We arrived at Roots for our hometown party around 7:00 PM. The Cellar felt almost as welcoming as our friends and family members, many of whom had already arrived. The room was warm with the glow of candles and string lights and the smiling faces of our guests.
The room quickly started to fill. The capacity of the Cellar for a seated dinner is 60, and we had 53 guests coming. (We had a 77% acceptance rate on our invitations.)
Mr. Mole and I tried to circulate around the room as much as possible, greeting and talking (and laughing) with all of our guests.
My mom also circulated around the room, with a Target bag in hand. Mr. Mole and I didn’t anticipate receiving so many cards from our guests, so we didn’t have a dedicated card box. (Don’t make our mistake! Or, at the very least, find a fancier bag.)
Gavin also made the rounds with his camera. Of course, he was not the only one taking photographs. Almost everyone had cameras out and flashing.
We were pleased to see that people were enjoying our signature drinks. We had a full open bar at Roots, but Mr. Mole made a sign to highlight three recommended drinks.
Personal photo of framed sign
Tom Boonen‘s recommendation of a greyhound was by far the most popular of the three drinks. According to our itemized bill, 23 greyhounds were ordered.
Our appetizers also were pretty popular. We had a cheese and fruit board; vegan parsnip ribs; shiitake mushroom spring rolls; shrimp, ginger compote, and lime mustard on cucumber slices; and shaved tenderloin in choux pastry with chipotle mascarpone. I made it a point to sample the appetizers as they came out!
I had worn my wedding dress to the party because all of my aunts had wanted to see it. After about 30 minutes, though, I was over it and ready to change.
Mr. Mole and I slipped away, and he guarded the bathroom door as I changed clothes. I was pleased to get a second wear out of my rehearsal-dinner dress!
And with that, our cocktail hour—or, more accurately, 75 minutes—was over. It was time to eat!
All photography in Milwaukee by Gavin Gould, unless otherwise noted.
Did you miss a Mole recap?
How nice you got to wear your dress again, it’s beautiful.
Everything sounds delicious! Also, love the atmosphere of The Cellar. It looks like it turned out beautifully!
OK, I’ll risk sounding like a total freak/stalker and say I love looking at your hair in these posts. Did you use your same hair clip from your wedding and put it across your hair in the back?
Such a cozy looking restaurant. The food sounded delish.
So I was like who is Tom Boonen..hmm maybe a drink critic, then it hit me…after remembering previous posts (I’ve always remembered yours, they stuck out) it hit me that it was your lovely adorable dog 
Everything looked beautiful!
Your drink suggestions are adorable and I want one of each
Thanks everyone! We wanted to involve our dog into our party somehow, and the drink menu was a great way to do so. (Plus, I love the greyhound drink.)
@LaughLines: Haha, no worries! I did use the same clip as before; I used it to help pull half of my hair back. In my next post, there will be a better shot of my hair from the back, if that helps!
@JlovesM: Tom Boonen is also a Belgian professional cyclist! He’s had a solid year in 2012 — winning the Tour of Qatar, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. Poor Tom Boonen (greyhound) probably thinks he is being yelled at when Mr. Mole cheers on Tom Boonen (person) on television.
Your dress cleaned up quite nicely! And I love that Tom Boonen suggested a drink
I’m so excited that there are MORE Mole recaps! We will likely have a second reception-party in the country we live now (wedding will be in the States). I especially love seeing the kind of dress you wore to this reception. Can’t wait for the rest!
@Future Army Wife: I was surprised how well the hot water and stain spray worked! Now, of course, it is just as dirty as before!
@WoodenShoes: thanks! I am nearing the end: only 3 or so posts to go! I am glad we had the reception in Milwaukee so we could see all of the people who weren’t in Vegas. It was more money and more time to plan, but it was worth it. Where are you guys living right now?
Yum all the food looks so good… And I could totally go for greyhound right now. 
Aww, you look like you are enjoying yourself so much! What a cozy atmosphere.
Mrs. Mole, Los Angeles/Las Vegas Age and Occupation: 29, Test Prep Instructor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, User Experience Architect Engagement Date: April 2011 Wedding Date: January 2012 Venue: Wynn Las Vegas/Bouchon Bistro About Me: I’m a Wisconsinite-turned-Angeleno who is planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas. I am passionate about education: I spent 23 (!) consecutive years in school, and now I work to help other people get into graduate programs. I love running on the treadmill, buying bath products from Lush, learning new moves in step aerobics, and exploring my neighborhood on foot. I am sometimes snobby about food, but I am rarely snobby about books. I read everything from Geoffrey Chaucer to Iris Murdoch to Chuck Klosterman to Candace Bushnell. My fiance and I are getting married on our third anniversary!
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