Weddingbee Blog

With everyone seated with cake and champagne, my very first college friend and Mr. Sew’s roommate for two years stepped up to the microphone.

As our friend who knew us before we knew each other—he shared a short, sweet, and slightly silly sentiment before delivering his Japanese toast, which was written on a piece of paper by Mr. Sew’s dad the day before.

“Shinro shimpu Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!” (Long live the bride and groom)

He did a good job for not knowing Japanese.

Mr. Sew’s uncle followed next. Like a seasoned pro, he bellowed his banzai.

“Raihin shokun Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!” (Long live all the guests)

Then both Mr. Sew and I got up and did a on-the-fly thank you speech to various people. Even though I had a list of names to remember, it would be a smart idea to roughly go over what you are going to say beforehand, if only for the sake of smoothness!

Our program reaching the end, it was dancing time! But before us Sews could get our boogie on, we presented our crossword winners with their gift card prizes…

Of course, it would be my high school English teacher that won! She even used the “phone a friend” option!

Everyone was reminded to draw on our guestbook canvases…

(Photo by Terra Photography)

(Photo by Terra Photography, name blur was me)

Some guests weren’t quite finished playing with the bubbles…

And of course we gave away our lovely fresh centerpieces. We decided the person that wore the most red would be that table’s winner.

Underwear was fair game, red napkins were not.

Anyway, can we dance now?

Oh wait. We forgot something, didn’t we. Yeah, I think we ought to sign that marriage certificate.

Super official!

(Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy family members.)

Our wedding week in review:

• We took care of some last minute DIY details, and officialized everything.
• We vacationed with our out-of-towners, and threw a yummy welcome beach brunch.
• Mr. Sew saluted an angry dragon during our wedding rehearsal, and we sniffed at our dinner.
• Wal-Mart crashed my bachelorette.
• The women magically transformed, and Mr. Sew tied me into our dress.
• There was a windy photo shoot on the beach, and then we hung out at the chapel in flat shoes.
• We marched to the altar and got married.
• Everyone was camera-happy.
• Reception time! A bustle for our first dance, and then it was time to eat.
• I wore a kimono, and then fed some lions.
• We tried a bouquet pull, which didn’t go as planned. Coincidentally, neither did our cake feeding.