'd.  Eileen gave us our jewelery for the wedding, pearl drop earrings and a double stranded white and black pearl bracelet.  Beautiful.  She also gave us each a gold necklace with an angel wing, our initial and birthstone.  It was so sweet, and I love it- I definitely put it on immediately after the reception with my bridesmaid dress for the post-wedding-hanging-out-at-the-hotel-bar- times. 

The box our gold necklaces came in color coordinated with the reception hall... of course !

Whilst we were getting made up, I sent my handy-dandy-friend-slash-life-saver Katie to the store to buy me a strapless bra since I had conveniently left mine in Houston.  At one point I almost left my bridesmaid dress, so we'll chalk this mistake up to a win.  Thankfully there is a lingerie store super close to the hotel so I called ahead and let them know that she was coming with my ID and credit card so they would let her buy it.  I told them I was getting ready for a wedding, so when she arrived they snootily asked "Is this for the bride?" ..."no, no...it's for a bridesmaid..." calm yourselves. 

Anyway- Katie saved the day.  Snaps to her !  ... also coming in snap worthy-- dress tape.  Find it. Invest. Bring it to all wedding moments.  No one likes a wardrobe malfunction.

Moving on.

Circa de noonish- the photographers arrived and began their thing.  I took one photographer up to the man room where Bennett, Dad and the groomsmen we waiting and also brought them their boutonnieres.  I don't think there is anything cuter than guys helping put boutonnieres on one another.  :o)

Down in Founder's Hall, we each took individual shots with Eileen.  She also had her own mini photo shoot.  She's more in the shy side when it comes to the attention being on her, I on the other hand eat that stuff up.  I should probably tone it down. Eh.

The trolleys they had rented began picking guests up at the hotel at 1:15 and bringing them to the church about 15 minutes away.  There were 3 trolley runs-the Bridal party being in the last.  Eileen and her grandfather rode in a antique car they had for the day- I can't believe I don't have a picture of it...truly awesome.  Bennett and Dad had driven out there already in Bennett's car.

My grandparents on the trolley!

Once we arrived at the church it was go time.

I really wish I knew what I was doing here...

Lined up and walking in!

Then the MOH

...and the beautiful bride 

The church ...built in 1876 I'll have you...

this is what I'm saying

was packed ! A little different than wedding part I.  BUT, it was wonderful.  It was really great to have so many friends and family so close together (literally and figuratively).  Its been almost a year since we were so closely surrounded by that many people who mean so much to us and it was really heartwarming.  Even though I cried the entire ceremony, it was a very heartfelt moment.  As a whole, it felt very intimate- even with the 180 person guest list ( don't know how many came to the ceremony- the church is supposed to max out a 120...we had a few standing in the back)  I loved the size of the church, I could see almost everyone's face.  It really added a sense of closeness to the otherwise large guest list.  Thank you St. Peter's by the Sea.

one of the few shots where I'm not wiping my eyes.

The packed church, vow renewal, and me with a kleenex.

The bridal party stood the whole time, to help conserve space.  You can't tell from these pictures, but after the first regular pew, there are smaller choir pews the are perpendicular to the other pews and the altar.  This was really cool because the families sat on their respective sides. I think this help with the intimate feeling. *snaps*

My mom's cousin, Father Henry gave a wonderful and beautiful service.  In his homily he spoke about how your wedding day shouldn't be the happiest day of your life... it can be the happiest day up until that point, but that more happiness should follow.  I liked it.  Eileen's 13 year old brother complimented him on it later.  ha ha.

After some I Do's B & E remained husband and wife and recessed out of the church to a Motown tune.  It was fun.   The guests were all given a handful of "Wedding Rice" aka heart shaped sprinkles (we ate some...totally sprinkles!)  and then tossed (or pelted) them at Bennett and Eileen as they walked down the stairs of the church.  It was really cute! I picked sprinkles off people (including out of my grandfather's hair) for the next 15 minutes.  Two trolleys were waiting ready to take people back to the hotel to freshen up, rest, or do their thing before cocktail hour two hours later at 5.  The wedding party waited for the last trolley, and Bennett and Eileen took off in the super sweet antique car.  So sad I didn't take a picture.

When we got back to the hotel it was time for wedding party and family photos.  I was given the task of wrangling our side of the family together for photo time.  They had not all been informed that the extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, gparents etc) were included in the photo sesh.  So a few frantic phone calls later the wrangling had ceased.  Whilst the family assembled, B & E were off being the stars of the paparazzi.   After the flashes and clicks had ceased I ran upstairs to our room for a quick refresh.

At 5 o'clock cocktail hour commenced on the back porch of the hotel.  There were tons of passed hors d'oeuvres - including sesame chicken, salmon pinwheels and, naturally, mini bite-size french onion soup in bread bowls! Color me blown away. That just happened...

