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Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, Montana Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications Specialist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse Practitioner Engagement Date: August 26, 2006 Wedding Date: September 2008 Blogging Since: April 1, 2008 Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National Park About Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!
About Mrs. Cherry Pie

Married in Montana: Toasting

March 6th, 2009 @ 10:30 am by Mrs. Cherry Pie

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 3328607 toastsummary

As everyone filled their plates and found their tables, the rain outside our reception tent continued to fall. Warm and dry as we were, it didn’t dampen our spirits one bit, although we did worry what it meant for after-dinner dancing.

After everyone was seated, Mr. Cherry Pie stood and called attention to the front of the room, welcoming our friends and family with a brief speech of appreciation.

Then, we let the toasts begin!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 3327877 1

It was admittedly strange being the center of attention and the subject of toasts. I’ve given wedding toasts before and raised many-a-glass, but to hear everyone speaking in our honor was quite humbling (and a little awkward).

First to offer words of congratulations was Mr. Cherry Pie’s father. Glass in hand, he spoke as only he can do, in a tenderly gruff, slightly rambling, and altogether endearing fashion.

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 3327043 2

I’ve known Mr. CP’s dad since our first summer visit to Glacier in 2000, and it’s always been clear that he has immensely approved of our relationship, but it was truly heartwarming to hear him say so in front of everyone. Even more touching were his words of affection for his son. As I mentioned before, Mr. CP adores his dad, so the most gratifying aspect of listening to this speech was seeing the love on his face:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787701 3

It made me all teary-eyed and sentimental! But you may have guessed already that I just get that way sometimes…

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787702 4

Seeing as Papa Cherry Pie has witnessed our relationship since it began (when I was a senior in high school), he also had some embarrassing stories to share. I can’t recall now what he decided to tease us with - probably a recollection of how googly-eyed his son was for me, or some of the silly things we did when we were super-clingy - but whatever it was he told made my face change very quickly from this look of bemusement and surprise:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787703 5

…to this “oh NO he DI-IN’T” facepalm:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704301 6

In my honest opinion, that kind of reaction is the hallmark of a great toast.

Next up, Mr. Cherry Pie’s mom, who had changed from her swanky stripedy dress into a very Western button-down with jeans and cowboy boots (you saw ’em in the previous post).

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704302 7

She gave a very thoughtful toast, thanking all the “other mothers” in Mr. Cherry Pie’s life; those women who helped her in raising him after the divorce, including many of his father’s once-girlfriends (now close friends) who were at the wedding. Then, she turned the reigns over to me, trusting me to take care of her son, now my dear husband.

Here we are, listening to her speak about his upbringing, the “other mothers”, and how he has turned out to be such a wonderful, thoughtful (and sometimes delightfully feminine) man:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 3327044 8

And here I am expressing my glee at having him declared all mine. AWRIIIGHT!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787704 9

Remember how our Best Man, Micah, had spent every last moment that morning perfecting his toast? Well, now, it was his time to shine. And look at those notes!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787705 10

Despite looking less-than-confident about his oration in the above photograph, Micah wowed us all with an incredibly detailed tribute to our relationship, comparing our story and the trials and tribulations of love, to mountaineering in Glacier. Climbing Glacier’s peaks is an activity that is dear to us, but also to Micah and his wife Rachel, who have joined us many years on our summer trips to the cabin and struggled with us up countless mountains. In 2004, they were engaged in the “Garden of the Gods” on the shoulder of Glacier’s Mount Siyeh.

Paired with Micah’s touching and true metaphors, there were plenty of subtle connotations: i.e. “climbing mountains” is better done together than alone, and it’s better when you “reach the top” together. Wink, wink.

I think bridesmaid Amy gets it:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787706 11

We raised our glasses nice and high for Micah’s well put-together and topical toast. Afterward, he received so many compliments saying his toast was the best anyone had ever heard at a wedding. Cheers to that!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704303 12

Following Micah’s speech, we received a very heartfelt toast from our dear friend Beverly. Beverly is one of Mr. CP’s “other mothers”, and was with his dad for eleven years throughout his adolescence and into the beginning of our relationship. I even lived with her for a while in Helena, Montana… she was previously the Editor of Montana Magazine and I worked as her intern for five weeks in 2004!

