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Mrs. Peep Toe, San Francisco Age and Occupation: 29, Policy Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production Manager Engagement Date: December 16, 2007 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Blogging Since: November 26, 2008 Venue: Hotel Vitale About Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
About Mrs. Peep Toe

You’ve Got To Have a Game Plan!

February 10th, 2009 @ 10:32 am by Mrs. Peep Toe

Last week I found myself in a conversation about brides that get their drink on. I heard a few stories about brides being hung over after the rehearsal dinner and having a horrible wedding day, or worse—getting too drunk at the reception to even enjoy it.

This got me seriously thinking about a wedding weekend drinking game plan. I shamefully have to admit that I got a bit too tipsy at our engagement party, to the point that I totally embarrassed myself. I claim that I was just so stressed out about the whole thing and that Mr. Peep wasn’t around too check in on me (too many people to talk to lead to no time to talk to each other), but that’s neither here nor there. I got out of control.

Back in the day, you could easily classify me as a party girl. Not a clubbing girl or a drunk, but a girl who just loved to go out and have a great time. I have to admit that being with Mr. Peep has reduced my partying ways (which is a very good thing), but sometimes when we go out, the old party girl comes out, and I still think I can hang with the best of them.


Here’s a classic picture of me at my friend’s bachelorette. As I walked into the third bar of the evening, I ordered 9 Bud Lights—there were only 8 of us—because I am classy like that. And then they gave us maracas (EXACTLY what we needed). I can’t really show any more pics from this evening, but I can assure you this picture was the tip of the iceberg.

My few recent attempts at partying have resulted in Mr. Peep promptly taking me home. The next day he would relentlessly talk about how I was swaying and being all love-y, while I would be nursing a disaster of a hangover. At least I am a happy drunk, right??

Here I am the night before the same friend’s wedding. As you can tell, I am trying to love Mr. Peep, but justifiably so, he is having none of it. Please note that some of my lip gloss is on Mr. Peep’s lips—that’s right—I get drunk and I love a good smooch. Mr. Peep, this picture is for all the times you have made fun of me the next day!!

Back to my reason for this post. While I may have been a self-proclaimed party girl, I have realized that being wasted on your wedding day doesn’t sound attractive.

I realized months ago that I actually don’t want to drink at all on the big day (other than for a toast), so I realized after getting way too tipsy at our engagement party that I need a wedding day game plan.

I have to say that I tested my strategy at the weddings I went to this summer (sans the one shown above—I was just going with the crowd, people—you should have seen the bridesmaids!), and I had a fabulous time at each wedding!!

Here’s my problem—I always like to have something in my hands, and while I totally support drinking as much water as you can, sometimes water just doesn’t seem—what’s the word—fun. Especially when you need it the most: after a few cocktails. So, I started drinking soda water with a lime. It eliminates the question of, “Why aren’t you drinking,” because it looks like a cocktail. And the worst follow up question ever is, “Are you pregnant?” This is a favorite question to ask in my group of friends. Plus, it’s more fun than holding a glass of water. Finally, I love the stuff and usually end up drinking at least two full glasses before I want another drink.

So, other than a glass of bubbly to calm my type-A nerves and a glass of bubbly to toast to my new marriage, I plan on drinking soda water all night (with a lime, of course). And maybe I’ll loosen up for the after party, but probably not too much. I want to remember every moment of the big day, or at least as much of it as I possibly can. I also plan to stay sober at the rehearsal dinner. Like I said, I want to remember everything.

So there you have it: my wedding day game plan. And now that you have all read it, I’ll make sure that I stick to it. And it’ll make drinking cocktails on the beach in Panama that much sweeter!

Anyone else planning to stay sober for your wedding weekend?

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32 Responses to “You’ve Got To Have a Game Plan!”

1.
lreighard1
Member
lreighard1 (message)  643 posts, Busy bee

I am def having a sober weekend for the wedding. You and I must have come from the same party school (maracas included)

 
2.
Erindesmar
Hostess
Erindesmar (message)  1,892 posts, Buzzing bee

I read your post and I couldn’t have written a more fitting post for myself! I always think that I am sober, but then wake up with a terrible hangover. I have mannny pictures of me like the one of you and Mr. Peep!

I have not come up with a definitely game plan but have approx. 8 months to figure it out. I would not say I plan to stay “sober” at our wedding but I plan to really limit myself. I lurve champagne but will be swaying all around if I drink too much of it. My sister said that at her wedding she really didn’t even get a chance to drink much until later in the evening. Since we are having an “after party” I am imposing a bedtime on me and my new groom (as well as a bedtime for me on the night before the wedding).

 
3.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Cloud (message)  587 posts, Busy bee

The soda water tip is great! I have attended a few weddings where the bride has been, well, let’s say feeling no pain.. And I don’t want to be that girl! Especially since I hardly eat when I’m nervous, so on an empty belly, I’ll be drunk drunk drunk in no time!
So I will be sipping on soda water for sure!

