The Wedding Day (Dan's Version)

Posted by: Dan on Jun 28, 2008

I posted this after the wedding day because obviously there was too much going on that day to get any computer time.

The night before the wedding I wasn’t nervous at all. In fact getting to sleep was pretty easy – probably due to the busy day, rehearsal dinner and the few beers I had. The night of the rehearsal dinner Ted and Matt let me know that they would be coming over to grill out before we headed to the church. Pretty cool, hey?

The morning of the wedding I woke up, shaved my head, shaved my face, showered and dressed. I had a few clothes to iron so I cracked open a beer and started the ironing. I wasn’t too far along before Ted and Matt showed up with some of the best looking pieces of meat I’ve seen in a while. They fired up the grill, we cracked open some beers and started cooking – or at least Ted started cooking.

We relaxed out on the patio, talking and waiting for lunch – which turned out to be the best steak I think I’ve ever had. We finished up, I gathered my things and we headed to the church. Ted and I jumped in one vehicle and Matt went alone. On the way to the church we “lost” Matt – he stopped to grab us some sodas. Excellent.

When we arrived at the church my buddy John was already there, as was the photographer. I talked with the photographer for a while – I think once Matt showed up we grabbed the tuxes and headed inside. We were shown where the guys would be getting dressed and before long the majority of the groomsmen were there. I was a pretty laid back time, talking, joking around and having a few pictures taken. My mom and sister stopped in to peek at me – actually there were quite a few people in and out of that room during that time.

Once the guys were all there and dressed the photographer took us outside to snap some pictures. It was pretty fun and we even got one or two funny pictures in there. After that it was back inside to wait for the wedding.

Now, the plan was, as we were told, that about 10 minutes before the ceremony the church wedding coordinator would come and get the guys, walk us through the church to a back room where we would wait for the priest to come get us. By 2PM (the ceremony start time) no one had come to get us. Around 10 after 2 the wedding coordinator comes to our room going, “You’re late!” Yup, she forgot to come get us. So she rushes us out into the church – at this point I still think we’re going to the back room so we’re practically running through the church. Turns out because we were late we were just going to the front of the church – worst wedding entrance ever! And to top it off, because she didn’t come to get us I didn’t get to see my family walk down the aisle, and I didn’t get to see my mom and Brooke’s mom light the candles used to light the unity candle.

So there I am standing up at the altar waiting for my bride. As the bridesmaids, ring bearers, and flower girl come down the aisle I can feel the biggest smile on my face to date – I could tell because my face actually hurt. That smile would not (and still hasn’t) left my face.

Then the time came. The music starts and in the back of the church I see my bride and her father. Now, I’m no good with words, but I’ll just say that Brooke looked *stunning*. I had no clue as to what her dress looked like before hand. I had no clue as to how her hair or make-up would be done. Really the only thing I knew was the jewelry she would be wearing. Man alive, she was beautiful!

At this point I still wasn’t nervous, but I was light headed. I have this issue where I lock my knees when I stand and at this point (yes, even this soon), I figured I could be in for some trouble.

The majority of the ceremony is a blur to me. I just know that I could not take my eyes off Brooke and I thought my face would freeze in a permanent smile (which I think it has). I do recall forgetting a few of the words in the vows though – which I knew I would do. But really it went rather well.

Before long the words I’ve been longing to hear were said, “You may now kiss the bride.” Yes, it was official, we were married. We headed back down the aisle as husband and wife and I knew (and know) that life will be good. We waited a bit at the back for the rest of the wedding party and the guests and before you knew it we had to head back into the church to get some pictures.

The picture process, in my opinion, is not fun. Don’t get me wrong, I want the pictures and the memories, but there’s no quick way to do it. Add a person here, take out two more there. Where’s this person? Do you want this picture, or that picture? I was happy once it was over.

Now I forgot to mention that during the ceremony it started to rain (and thunder pretty good too!). Originally we were going to head to a park near the reception hall for some picture but figure with the rain that we should hang out in the church and get some more wedding pictures. It was on the advice of the photographer that we figured heading to the park may be worth a shot. The reception hall was a ways away and the though was, “it may not be raining out there.” We we gathered our stuff and headed to the limo bus.

The limo bus was a great time. We ran out of beer on the ride out and had to stop off at the store for some more beer. So here’s Brooke in her wedding dress, me in my tux and a few people from the wedding party running into the grocery store for a case of beer. Good times.

By the time we made it to the park it wasn’t raining so we got a few pictures there before it was off to the reception.

I thought the wedding ceremony was a blur, but the reception seemed to fly by at the speed of light. We made our entrance and headed off to cut the cake. Then it was up to the head table before getting some food – excellent food at that. I wasn’t even close to done with dinner before it was time for cake – excellent cake as well. We did our grand entrance and got right to dancing. Of course with me that means just doing the dances I have to do. What can I say… I’m not a dancer.

Shawn – our DJ was great. He did a great job of keeping everyone involved during the night. Fun little games, great songs, it was wonderful.

Brooke and my first dance as husband and wife was wonderful. It was great holding her in my arms giving us some “alone” time for once during the day. Honestly, even though you wouldn’t think it, it felt like we were the only two there to me.

The father-daughter dance. The mother-son dance. All good.

The speeches – almost forgot about those. Both Bettina and Ted did a wonderful, wonderful job with those. I’ll let Brooke talk about Bettina’s speech though. Ted did a great job, and even surprised me with a can of Pabst beer! he referenced it as “cheap beer” which almost enticed a riot from my side of the family. He did say later that me meant to say, “good cheap beer. Hey I didn’t care, I had the beer in front of me.

The night flew by. It was great (great, great, great) getting to spend time with family and friends. I just wish there would have been more time since I know I didn’t really get to sit and talk with everyone I wanted.

Near the end of the night, my cousins, decided I was in need of a few shots. Which by that point they were right. Took a few shots with them, bid a few guest farewell and before long it was time to pack up and head to the hotel.

At the hotel – I don’t know what the desk clerk’s issue was but it took forever to check in. We eventually made it to the room though, exhausted as could be, but still we made it there as husband and wife.

(Wow, sorry about the novel of a post here! I guess I too long winded!)