Beverly’s speech was just as relevant to our Montana location as Micah’s, and perhaps even more so! She had taken a walk the morning of our wedding and gathered in a basket some native herbs and berries, each of which was significant and edible.

Here, she is speaking about rose hips, and their bitterness versus benefits, all comparable to the trials and tribulations of married life:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787707 19

Here, she is presenting us with fresh-picked thimble berries to wear on our pinkies and feed to each other. I can’t remember anymore what she said about thimble berries, but they sure are cute!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704304 20

Finally, she had found some of the season’s last, ripest huckleberries. These she poured into our hands from her basket, and we ate them one-by-one.

Huckleberries are amazing and delicious, but also very rare and quite expensive to buy. This is because they can’t be cultivated and only grow on mountain slopes in very specific climates. Therefore, they’re hard to find and time-consuming to harvest. In Glacier, big patches are often eaten all up by hungry bears!

Another perfect metaphor for our relationship… except the part about bears.

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704305 21

After we munched the huckleberries, she left us with a stem from each plant to remind us of the lessons they could teach us:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787708 22

Our final speech was by my Maid of Honor, Rachel, the wife of our best man who earlier gave the awesome mountaineering-themed toast.

By this point, we had actually managed to have a decent-sized dinner and throw back a glass or two of champagne while everyone was speaking. The evening was starting to feel like a party!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332787709 13

Not to be outdone by her husband, Rachel had also diligently prepared notes for her toast:

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704306 14

Peppered with lots of stories about how we met, and all her very astute observations of our relationship, including her conjecture that we are “the type of people who will try ANYTHING once”.

Apparently, this statement seemed kinky enough to my mom that she busted out laughing quite indelicately in a mostly silent room…

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704307 17

… which sent me into a paroxysm of laughter.

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 332704308 15

I think I even snorted. Because, you know what? It’s true… we ARE the type of people who try anything once. (HAR HAR!) Make of that what you will.

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 3327877010 16

Rachel’s speech was lovely, and her conviction about our “fated” relationship showed through her words. She’s a very good speaker, particularly because she’s a teacher and is used to standing in front of a crowd all day.

It was so meaningful to have Rachel and Micah speak for us. It’s really wonderful to have friends who have been there to witness years of your life and stand by your side no matter what turns it takes. For me, moving from Michigan to Washington State in the middle of high school meant that there was a significant disconnect with my childhood friends. Ultimately, not one I invited came to the wedding, which stung a bit.

Yet many of the friends I made during college after I met Mr. CP, including Rachel and Micah, are closer to us than any childhood friends could be… and having them there to celebrate with us and toast our marriage was a true sign of support, and helped me look beyond the past and into our future together.

My only disappointment about the speeches that evening was that no one from my side offered us a toast. I know that my parents’ lack of participation wasn’t for a lack of support - they both love Mr. CP and were thrilled for our marriage. My guess is that they didn’t toast us either because they didn’t know they should (I didn’t ask them to, but I figured it was common knowledge) or because they hadn’t prepared anything.

Anyway, I’m sure they meant no harm by it, but I can’t help but wish they had said a few words, if just for the memories. It would have meant a lot to me.

OK, enough melodrama. I hate to end this post on a down note, so here’s a picture of my grinning husband. We’re just getting this party started!

Married in Montana: Toasting :  wedding pictures recap seattle 3327877011 18

Stay tuned for the cake-cuttingest, dessert-eatingest, marriage-licence-signingest post ever!

[Credits: All images courtesy of Piknik Studios.]

