We got to the hall at 6pm so we could eat early. That way we could be ready to greet the masses at 7pm. We all had a great dinner. GOOD FOOD! Of course, I didnt know then that that would be the last time I got to eat...or really drink ALL night. We had early arrivals but it was funny. The cops that were security at the hall acted like they were guarding Fort Knox. They came in and asked us if they could release the guests into the hall and we said "NO!" We wanted our time before the rush. At 7pm Wendy & I and our parents formed the receiving line and got ready to greet our guests. WOW did we have a lot of people come. I think a lot of people were coming because it was finally our day! We both waited soooo long to find our perfect soulmate. I'm sure people never believed either of us would ever get married. But we proved them all wrong! After greeting hundreds of people we began the "show" part of the reception. We took family photos, the cut the cake. We weren't going to smash each other with it but it kind of ended up that way! We both leaned back as we were smooshing & by doing that outstretched our arms....creating a SMASH. Yeah, we got cake all over each other, down my tux, her dress......but it was fun. We did a double entrance. One at the very beginning, after greeting the guests, then one later to start the festivities. Wendy danced with her father, then mother, then I danced with my mom. Then we had the "Bridal Dance"...better known as the Money dance. That was supposed to last for a song or two but ended up being over five songs long! We did good on the dance though it was really a time for us to be able to talk to people we wouldnt have been able to spend time with. I tell you...It was a hectic night. Wendy had a great time...I tried my best to orchestrate it and make it the best night of her life.
My brother made a toast for us. He & his wife were fantastic. Their girls were absolutely awesome. We were enthralled by how great they were...and it was all a surprise for the most part. My brother didnt really say much about what was going to go on. I wondered how much would really happen and was completely taken aback by the volume of what they did. My brother's toast was memorable. And that was a topper to what he did at the rehearsal dinner. He surprised us by making a video compilation of Wendy & I growing up. What a tear jerking video that was. SO BEAUTIFUL!
Then came the bouquet and garter. Wendy messed with her girls, teasing them with fake tosses then finally let it go. It was caught by a woman who works with my dad. Then came my turn with the garter. My buddy Mike, who DJ-ed the reception for me, and I had a plan. I had a bag of goodies hidden by the DJ booth for my time. When it was announced I was doing the garter...I snuck the bag under my tux, ran down to Wendy sitting in a chair...slid down & underneath her dress fast, slipping the bag under. Mike started the "stripper" music and I began pulling all kinds of stuff out from underneath the dress. I had a curling iron, toilet paper, brush, mousse and the toppers that made the crowd go wild were a bra & a pair of handcuffs.....they loved it. All Wendy could do was continually say..."Where are you getting all this stuff from!?!?!?!?!" Boy I had her fooled and it was a real hoot!!!
After all the "formal festivities", we started up the NIGHT! Dancing & partying till the very last minute. We had the joint till 11 pm and I'll tell you...we could have partied all night long! What an absolute blast it was. I'll also tell you it was a very busy, hectic evening. All that planning that we did....and it went like wildfire. We got back to the hotel afterwards....talked with her parents for a while and went up to our room. We sat there for a moment on the bed looking at each other and said "Wow, that went fast!" I have heard from so many of our guests that they had so much fun at our wedding(s) and reception. Some said they've never been to one that was so much fun! We went home the next day, opened our gifts with our close family and went up to Cleveland that night so we would be ready for our honeymoon to Aruba the next morning.
MORE TO COME..........