I only have a handful of pictures of this whole time period, so I’m rolling with mostly words on this one, folks. I’ll try spinning this yarn with good ones, though. The post-wedding hours came with some fond, unforgettable memories, and I want to do them justice.
Guest pic. Remember him?
Some just-marrieds might prefer to be alone ASAP: to decompress, to get sexy, or to not socialize for the first time all day. But we were still in social mode, which tends to be our default.
A lot of friends stayed until the very end. Granted, that end was a reasonable 10:30-ish PM, but it still seems like a praiseworthy feat. These people have been drinking since 4 PM!
But they stayed, even as our catering staff started packing up, after tablecloths were removed and tables turned on their sides. I was in a total bridal, wine-induced daze, saying goodbye and aww-ing at congratulatory messages I missed from that morning. I hadn’t touched this phone in eight hours, and I didn’t think about it once in that time. The two leads of our catering staff were directing the cleanup, and I hugged them and said I missed them already. We ran into my florist as she came back to pick up her wares, and I told her everyone was blown away by her work.
Guest pic on the balcony.
As everything was neatly packed away, I could not believe it was over. The day we thought would never arrive finally came and went with a bang. Now, we were at the end of a 15-month planning, questioning, budgeting, re-budgeting, worry-laden road.
But I saved the tears; it was still time to party with my handsome prince and anyone willing and able!
Guest pic. Friends’ cab ride home.
I walked the same half-mile me and the girls walked earlier that afternoon, via a slightly more urban-decayed route through the Tenderloin. We trundled along with Bridesmaid JK and her husband, The Worm, and his wife (all in that photo), back to the hotel. I. felt. AWESOME. Judging by how often we ran into street-light poles and garbage cans on the way, I’d say everyone felt comparably good.
I loved how my dress felt, especially now that I cared even less about keeping it in decent shape. It swooshed and moved in a way that no other article of clothing ever does. My thin black shawl was enough to keep me warm. I tried not to think about all the bits of stuff I was picking up and dragging my train through. But then, I’m kind of proud I wasted no time and thrashed it that night. \m/
There was a good amount of people there. These dancing machines came. Most of my bridesmaids and their fellas stopped by for a while, too. Their handiwork in the room was appreciated, and I’m still unsure when they found time to scatter roses and petals in the room. Many thanks to them and their helpful husbands. It is adorable imagining these guys sprinkling petals through the room.
OK, I change my mind. I will live here instead! Pic from Hotel Whitcomb.
We had a few cases of white wine left and maybe just one of red; friends drove it to the hotel for us. We told everyone to meet us at the honeymoon suite in about an hour or so. (tee hee) Mr. T jokes that they should come back in 15 mins. (wah wah)
Domino’s Pizza to the rescue; we and our peeps pig out with the pies, cupcakes, and leftover wine. Some of us had a little too much of each. Miraglia Catering made us a little care package of food for the night, too, which was a really thoughtful touch.
Friend pic of a bride back in her loungewear. I bailed on the veil but kept the feathered hairpiece in.
These guys (and my husband) lived in Amarillo, TX for a cool $17 each in monthly rent. Friend pic.
We stayed up until probably 3 AM, running on the fuel of our excitement, tipsiness, and happiness that people, many out-of-towners, were there with us. I reserve the right to withhold all details from that point 
With that, I s’pose we finally mark the end of wedding day. Let’s talk about the day-after next.
- Little things from a big day.
- Po-po-po-poker face po-po-poker face. (Party on, Wayne)
- Journey should have been at my wedding.
- DIET STARTS MONDAY.
- Wedding peeps make like Gaga and Just Dance.
- The formal-group-portraits thing
- The nice, naughty, and cardboard among us enjoy the photo booth.
- Introduction to the Snot Wall during toasts. Then we commemorate our real love with “Real Love.”
- Led Zeppelin and The Beatles kick off a rockin’ buffet dinner hour.
- Cocktail hour, just-us time with the photographers, and life-size cutouts, you say?
- Ceremony: “comedy hour,” not falling, and a snub-nosed flower girl.
- First look, bridal-party wanders around Civic Center.
- Official start of recaps, as we get ready for showtime with sandwiches and mimosas.
- Best of the Phone Cameras, some of the first pics we actually saw.
- Early lessons learned, two weeks into Mrs.
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