Previously:
Married in Montana: The Rehearsal
Married in Montana: The Girls Get Ready
Married in Montana: The Guys Get Ready
Married in Montana: The Bus Ride to Polebridge
Married in Montana: Pre-Ceremony Preparations
Married in Montana: Staging the Ceremony
Married in Montana: Our Wedding Ceremony (Part 1 of 2)
Married in Montana: Our Wedding Ceremony (Part 2 of 2)
Married in Montana: Receiving Line & Refreshments
Married in Montana: Cocktail Hour
Married in Montana: Bride & Groom Portraits
Married in Montana: Family Photos
Married in Montana: Wedding Party Portraits
Married in Montana: Our Rustic Reception

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28 Responses to “Married in Montana: Toasting”

1 2 

1.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Quiche (message)  3,157 posts, Sugar bee

This entire post made me smile. What awesome toasts. So thoughtful :)

 
2.
Shay
Member
Shay (message)  438 posts, Helper bee

I love how everyone is just glowing!!! I cant stop looking at your flower hairpiece!! Love love love!

 
3.
lreighard1
Member
lreighard1 (message)  642 posts, Busy bee

Seriously Mrs. CP you and that hubs are SO PICTURE PERFERCT GORGE. I feel like I’m reading about a Martha wedding everytime I see that cherry pie Icon in the corner :)

What great toasts — it shows how much everyone loves you in the those pics!

 
4.
cautious_joy
Member
cautious_joy (message)  58 posts, Worker bee

I love Mr. CP’s smile in the “anything once” photo. It so mischievous! Your expression says “I’m embarassed”, but his says “OH, YEAH!”

 
5.
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Bee
Miss D'orsay (message)  2,272 posts, Buzzing bee

I loved this post, what touching and thoughtful toasts!

 
6.
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Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,415 posts, Bumble bee

I love looking at all the different facial expressions. It is obvious you and Mr. CP are very loved.

 
7.
Miss Deviled Egg
Bee
Miss Deviled Egg (message)  1,250 posts, Bumble bee

This post was amazing! The pictures are beautiful and touching and the way your wrote it really made me feel like I was there, too. :-)

 
8.
LzzNYC
Member
LzzNYC (message)  882 posts, Busy bee

I love how the pictures capture the emotion!!

 
9.
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Guest
Lindsay

I think these are some of my favorites pictures - you guys are just SO in love!! Very fun toasts and so comical to read your recaps! :)

 
10.
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Member
BluegrassBride (message)  9 posts, Newbee

Geez, I just want to turn this whole post into an inspiration board and hand it out to potential toasters… That’s EXACTLY the kind of toasting time I want - slightly sentimental, slightly embarassing, and with props to boot!

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Peep Toe (message)  1,804 posts, Buzzing bee

I love that one picture of you smiling!! You are glowing!!!

 
12.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  7,730 posts, Bee Keeper

This post made me smile :) You seriously have one of the best smiles.

 
13.
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Bee
Miss Joey (message)  1,031 posts, Bumble bee

You looked amazing!

 
14.
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Guest
Amanda

I just want to tell you I’ve looked at all your pictures and I just LOVE your wedding day. I’m taking some of your ideas. I love it. :)

 
15.
tea
Member
tea (message)  7,263 posts, Bee Keeper

those were some wonderful toasts! i could feel the love through the pictures

 
16.
Gilneas
Member
Gilneas (message)  1,393 posts, Bumble bee

I cannot BELIEVE how well prepared your toasters were! Little index cards held together with one of those loops.. props.. amazing! And wonderful for you I bet. You seem so incredibly happy in EVERY single photo!

 
17.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  7,632 posts, Bee Keeper

Your photog deserves a Pulitzer…each post is better than the last! And just when I thought you couldn’t look any more like a Wedding Mag model…there you are looking totally perfect! I <3 this post!!

 
18.
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Guest
Sherry

Whoever your photographer was… they did an awesome job. The pics are all beautiful!

 
19.
lauralou852
Member
lauralou852 (message)  516 posts, Busy bee

The facial expressions in all of your pictures are amazing!! I love your posts!

 
20.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  2,077 posts, Buzzing bee

You just can’t take a bad picture if you tried. The radiant expression on Mr. C’s face in all of these shots is priceless.

 
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Mrs. Cherry Pie
Mrs. Cherry Pie

Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, Montana Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications Specialist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse Practitioner Engagement Date: August 26, 2006 Wedding Date: September 2008 Blogging Since: April 1, 2008 Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National Park About Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!

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