Weddingbee Blog

After taking numerous photos, it was time to hang out with our guests. We had a “Catholic Gap” as our ceremony had to be at 2:00 and the reception started at 5:00. So, we had plenty of time to take photos and make it to our cocktail hour. I was ready to hang out with our guests, but as soon as Aunt J (my hairstylist) saw me, she told me we needed to do some touch ups. Starfish Mom, Aunt J, Sister Starfish, and I headed to the bathroom. It was about 5:10 and it suddenly hit me…I was starving! I hadn’t eaten since breakfast at about 7:00 or 8:00 AM. Tons of people warned me to eat on the wedding day and I was having so much fun, I forgot. But, I pretty much became ravenous.

Sister Starfish ran off to get me something, and I decided she was taking too long. As soon as our coordinator, Elaine, came in she asked if I needed anything, I told her, “food!” She had someone bring a tray of coconut chicken and a water for me in no time. Poor Sister Starfish had hunted down a mix of snacks for me and arrived a moment later.

It was OKthough, because by then a few of the bridesmaids had come in and we all snacked away while I had my hair re-curled. I ate quite a few coconut chickens and was ready to mingle. I talked to a few guests and then found Mr. Starfish. I wanted to grab him so we could take a peek at the reception room. Mr. Starfish decided to bring a slider, and as we walked in, he spilled a little sauce from the slider on my dress, but it was OK. I ran to bathroom and used a Shout wipe and things were good again.

The cocktail space wasn’t big enough for our group, so as it started filling up, the ABC opened the doors to the main ballroom and guests were able to go out on the deck overlooking the ocean.

Guest photo

We got back to mingling and one of our guests called me MRS. Starfish for the first time and it was awesome. I told him he was the first, and he got really excited.

I missed the escort card table, as I was so busy talking, but I did get to see quite a few of our escort cards as the male guests turned them into boutonnieres and wore them the whole night.

One of the most memorable moments of the cocktail hour was speaking with my recently married cousin. He actually got married on my birthday just two months before. I asked him how married life was, and a big grin came across his face. I can’t remember his exact words—I truly wish I could, but he basically told me how amazing it is. He explained how the planning phase can be so busy and stressful, but now that he and his wife are married, he told me it’s amazing; you get the person you fell in love with back. It’s not about planning and appointments, it’s about building your life together with the person you love. It was so sweet.

We also got to chat with our college friends—one who was my freshman roommate, the other was my neighbor who introduced Mr. Starfish and me. Without these two there may not be a Mr. and Mrs. Starfish.

After mingling with more guests, it was time to line up for the introductions. No one planned their entrance until we lined up, so that was when the wedding party was coming up with all types of crazy ideas. I was actually jealous that I had to wait behind and miss their intros, but realized that’s why we hired a videographer. It was fun watching these on film!

Unless noted, all photos by David Bibeault