Wedding Day Recap: The Exit

This is the end of the wedding day recaps... if you have missed some, you can check out all of the recaps (starting with wedding week) under the Recaps label.

Since we got married on 4^th of July weekend, I wanted to do something festive.  I love 4^th of July and I love fireworks and I wish we could have afforded a fireworks show for our guests, but we couldn’t.  Instead, we got really long sparklers (I think they were 3 feet long and last for 4 minutes) for people to have during our exit.

Our photographer and the event staff at Ceruti’s really came through with a great idea and we went back to the courtyard (where we had the ceremony) for the grand exit.  Once again… the pictures tell it all!

Next Up: Wedding/Honeymoon Recap: The Secret is Revealed

Wedding Day Recap: Some Time Alone Together

Once the party really started and everyone jumped on the dance floor, we walked around and talked with our guests.  It was an exhausting couple of hours… running around, trying to make sure we talked to everyone.  I know that no one expected to have much time with us, but we wanted to make sure we at least got to say hi to all the people who had traveled to our wedding.

 Jason's old coach and his family from North Dakota

 My aunt and uncle (dad's brother) and my cousins from North Carolina

 Cousins from Michigan, Vermont and D.C.

 Cousins from Cleveland

 My kiddos, who came all the way from Texas (p.s. I miss them so much)

I think we actually did make it around to everyone, but before it was time for the exit, our photographer wanted us to go outside and have some fun with our sparklers.  It was the first time as a married couple that we had any time alone together.  Kind of like the night before after the rehearsal, it was so great to just have some quiet time to get to stand next to each other and take a deep breath and not have to be “on”, talking to people.  We got some cute pictures with our sparklers and got excited for the last part of our wedding!

Next Up: Wedding Day Recap: The Exit

Wedding Day Recap: Our First Dance

Click here to hear our first dance song...

J and I only practiced our dance one time between our last lesson and the time we actually had to do it in front of everyone else.  We practiced the day before and I had taken lessons in my wedding shoes, but I had never danced in my dress.  I was actually kind of nervous before we started, but I knew that J was probably more nervous than me (he doesn’t like to be the center of attention) so I had to make sure I didn’t make him more nervous.

I really wish I had a video of our first dance all ready to show you, but I don’t yet.  It went really great and we had fun and we got lots of compliments.  All I’ve got for now are pictures…

We also did a father/daughter dance to “Stand By Me”… a song that has always reminded me of my dad… it’s one of his favorite songs.

J and his mom had their mother/son dance to a song that she chose, “A Song for My Son”.

And then, it was time for the wedding party’s next performance.  Once again, I didn’t ask any of them to do much before-hand… but I did drop the hint to the girls that we’d be doing the “Cupid Shuffle” to get the party started.  The night before at the bar, we taught some of the guys to do it, even though most of them were being losers and not participating… well, this time they did  :-D

And then everyone joined the party!!!

Next Up: Wedding Day Recap: Some Time Alone Together

Wedding Day Recap: Time to Cut the Cake

Click here before reading…

After the toasts, it was time for a quick bathroom break and then it was time to cut the cakes.  My dad’s high school friend made our wedding cake… two-thirds of which was fake.  She made the top and bottom layer of the cake fake and only the middle was real, which you totally couldn’t tell unless you knew.  We also had her make a bunch of sheet cakes that they cut and served for us… mostly because I hate the taste of fondant, but also because it’s way less expensive.  We had strawberry, lemon, white and chocolate sheet cakes and they were great, although we didn’t actually get to try the strawberry cake… we heard that one was great, too!

We also had our grooms cake (thanks to my grandmother saving the day)… made of rice krispy treats.  It was amazing and we got so many compliments on it.  

Here are some pictures of the cake cutting.

Next Up: Wedding Day Recap: Our First Dance

Wedding Day Recap: Maid of Honor Toast

I know I’ve talked in the past about my best friend and Maid of Honor, Melissa.  She is the one person in the world who I knew would make me turn off my feeling of needing to make everyone else happy and let others do things to make me happy on and around my wedding day.

I looked forward to her toast, and I was in no way disappointed.  Here’s what she said…

“So, I will start by telling you how I met Lexi.  It was at a restaurant in Muncie, Indiana… if you haven’t been there, please check it out.  Now, I remember the things that came out about Lexi.  She was this fiercely independent, extremely talented, beautiful young lady that new exactly what she wanted and was funny… so it was like looking in a mirror.  We of course had a few options… we could hate each other, or we could move in together, and work together eight hours a day and then go home together.  We chose the latter and instantly became pretty inseparable.  I will never forget, Lexi and Jason, if y’all haven’t heard the story, he took her to the aquarium on her first date and after their first date, a few days after, Lexi had been enjoying some adult beverages and called me and left a voicemail.  The only thing the voicemail said was, ‘I just want you to know, I’ve met my future husband.  This is all.’  That was the entire message, and I knew that we’d been friends for a while and I’d never heard her say that about someone before, so I knew that Jason must be really special.  Lexi, you will forever be my favorite partner in crime, my favorite cooking buddy, my favorite TV buddy, the best advice giver and I hope that everyone in this room has the opportunity to have a friend as great as Lexi and that your Lexi finds their Jason.  It’s been crazy this wedding week, so I’d like Jason and Lexi to stand up for a minute… I want y’all to have a moment together.  Lexi, put your hands out and Jason put your hands on top.  I want y’all to look at each other… remember this moment… and Jason, this is the last time you’ll have the upper hand.  I love you both!”

Who could ask for anything more???

Up Next: Wedding Day Recap: Cakes and Dancing

Wedding Day Recap: The Reception Starts

After some relaxing and cooling off, it was time for the reception to start.  While we were waiting for all the guests to get into the room, the bridal party (in their recessional pairs) planned their entrances.  I thought about asking them to figure this out before the wedding, but didn’t think anyone would go for it, so I was SO excited when they did it on their own!

“The Way You Make Me Feel” (by Michael Jackson) came on and J and I peeked around the corner to try and see what each couple did, but it’s so much better on the video that my cousin took.  They were fun and hilarious and it started the evening off just right!  I do have to say that my favorite entrance was my cousin and one of J’s college buddies who came in posing and taking pictures of each other!

J hates being the center of attention, so we just walked in together... nothing fancy, with a stop for a quick kiss.

We sat down and our salads were served.  Our DJ ran down the head table and asked if anyone wanted drinks and brought them to all of us… he was a SUPERSTAR!  Once we were done with salads, the buffet was ready.  Here’s one reason I love my photographer… I have pictures of our amazing dinner!

(Pictures by Catie's Captures)

I have to say, I was a little worried about the food… most buffet food is kind of bland and nothing to write home about, and we didn’t get the chance to taste our menu items.  Thankfully, I was SO wrong!  The chicken was amazing… the ham was SO tender and the potatoes and green beans had so much flavor to them that, if not for my tightly tied corset dress, I could have gone back for seconds.

Up Next: Wedding Day Recap: Maid of Honor Toast