 
4.
ktdid23
Member
ktdid23 (message)  483 posts, Helper bee

I was soooo worried my husband and I would get wasted at our wedding that I talked about it non-stop before the wedding… when we get together with our college friends, it’s pretty much a “9 beers for 8 people” good time, and for the amount of money we were paying for this wedding, there was no way I wanted to spend it drunk.

In actuality, you spend so much time walking around and talking to people that while I did have a drink in my hand all night, I didn’t have much time to actually drink it! Same for my hubby - and while we weren’t “sober”, we do remember everything from the wedding, hada great time, didn’t make fools of ourselves, and had quite a good time later that evening ::wink::

Now, the rehearsal dinner was a completely different story (hubby was WASTED) but our ceremony wasn’t until 6pm the next day and it really wasn’t anything some bacon and eggs and gatorade couldn’t fix!

 
5.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Cheese (message)  647 posts, Busy bee

You must enlist your friends — or a trusted friend — to help. Really. All night, people will be offering to refill your drink for you, and if you say, “Just club soda, thanks” they’ll often try to convince you to have a good time. So, enlist a trusted friend who will make sure your glass is near full with your non-alcoholic drink at any given time.

The drunkest (and most miserable) I’ve ever been happened when I was out with friends and more than one of them took it upon themselves to buy me drinks — to be nice. It would have been nicer if they’d coordinated their efforts.

 
6.
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Member
West Coast Bride (message)  672 posts, Busy bee

Like ktdid23, I expect that I won’t have a ton of time to really be drinking a lot, but I do plan to alternate with water once the dance party portion of our reception kicks in. We’re also having an afterparty at a B and B where a bunch of the wedding party and our family is staying so I plan on having a few then, but only in the context of “unwinding” not “whooping it up”. In the world of drinking, those two are very different!

 
7.
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Guest
Mrs. Smith

I dunno, my husband and I both drank quite a bit at the wedding but we were so amped on adrenaline that we couldn’t get drunk. It was quite odd.

 
8.
Guest Icon
Guest
yelli

I was worried about this too, but when the reception came around I was so hyped up and energized just from getting married (wheeee!) that I didn’t miss the alcohol at all, and was more than happy to sip on sprite all night.

I did get a little tipsy at the rehearsal dinner, but oh well.

 
9.
2babc
Member
2babc (message)  88 posts, Worker bee

I’m one of those who doesn’t drink–thanks to alcoholism running in my family! However, college taught me how to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes when it came to what I was drinking and my level of intoxication! I always had a drink in my hand (Kool-Aide, soda, water in a dark cup) and my friends rarely noticed that I was sober while they were drunk! In fact, my senior year, one of my closest guy friends asked me, “So all those times when we got wasted together, I was the only one wasted?”

I learned the fine art of convincing people I was drinking–who says you have to actually put the rum in your rum and coke?

 
10.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Meatball (message)  613 posts, Busy bee

This reminds me I need a game plan. I’m not so hot with the moderation, but want to be able to enjoy a mojito for sure! Good post, girl!

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss D'orsay (message)  1,293 posts, Bumble bee

Water with lime is my ish! low/no calorie and delicious with no one the wiser!

 
12.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bunny (message)  310 posts, Helper bee

As much as my guy and I love to get our drink on, I’m SO grateful that our ceremony/reception site doesn’t allow alcohol. It’s a convenient excuse for the hardcore-drinking groomsmen and an easy way to ensure both of us will remain in the moment on our wedding day!

 
13.
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Member
renaissancetrophywife (message)  233 posts, Helper bee

I’m a fan of the tonic and lime as well! I don’t drink very much anyways so will probably have only couple glasses of champagne or wine spread throughout the night– especially with the potential for getting very little food, I definitely want to be able to enjoy the party to the max without forgetting or having a hangover the next day.

Plus, we’re spreading it out into a longer weekend so that we can do a casual BBQ with friends the day after– I’m sure I’ll feel more comfortable having a couple more drinks in a less formal setting.

 
14.
HumarockBride
Hostess
HumarockBride (message)  1,481 posts, Bumble bee

I’m totally having the same issues about making a game plan … especially because my wedding is January 2 … which means two days before is New Years Eve … then the rehearsal … then the wedding. I really want to be on my A game the entire weekend but my family and friends are party animals. It’s going to be hard to resist. I’m thinking of going with one drink an hour for new yeras eve and the rehearsal … and then something similar to you on the actual day of the wedding. Champagne and maybe a glass of wine after all the formalities are said and done.

 
15.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  6,067 posts, Bee Keeper

Thanks for the reminder, I also need a game plan… which is going to be hard b/c our wedding is at a winery and I LOVE their champagne, but I don’t want to make a fool of myself on my wedding day :)

 
16.
Mrs. Tiramisu
Bee
Mrs. Tiramisu (message)  877 posts, Busy bee

That was my game plan too! Then the tent was almost blown over and the power went out. Then I needed a martini (or three).

I hope you have better luck! I did the lime in the water trick at my rehearsal dinner and it worked great :)

 
17.
Guest Icon
Guest
slicey19

haha my FI’s family seems to think the purpose of the rehersal dinner is to get the bride and groom drunk (kind of tradition) and after hearing stories of his cousin’s groom puking the morning of the wedding we decided to move the rehersal to Thursday to avoid any wedding day hangovers!

