Weddingbee Blog

Well folks, as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.” This is the final installment of the Eggplants’ wedding recaps (*sob*). How fitting that yesterday (10/20) was our one year wedding anniversary. It has been such a pleasure getting to know you all and sharing the most joyous period of my life with you.

But, an ended wedding can’t keep this bee off the web. To follow my chronicles as a Mrs., you can find me at my personal blog, The Sunset House, where I write about my unhealthy obsession with rubber stamps and paper crafts (seriously, I have issues). And, of course I will continue to stop by to share all my wedding related projects with you guys. I’m helping Brother Eggplant with his 2009 wedding, so you know I’ll be back soon! Once a bee, always a bee!

But, enough with the mushy stuff… onto the final recap!

Part I: Primped and Prettied | Part II: The Dashing Gents | Part III: The Wedding Duds + A Suite Switcheroo | Part IV: The Threads, and How They Unravel! | Part V: Meet ’n Greet | Part VI: Ceremoniously Wed | Part VII: Wedding Portraits | Part VIII: Down to the Details |

All photos property of the fabulous Apertura Photography

My father/daughter dance was one of the most touching moments of the night. You’d have to know my relationship with my dad to understand. We’re just not the mushy types. We rarely hug. I can’t remember the last time we said, “I love you.” We just know, by our acts of service, that we love each other. So, for me, this symbolic dance was more than a wedding tradition. It was a chance to step out of our comfort zone and show one another affection.

Mr. Eggplant and his mom joined us halfway through the song.

Kid-friendly weddings are not for everyone. For me, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The little ones brought so much energy, spunk, and innocence to our day; I couldn’t imagine our wedding without them.

Although a well-planned wedding doesn’t always equal a meaningful event, good planning enables the fun. However, I can’t take all the credit for hosting a great party. Our DJ/MC, Kevin, ran the entire show. He was able to read the crowd, play all the right music at all the right times, and made people play cheesy games (and actually had fun doing it). If there’s one piece of advice I hope to pass on to others, it would be to spend time selecting an MC. This person has an all access pass to running your event, so he (or she) deserves careful thought.

Here’s another funny thing about weddings: no one ever tells a couple how to properly cut a cake! It sounds silly, but if you can, give it a quick practice run through before your big day, so you’re not left fumbling around like we were. Our photographers instructed us on how to cut our cake!

Another Eggplant tip: a cheesy game can be really enjoyable. We played the Shoe Game, a favorite of our MC’s and one that had the crowd laughing hysterically. Mrs. Tomato also played this at her wedding.

Here’s how the shoe game works: We both took off our shoes and traded one, so I had one of my shoes plus one of Mr. Eggplant’s shoes. Then, Kevin (our MC) positioned us back-to-back, so that we could not see each other. Kevin instructed us that he would ask us questions about our relationship (for example, Who is more romantic?) and we were to respond by holding up the appropriate corresponding shoe: my white flip flop or Mr. Eggplant’s tuxedo shoe.

If this game is played right and the questions are funny enough, the results can be hysterical. Questions like, who has more athletic ability? (I said me, Mr. Eggplant said himself), who is the better cook? (we both said me) or who controls the checkbook? (we both said Mr. Eggplant, but only after I paused for a minute) are sure to garner some entertaining results.

People often say that a wedding day passes quickly for a couple. This is, indeed, true. Our wedding day flew by in an instant. One minute, I was applying mascara, the next, I was tossing my bouquet. With so many activities pulling us from place to place, I wish Mr. Eggplant and I had a moment to reflect upon our day alone together. When all was said
and done and we were engaging in pillow talk, all we could remember was how loved and happy we felt.

I know I’ve said this before: your wedding will probably be the only day when you will have so many loved ones, from both sides, in one room together. Friends and family aren’t coming to be impressed by Gobo lighting or matching favors + tablecloths + flowers; they’re coming to support and celebrate you. So, regardless of the vendor that screwed up or the dress that got stained, no one will remember that little stuff in the end. All they’ll remember is how beautiful and in love you looked, and how happy they were for you.

Another Eggplant wedding tip: men are notorious for not participating in the garter toss. To get them excited, attach a token gift certificate in a small amount (e.g. $10). They’ll be fighting for the goods and it’ll make for a great photo op.

Proof that bribing works!

I’ve always wondered, who said wedding ideas have to be original? Sometimes, the best ideas are tried and true. For example, our chocolate fountain, which has been done a thousand times. Although it wasn’t a new idea, it was still a smashing hit.

Sometimes, the most inexpensive wedding ideas become the most meaningful. Making our guestbook pages was one of our best decisions. They cost the price of one pack of card stock, but they gave us a wonderful souvenir that will last a lifetime.

If there’s one thing I regret about the wedding, it’s that I wish I could have invited more people. We hosted 180 guests, which was the maximum people our venue could comfortably accommodate. But, knowing what I know now, I would have cut back expenses in some areas if I could add another table. I often think about the new friends I made while we were planning our guest list—friends that we have since become closer to—and I wish we invited them to our wedding. Flowers will die, but friendships and wedding memories live forever.

I used to be insanely jealous of destination weddings. The California Bay Area seems so boring compared to Maui or Mexico. But, as I reflect upon our wedding, it was a blessing that our parents forced us to have a wedding at home. With the failing health of some family members, they would not have made the long trek to a destination wedding, and we wouldn’t have this picture of Mr. Eggplant’s grandparents dancing to Justin Timberlake.

Although much of our wedding day was a blur, my emotions were crystal clear. In fact, I remember them even now—one full year later. I felt utterly grateful that I was marrying my best friend and surrounded by my most favorite people. For me, life is all about relationships, and our wedding was a celebration of each special person in our lives.

*Sigh.* Now that I’m at our last wedding picture, I’m reminded that all good things must end.

Our wedding day is still engraved in my memory as one of the best days of my life. I’m deeply appreciative that I could write here and share it with you all! You’ve not only helped me in my planning, you’ve helped me forever preserve our memories. I wish everyone joy-filled weddings with love and laughter!

To my wonderful husband: Happy one year anniversary, honey! You are my favorite person in the world. I love you and I look forward to our relationship growing in depth and joy over the coming years.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Eggplant