Note: “Snot Wall” will make more sense (slightly) by the end of this post.
I hope everyone stuffed themselves silly and went back for seconds during dinner hour, because I certainly didn’t. But, following my standard bridal Not Eating, we jumped headfirst, glasses full, into toasts from our dads and bridal party.
I think toasts are inherently personal and, therefore, difficult to make interesting to anyone aside from the bride and groom. I even considered not writing about them at all. That said, we naturally loved the kind words and will always remember them. It was such a memorable part of the day, it seemed like a shame to just gloss over it. There were some gems, even for the masses, a few of which are below.
Pics by Ashley Forrette and Gem Photo unless otherwise noted.
Prep
I can identify many things I like in this photo. It’s like one of those find-the-object things they had in Highlights magazine when I was a kid.
- My dad used the word auspicious in his toast. Since I didn’t know what it meant and it sounds a lot like suspicious, I was relieved to learn later that it describes favorable circumstances and good luck. Everyone reading gets e-love for using it, as irritatingly as you can, all day.
- Are you ready for the snot wall? Oh, the things only your brother would know and then, 30 years later, tell your wedding guests about. So, as a kid, my husband had a snot wall, and that means exactly what it sounds like. I did know about it, and, since you surely want additional insider info, here it is! It was kind of like a 3D map, and, having grown up near the original Six Flags, he even named one section of it after the Shock Wave. Oh, and he hoarded Kool-Aid crystals and ate them greedily in his room, but that actually pales in comparison to the snot wall, right?
This is undoubtedly me reacting to the snot wall or the Kool-Aid crystals.
- My FIL included his other daughters-in-law in his toast. For context, my in-laws, especially my FIL, have an admirable thing for equality. The daughters-in-law all got a Snuggie one year for Christmas (which was awesome), and we still usually get variations of the same gifts. When the boys were growing up, on one brother’s birthday, the other brothers would get little presents, too. So, on our wedding day, after he pointed out the girls in the audience (they were thrilled), FIL noted that he felt like he and my MIL “won the trifecta.” Well, shucks.
Funny: friends seated nearby said MIL (above) audibly pleaded “No!” while her middle son told the snot-wall story about her youngest.
- Just as Bridesmaid JK, one of three best pals from college, started her touching toast, her husband wandered up behind her unexpectedly and stood quietly the whole time. Then, after her toast, he left the audience with this quote, for which I can’t find an accurate attribution:
“In wine, there is body; in beer, there is strength; in water, there is bacteria.”
So, for now, that quote is attributed simply to Rob.
Waterworks inevitable
That there is a man enjoying some toasts.
Bridesmaids A gave a joint speech, since we’ve been a trio since college. As they lovingly recalled, cereal was completely acceptable dinner for me in those years (and, um, until only about five years ago).
It was the least we could do to thank everyone for coming and being a part of our special day, so we first cheers-ed to all of our guests and then went into our first dance, to “Real Love,” the third and final Beatles reference of the evening.
The song stopped about 20 seconds in, and this was how we reacted: by freezing. So, rewind, restart, whatever. Technically an oops, but it def made for a one-of-a-kind, extra-long first dance.
Blurry, but I like it.
Four pics immediately above by Right Angle Images. Kevin brings his camera everywhere he goes, even when he’s not working the event.
Once dancing hour started, it seemed like people started to settle in and get comfy. This was somewhat unexpected; I don’t often get “comfy,” exactly, and just lounge about at weddings. But even I was able to steal some much-needed lounging moments between my dancing inferno and photobooth visits. As it slowly got darker outside (’twas only about 6:30 PM at this point) and the room glowed with candles and chandelier lighting, I loved being in it more and more. Still, the balcony proved to be where it was at for much of the time.
Next up: best of the photobooth and balcony shenanigans.
Catch up on our journey from regular to supreme:
- Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and a buffet.
- Cocktail hour, just-married photos, and life-size cutouts, people!
- Ceremony: “comedy hour,” not falling, and a Boston terrier.
- First look, bridal-party wanderings, and tourist buses beep hello.
- Getting ready for showtime.
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