 
18.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

Not sober, but I’m definitely taking it easy — especially since I’m already a lightweight!

 
19.
MrsSl82be
Member
MrsSl82be (message)  1,472 posts, Bumble bee

OOOHHHH good post!!! I need a plan for sure…altho we have to supply all our alcohol at our wedding, so we will probably just do beer and wine but no hard liquor. I don’t want any of my friends embarassing me at my wedding! I will enlist a BM to keep my drink filled, and will have to try out soda water w/lime!

 
20.
budgetbeautiful
Member
budgetbeautiful (message)  1,188 posts, Bumble bee

I’ve never been a huge drinker, so it’s never been an issue for me. The only beverage I may drink too much of is Diet Pepsi.

 
21.
Vic004
Member
Vic004 (message)  784 posts, Busy bee

Yep I will get out of control if I don’t and it would be a big shame if I ruined it by getting too wild!

 
22.
Guest Icon
Guest
Lauren

i am super nervous about this because i love having a good time and its always 50/50 on how my body reacts to a few drinks…some of the time i am totally fine, I barely notice i’ve been drinking, and other times i am three sheets to the wind and saying annoying things. And I have found out recently i am allergic to certain alcohols and vodka is pretty much all i can drink…grrrreat. i am super paranoid which i *think* will turn into me keeping it under wraps. (especially on RD night because i dont want to be bloaty the next day!)

 
23.
Member Icon
Member
kim0309 (message)  115 posts, Blushing bee

I am also nervous about this as I like to party it up at weddings. I made some rules for myself for the big day. When all the girls are having champagne and mimosas getting ready, i’ll stick to the sparkling cider. We’re getting married at a vineyard, so I do want to have some wine, but will limit it. Biggest rule, no drinks for me on the dancefloor. Since I plan to get my groove on all night long there will be long breaks from the drinking when I’m out boogying. This way I don’t spill on my dress too. I enlisted a girlfriend to help monitor above rules and provide some agua throughout the night.

 
24.
fifisweet
Member
fifisweet (message)  128 posts, Blushing bee

I am a big champagne drinker, and my plan is to allow myself one bottle for the Big Day. I’ll have a glass for the nerves, a glass to toast, a glass during danging and a glad during the after party. That should keep me pretty well in check. And considering I can easily (and have often) consumed a bottle of champagne at a single party without getting craaazy, I think it will work. :-)

 
25.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,349 posts, Bumble bee

I probably won’t be drinking our wedding weekend. First because I don’t have the best alcohol tolerance so it could go downhill fast. Second, my Asian background causes my face (mainly my cheeks) to go red and I don’t want that in our pictures. That may sound absolutely ridiculous, but I can be self-conscious about it.

 
26.
kenziegirl
Member
kenziegirl (message)  341 posts, Helper bee

Oh — I am SO not drinking at my wedding. Because I get all emotional after a few drinks, and I never know that I’ve had too much, until it’s too late.

 
27.
kenziegirl
Member
kenziegirl (message)  341 posts, Helper bee

I’m making sure we have Izze soda and fresh lemonade and fizzy water on hand, to make sure we’ve got plenty of tasty-non-liquor choices.

 
28.
Cyd
Member
Cyd (message)  123 posts, Blushing bee

Ooooo I am going to need a game plan, too! I too am a recovering former party girl and I agree - I can still party it up with the best of them! My fiance has tamed my wild ways a bit, but a wedding is one hell of a good reason to bring my drinking shoes out of the closet. I know by the end of the night I’ll get a little crazy, but so long as it’s at the tail end of the evening when we’re all kicking it after hours, I don’t mind.

 
29.
deejaylondon
Member
deejaylondon (message)  57 posts, Worker bee

I’m going to need a game plan too! I’m not a crazy partier, but I have a low tolerance and often don’t realize I’m three sheets to the wind before it’s too late. :)

 
30.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Glitter (message)  880 posts, Busy bee

My mom told me she got tipsy at her wedding because of all the champagne toasts…and we have a couple of funny wedding pics to prove it!!

I don’t plan on drinking too much at the wedding. {sigh} I miss being young and foolish…but not enough to make an ass out of myself at my own wedding :)

 
31.
Member Icon
Member
Crash (message)  378 posts, Helper bee

I thank my lucky stars that I never get hangovers despite drinking to blackout point every Fri/Sat all through college. I’ve only ever had one hangover, so I’m not too worried about the RD but I def don’t want to be drunk and stupid at the wedding. I know I will be having enough fun without the drinks, so I’ll probably not even want more than one or two. But a glass of bubbly to calm the nerves and toast is a must.

 
32.
Member Icon
Member
bugaboo (message)  122 posts, Blushing bee

great post! I like your idea of soda and lime. I have done this before, when I am out, and it worked like a charm.

 


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Mrs. Peep Toe Mrs. Peep Toe, San Francisco Age and Occupation: 29, Policy Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production Manager Engagement Date: December 16, 2007 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Blogging Since: November 26, 2008 Venue: Hotel Vitale About Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
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