Weddingbee Blog

When we had last left off, our cocktail hour was coming to a close, it was getting dark, and the tables were being set by servers for the salad course. Mr. G and I snapped some quick shots in natural light while everyone was seated and dined on Caesar salads.

After the salad, the buffet was opened up for the guests to feast on roast chicken, beef, new potatoes, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, and vegetarian Indian curry and rice. We rented chafing dishes for the caterers to put the food in and keep the food warm in throughout the night.

From what I remember there was a bit of a backup for everyone to get their food. But with only 35 guests and a cocktail hour with delicious appetizers behind us, I don’t think anyone was hurting to wait for the food. Besides, Mr. G and I were doing a really good job of circulating and talking with people.

Poor Mr. G never got to eat. I was tipsy and had other plans. I had learned from our Tokyo reception that I have got to eat if I was going to be drinking!

Here’s my wedding day eating strategy!

Step one: Mosey on up to a really good friend. Sit down and have a nice conversation.

Step two: Stare at friend’s food profusely. Mention that you haven’t eaten all night, and that the food looks really good. Lick your lips for effect.

Step three: Good friend will feed you from their plate. Open wide, you just scored some food!

Back up plan: If friend doesn’t have the presence of mind to feed you, be proactive and say, “Mind if I try some of your chicken?” Get in and get your hands dirty. It’s cool, you’re the bride, you can get away with it.

In this way, I managed to get in a full meal here and there between glasses of wine. Oh yeah!

People were raving about the food, enjoying conversation under the stars and the ambient night lighting we had strategically put up that morning.

The night was whizzing by, unfortunately! We were enjoying this lull in wedding duties but I had noticed that the music from our iPod & speaker set up kept cutting out. I’d have to walk over to it ever so often and put some music back on, and I was progressively getting pissed. One of my friends close to the speakers pulled me aside and said, “Your dad keeps turning off the music…” I marched over to my dad and he said he was scared the neighbors were gonna call the cops!

Other than that, our iPod did a really good job at setting the tone. People were enjoying the music and dancing had even started in the middle of the yard. I did not expect any dancing or people to want to dance, but I guess the bar was having an effect on people. It was a truly a lovely evening of food, friends, drink, and even impromptu dancing!

Did you go the iPod route? Any downfalls or tips for those that are thinking of doing it?

All photos by Tam T. Nguyen.

Missed something?

• First, we prepped the yard.
• Then, the girls got ready.
• After that, our ceremony got off to a rough start.
• I gave you a glimpse of our wedding day.
• We took some time out to be alone with family.
• We finished off our cocktail hour with some fauxtoboothing and delish appetizers.