What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Toasts

Let me preface this by saying we had a LOT of toasts. And it's a bit funny because up until a few days before the wedding I was totally convinced we would only have 2 or at the most 3. How many were there at the actual reception? Six. Yup, you read that right. Six toasts. On the one hand, a part of me wonders if it was too long for our guests to wait (though guests had already feasted on our food stations so no one was hungry). I also have to say that our toasts were very enjoyable... at least from the bride's point of view. 

But let me tell you the story of how we got from 2 toasts to 6 toasts. The traditional toast line up is usually the best man, the maid of honor, and maybe the father of the bride. My father was adamant from the start that he wasn't super interested in making a toast (I think due to shyness and not wanting to make our guests sit for too long). So I figured 2 toasts, one by my sisters (the collective maids of honor), and one by our best best man S. Then groomsman V expressed that he would really like to say something after the best man. He is Mishka's oldest friend so we gave the o.k. That brought the total up to 3. Then, our band sent us a sheet asking for some information about the toast line-up and there was a spot for "Grace" (as in a traditional "before-dinner" catholic prayer). My parents were psyched and immediately suggested our long time friend Fr. B who co-officiated our ceremony but hadn't played a large part in the actual proceedings. It seemed fair so we again said O.K. Toasts 4. Then, a few days before the wedding, my dad said he actually WOULD like to say something at the wedding, and Mishka's father followed suit. So our total rose to 6 and there it stayed. Some may have found the toast section lengthy, but for Mishka and myself, we were touched that there were so many people excited about the opportunity to speak publicly at our reception and to wish us well. So without further ado... the toasts!

Fr. B saying Grace, blessing the food we were to eat as well as our marriage. I think he was a little nervous, but he did a fantastic job :).

Next up was GM V. His toast was one of the most humorous as you can see by our faces. He even had a little note sheet which Mishka managed to swipe as a memento :). 

I love how long Mishka and V have been friends. They've known each other for years and, though of course they give each other a hard time it seems like they'll be friends forever...

Next up was BM S. He was the counterpoint to V's funny speech. His toast was touching, with just the right amount of humor thrown in. 

He and Mishka haven't been friends all that long, but they are perfectly suited to each other. It's a very low maintenance friendship. S is such a great guy, I am so glad he is a part of our lives! 

Next up was my sisters. I think you can tell from the looks on our faces that this was another toast filled with laughter. But that's just my sisters. When we get together - we laugh. It's unavoidable :).

I love my ladies!!

Next up was Mishka's dad. He also had a note sheet with him, though we did not manage to swipe that one ;). In fact, Mishka's father insists that he was writing and rewriting some things right up until he started to speak.

I love Mishka's mom's face as she watches her husband speak :). So sweet!

Mishak's dad had had a bit to drink at that point so he was feeling good and hugging everybody!

And finally, my dad finished off the toasting period. 

And like the classy guy he is, he kept it short and sweet! Just a few words of advice and how he wished us nothing but happiness in our lives together :).

Next Up: Dinner and Dancing

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Mother Son & Father Daughter

Right after the first dance came the parent dances. My dad and I chose "Unforgettable" as our dance. Unlike Mishka and my dance, my dad and I just took it slow. 

But that doesn't mean we weren't joking around the whole time! (I swear, a smile never left my face that whole day)

Afterwards, it was time for Mishka to take the floor with his mom. 

They were so adorable :). Mishka says he was laughing because his mom was so surprised that he knew how to lead. 

I was glowing watching them the entire time they were dancing.

I know, this was a short one. But, the parent dances are such an important moment. I know dancing with his daughters at our weddings has been a dream of my dads since we were born and I'm sure my MIL had similar feelings with regards to Mishka. It's another way of wishing your children well as they enter an exciting new chapter of their lives. It's a way to support them and show your love in a moment shared by all of your nearest and dearest. Or at least, that's what it meant to us.

Next Up: The Toasts

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - The First Dance

I'll admit it: I was VERY nervous about the first dance. I never blogged about it, but Mishka and I had been taking lessons to learn the fox trot to our chosen song "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra. We learned the dance very well and our instructor even complimented us on how quickly we picked up the steps considering we only took 5 lessons before the wedding. 

Still, I was petrified that we would mess up the dance and I would be incredibly embarrassed out there on the dance floor. Mishka kept reassuring me that we wouldn't and that everything would be fine. Well, as is so often the case, we both turned out to be right. There were definitely some hiccups during the first dance, but everything did turn out fine. In fact, it all turned out better than fine! 

Here's what happened...

Mishka and I took our positions on the dance floor and waited for the music to start. This was when I first knew we were going to have to do some improvising. We had learned our entire dance according to a recording of Frank Sinatra's voice. We assumed the band would have a similar arrangement. Boy were we wrong. As the first notes of "Fly Me to the Moon" began to play we realized it was a completely different arrangement than the one we had been practicing to. At this point we had a few options:

1. I could have freaked out and thrown a fit about this ruining what was supposed to be a perfect special moment for us.

2. We could have scrapped the special dance we had worked so hard on and just "middle-school swayed" to the music

or...

3. We looked at each other, started laughing hysterically, and began the dance anyway, just as we had practiced. 

So you'll notice most of the pictures of us during our first dance look like this:

We have these huge silly grins on our faces because we didn't stop laughing the ENTIRE time. I swear, I can't even remember dancing- only grinning from ear to ear. 

My equally silly sisters singing along to our music.

I had read a lot of wedding blogs that quoted the first dance as being a moment where the rest of the world melted away and it was just the two of you dancing together. To me, it was going to be a moment where I nervously danced a choreographed routine with my husband to impress our guests. I was surprised to find that, in the moment, I did have that "only two in the room" experience. We just laughed, played around, and generally had a good time as opposed to stressing about looking perfect. 

I love that we got a few twirls in there :-D. They were so much fun! And I felt that it was such a tango/sultry strut (the picture doesn't do it justice).

Our big finish (I'm showing off my new wedding ring in case you couldn't tell :-D).

And at the end of it, no one noticed the few missteps we had. No one knew what the dance was supposed to look like except for us. All in all, I wouldn't have changed a moment of our first dance. It was one of my favorite moments from the wedding. 

Next Up: Mother/Son & Father/Daughter Dance

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Introductions

After the cocktail hour we were ready to get the reception in full swing! But before anything else could get started, our bridal party needed to be introduced!

First, my parents strode in with the biggest grins on their faces :).

Next, was his parents looking o-so-proud :) (I don't think his father stopped grinning the entire night!).

Up next was Sister K and GM V...

Followed closely by GM A and K's twin sister C.

Next up it was my brother & sister in law!

(They certainly didn't wait until the introductions were over to start partying ;) ).

Then came our awesome flower girl and ring bearer!

And finally, the best man and maid of honor completed the bridal party groups!

The groomsmen waiting patiently and handsomely. 

And the bridesmaids waiting a lot less patiently :-D.

There we are! Introduced as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time (in front of a large audience at least)! It was so exciting, but also a little nerve wracking because I knew what was coming next... THE FIRST DANCE!!!

But more on that next time...

Next Up: The First Dance