the reception

WARNING: Long post.  Lots of pictures.  So I don't forget.
Some time towards the end of 2010, Matt and I were sitting in a belgian waffle diner where most of our waiters looked like larpers and we were the only people enjoying our breakfast for dinner.  We had recently started dating for real again, but were also discussing marriage.  This wasn't too unusual for us, but this time we were talking about it for real, for real.

"You want it to last past eight at night?!"

"Do we have to even have a reception?"

"Are groomsmen and bridesmaids totally necessary?"

"I just don't like attention."

These are all questions and complaints I fielded until I reassured him, "Matt, it will just be a party.  A really fun party."  Though he didn't complain about it ever again, I still knew he was a little leery about the reception part of the wedding.  For me, however, there is nothing I love more than a good dance party with my favorite people in the world.  I've heard that every bride has three things they care the very most about, and on the rest they're a little more lenient.  For me, my top three things (aside from just marrying Matt) were the dress, the invitations, and the party.

Immediately following our ring ceremony, we mingled outside in the cool central Texas November weather while the aisles were cleared away and tables were set up.  After everyone found their seats, the wedding party made their big entrance, we blessed the food, and we ate.  When my mom told me Salt Lick was a preferred vendor at Mercury Hall, there really was no other option.  Matt was in Heaven, and I struggled against my constricting corset to get anything down.

Instead of table numbers, we named our tables after places or things that were important to us.  Our table names included Salt Lake City Table, Jawbreaker Table, Baseball Table, USC Table, San Francisco Table, Austin Table, Amusement Park Table, Music Table, Brisbane Table, and Utah Table.  Each table had a picture or two and an explanation for the name. 

We had toasts.  They were amazing and made me tear up a couple times.  I was so glad that we had a videographer to document everything, so I can always remember what was said.  A comment my mom made  continues to come back to me, about appreciating each day -- even the mundane, wash-the-dishes-and-mow-the-lawn kind of days, because you never know how many of those you're going to get.  At the time, her 27-year-old cousin was in the last days of her battle with breast cancer.  She passed away two days after our wedding, so her comment meant a lot to me then and even more to me now.  My dad wished us happiness, but he said he also wished us challenges and trials, as in the end those will bring us closer to each other.  I was kind of surprised, because let's be real, that isn't what most people say in a toast.  But I know he's right.

Best Man, Nolan

Maid of Honor, Jen 

my parents 

Matt's parents

We danced.  Our first dance was Adele's cover of "To Make You Feel My Love."  Cheesy, but when you start dating at age fourteen "your song" is bound to be a little bit of a gag-me.  We tried to bring in the new with Adele.

My dad and I danced.  I stressed so much over which song to play.  My parents played a big part in developing my taste for music, so I wanted it to be a song or an artist that meant something to us.  To wake us up on Saturdays, my dad would place the speakers outside our doors and blast Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan.  I finally settled on "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan, and it was perfect.

After that, we partied.  Like I said, I wasn't sure if Matt would like the rest of the night, as he "doesn't like attention."  But then the man started dancing, and could not be stopped.  I was thrilled.

 

 

 

Earlier that year, my sisters and I were playing the Wii dancing game, and landed on Soulja Boy.  After we were done, Matt said, "That's a pretty good song!"  We stared at him for a second and finally figured out that he had been in Australia when Soulja Boy came out, and therefore hadn't heard it the hundreds of times we had.  My sisters immediately decided it must be played at the wedding -- and we all must know the dance!  Hilary and Hannah worked very hard on that aspect, and they were perfect!  

It was really hard to pull me away from the dance floor with little partners like this one...

 

 

 

 

 

I was so grateful for the many people who came from so far away to attend our wedding.  Looking around at our reception, I realized how lucky we are to have so many people who love and support us.  I also realized we had numerous examples of healthy marriages among our friends and family.  That gives me hope.

 

 

Sanam caught my bouquet.

Tyler caught the garter.

As we were getting ready to leave, I huddled with my college roommates.  They came from New York and Los Angeles for our wedding, and I am beyond grateful for the sacrifices they made to be there.  All of the girls are Jewish, and Natalie reminded me of the Jewish belief that the day of a bride's wedding is the holiest day of her life.  On this day it is written that a bride's prayers are answered before God as if it were her personal Yom Kippur.  The gates of Heaven are open to her completely.  As we stood in our circle praying, I was overwhelmed with the love I felt for and from each of them.  I am so grateful for friendships that never change, no matter the distance.  I am blessed to have made friends like that throughout my life.

Thank you everyone who made this day truly perfect.  

Especially my parents.

And Matt, for making it my favorite party.