Me and my mini french onion soup bread bowl. Genius.

The weather was great as people mingled and moved between the food and bar.  It began to drizzle at one point but we were mostly safe under the roof.  Guests also picked up their escort cards while outside, complete with a color coordinated candy stick attached to a hand calligraphitized envelope housing your table number...

my escort card !

Cocktail hour was so fun, I got to give my feet a rest from my heels by slipping into Toms for a little while (my usual post-ceremony foot gear) It was a great time to mingle and see all the people who traveled far and wide to come to the wedding ! I snuck into the reception hall a few minutes before they started letting people in to get some pictures of the room without people everywhere...

those are sugar flowers on the cake. seriously.

I could eat the room for dinner.

It really is as amazing as it looks

The incredible centerpieces! AND check out the pink champagne for the toasts (per E's genius request) !!

 Once all the guests were in the reception hall and at their tables it was time for the grand entrance.  The parents then wedding party were introduced.  We lined up alongside the dance floor and waited for B & E to join the party.

B & E's grand entrance!

They went right into their first dance, which was awesome and danced to "Once Upon a Dream" from Sleeping Beauty. They even had an epic dip, but I was too much in awe to catch it on film...err memory disk.
After their dance they invited the wedding party and anyone else out to start dancing.  Within seconds the entire dance floor was packed and then some!  I've never seen anything like it.  Twas magical.  There was an entire dance set, full of the greatest tunes ever, before we even sat down.

We moved into the champagne toasts from the MOH and Best Man - so heartfelt and beautiful, I cried.  After the toasts was the salad course- completely delicious pear and walnut salad.  Then what other than...Dancing!! There was another dance set in between courses.  This might be the most brilliant idea I've ever seen.  This was a no-down-time kind of reception...as they should be! I was either dancing or eating at all times.  It was my two favorite things for 4 hours straight....who could ask for more?

Between courses we were given lemon sorbet to cleanse our palates ...

my palate cleanser...i think it looks like an egg.

Then there was the main dish... filet, crab cake, pureed parsnip, veggies. mhmm.

As it should be.

Cutting the beautiful rasberry filled lemon cake ! 

Post dinner only means...more dancing.

Now... lets talk about the music.  The band was awesome! I have never been to a wedding with a more fun music selection.  Everyone was up and dancing almost the entire time. I wish there was a font or something that could truly express the amount of fun had.  BUT, there isn't. So...take my word. :o)  The band, Alive N Kickin', had a one hit wonder back in the day.  It was the last song of the night- Tighter, Tighter and it rocked.  Bennett and Eileen even joined the band for the song. 

A highlight of the night was the impromptu serenade of E by two of the groomsmen to "You've lost the lovin' feelin" per the stylings of Top Gun.  Complete with aviators. The band played the song and sang softly as the groomsmen belted it out.  They even got the front desk to print off the lyrics. Excellent. Move. You. Two. ! 

the serenade !

B&E tamborining it out ! 

The night ended too soon.  And by ended...i mean moved about twenty feet to the left to the hotel bar.  Fun was had by all. Then it may have moved downstairs to the club in the basement of the hotel.  These people go big.

Katie and I called it a night circa de 2 o'clock...my father was still downstairs partying when we left. Go Steve.



whew. That was a lot.  In short- it was a wonderful, beautiful and fantastically fun filled few days.  I am so thankful to have E as part of our family now, and we couldn't have celebrated any more in style.

handy-dandy-friend-slash-life-saver Katie and me

Snap Jar:
- Katie's save the day run to the bra shop!
- Who ever decided that painting a reception hall Tiffany blue with a black and white checkered wooden floor.
- Mini- french onion soups.
-St. Peter's by the Sea.
-POCKETS  in the bridesmaid dresses!! GREAT. IDEA. EVER.  Came in super handy during the ceremony since I cried the entire time !
- The band.
-The serenade.
-the band, again.
-Cocktail hour.
-The calligraphy.
- B&E
-Dancing to Sweet Caroline with my family... who took "touching me, touching you..." as license to slap me simultaneously 

OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT... E had silhouettes of her and Bennett made on Etsy to use on the program and the menu cards.  I don't have a picture of the menu, but here's the program...

I know it's not very big, but the silhouettes look just like them!

They had also printed out a larger version and matted it with a huge white matting which served as the guest book! So fun.


Overall, everything went off without a hitch.  Other than the wedding coordinator arriving... uh... about 4 hours late.  And the hunt for the flowers which went something like this:

phone convo...

MOH: Hi, I'm calling about the flowers for the wedding at Congress Hall today
Florist: yes... ?
MOH: yeah... where are they? 

OK. I'm excited.  It was great. I wrote a lot.  This may be longer than anything I ever had to write in college.  This is why they always say do what you love!

xo