Weddingbee Blog

After we got all that practicing out of the way (never mind the bleeding and puking parts) it was time to get started with the good stuff! Mr. Cloud and I rode together to our rehearsal dinner at Bottoms Up Pizza in the Shockoe Bottom area of downtown Richmond. We wanted the dinner, which was the first real celebration of the weekend, to be completely opposite of the next night’s very formal ballroom reception. Bottom’s Up fit the bill for the laid back and casual feel we were going for.

As people started to trickle in, it was clear our little ring bearer had enough excitement for one day. Poor little guy was out like a light before he even saw his presents.

I can’t say enough about how wonderful the entire staff at Bottom’s Up was to us and our guests. We had the entire top floor of the restaurant to ourselves, and the prices were a steal with their all-you-can-eat packages. And the food, oh the food! I was starving! I had done so well on my diet in the weeks leading up to the wedding, the mere mention of the rehearsal dinner food had me salivating!

As if the appetizers weren’t enough, out came the pizza. Oh. My. God. The pizza! Luckily it was all you-can-eat, because there was a line for a solid 45 minutes after it was brought out. I was so busy running around I kept loosing my plate, but luckily I have a fabulous cousin who knew I’m a hungry girl and brought me new slices every time he saw me without a plate. Reason number 9,724 why my family rocks!

Mr. Cloud and I were both eager to pass out the gifts for our bridesmaids and groomsmen. But first I had a few surprises up my sleeve for my soon-to-be-hubby. Up first, a little memento to make him an official part of my family.

The shirt says “Married Into It, Sox Fan 4-Life!” Granted, he’s been a Red Sox fan for as long as I have known him, but he is originally from New York so we needed to make sure he knew there was no turning back!

Up next was another tradition that our Northern-bred families weren’t as familiar with, the groom’s cake! Mama cloud and I had plotted and schemed for months, and with help from my MOH’s fiancé who rushed to the bakery at the last minute when I almost forgot about actually picking the cake up, it was a huge hit and Mr. C’s reaction was priceless!

His pride and joy, his Honda Prelude…

You would think that would be enough surprises for Mr. Cloud, but my aunt had one last little gift for him. The Mr. is a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, and I mean HUGE. Like he knows all the words to every song, and as a child spent hours teaching himself dances. Nuts, yes, but also kind of cute. Right before MJ died she had come across the 25th Anniversary addition of Thriller on vinyl (I know nothing about these things, but apparently its a big deal). He was ridiculously excited and I thought it was hilarious.

*Remember this gift, it will become very ironic later.

After all the spoiling of Mr. Cloud, it was finally time to give our gifts to the wedding party. Let’s just say, I think they were a hit.

OK, so the boys don’t look as excited as the ladies. Whatev, I know they loved those flasks! Our amazing photographer also got the chance to take some amazing pictures of the gifts, which put my previous ones to shame. Oh, and I threw in the pink Red Sox hat for my MOH as her promise that she is coming to visit me for a game now that I’m in Boston.

Mama Cloud also gave my gals a little gift, beautiful Irish linen and lace handkerchiefs.

After the gifts, Brother Cloud stepped up and said a very touching speech (which he nervously read from his blackberry). He made me cry and told a few embarrassing stories all at the same time. When he was done he presented us with a beautiful drawing, one he had done years ago that I have been begging for a copy of ever since. It is a simple pencil and ink drawing of a couple kissing under a red umbrella. By far one of his more simple pieces, but he redid it to make the guy a bit taller like Mr. Cloud and the female’s hair more like mine. I love it.

I don’t think we could have asked for a better night. When all the formalities were done it was so nice to sit back and watch our amazing families and friends come together just for us. I knew it was getting late and Mr. Cloud still had to head back to our apartment on the other side of the city for some last minute belongings. I was nowhere near ready to sleep, even though I knew I needed it. I was so ready to finally be the bride I had been planning to be for so long, how was I supposed to sleep?! I wanted to take in every moment of that first celebration of the weekend. Too soon it was time to say goodnight and head our separate ways. Mr. C and I had agreed not to speak at all on our wedding day before the ceremony, and before I knew it I was getting one final text message from my husband-to-be at 11:59 PM that ended with one simple message, “See you at the altar!”

All credit for the images above (unless otherwise noted) go to our incredibly talented photographer Jessica Oriole Salay of Oriole Photography, and amazing second shooter Jenny McQueen of Capture. Click on any image to view it larger.

Miss a part of the Cloudy wedding? Catch up here…

• Up and Away : The Tooth And The Breakdown
• Up and Away : The Bridal Party Cleans Up - The Ladies
• Up and Away : The Bridal Party Cleans Up - The Gents
• Up and Away : Thank Your For Coming OOT
• Up and Away : Favors For A Cause
• Up and Away : The Bachelor Party Rules
• Up and Away : The Girls Hit The Salon
• Up and Away : Tea With My Ladies
• Up and Away : Practice, Practice, Practice
• Up and Away : An Embarrassed Bride