post-marriage reception (part 4)

We had gotten married! It was insane. Everyone cried so much that I couldn't believe anyone could take pictures afterwards. I couldn't believe *I* could, that's for sure. It was freezing outside. Not literally, but it was cold and the wind was whipping off from the lake, which made it even colder. I had to go get my sneakers halfway through the picture process. As much as I love those shoes, after wearing them for the last couple of hours I REALLY needed to take them off. After we finished doing that we went inside where everyone was already eating salads and since we never really figured out where we were going to sit, we sat all over the place. There were empty chairs at almost every table so we floated throughout dinner. The pasta bar was great. I wish I would have been physically able to eat more. The tightest part of my dress was right across my natural waist (you know, the high one) with my stomach being the only part able to give---or take---any room. My stomach was full. I literally could fit no more food in my body. I ate some pasta and chicken and one piece of cake and then I was done. Not because I didn't WANT more, but because I'd have to let my dress out halfway through the night.

For this party my mom made a two-tiered cake and we used the sheet cake from Saturday (which was never even cut in to!). Red velvet on the bottom, carrot on the top. I didn't mind doing the cake cutting as much this time and we have all these great pictures of it!!

I sat with Ben and Ali for a little while which was great. Again, I am so happy they were able to come. Both left early (Ben since he was driving back to Chicago that night, Ali because Ben was leaving and he was the only person besides me she knew) but I am so happy I got to see them and TALK to them. I love them.

While I was talking to Ben and Ali, Chris and friends were setting up the music. They ended up playing a pretty long, very AWESOME set. Two of the four members of his old band are professional musicians and Chris is kind of a professional musician (I mean, he is an actor who is paid to play music so... you know... I guess that's professional, it's just not exclusive) so they were just great. They played some old U2 (The End of the World), Nirvana, Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend, I believe a Lenny Kravitz song... Chris said this was their 1993 set (since that's the last time they were a band). They also played Barracuda and Hit Me With Your Best Shot for ME to sing, and it was great (even though I still messed up Barracuda because I wanted an extra measure before I sang the 2nd verse. We never practiced the song. I chose this without telling anyone. Mistake!) It was cool to sing with a REAL band! :)

After Chris's old band played, his more recent band, "Ruffian," took to the stage. Ruffian is Ben, Greg and Chris (with other optional members) but was basically the "band" that was formed during Chris's first tour with the ASC. They played a lot of original stuff and some stuff I think they haven't played in years (maybe SINCE his first tour in 2003-2004) but it was great. Rick Blunt was going nuts. Tyler and Sybille were dancing (and they were the only ones, which was PERFECT!!!). We got out again right at 11pm and tore down everything as much as we could. I couldn't believe how well everything went. It was CRAZY! It was perfect. I couldn't believe it.

Ben took us back to the hotel and we checked in to our room... first thing when we walked in was a freaking HOT TUB! We were so excited. We went to turn it on... and it didn't work. At all. What a stupid bummer. Don't TEASE someone with a hot tub. That's just mean.

I couldn't sleep again that night. I had to wake up super early again to get to the Akron/Canton airport for our flight but I still couldn't sleep. I just kept thinking about everything. How perfect everything was, how happy I was that every one who could come did come, how much I loved and appreciated everyone who helped with everything... and then how effing EXCITED I was to go to Disney World. I think I slept less than 3 hours because I just couldn't stop thinking.

The next morning we found out that the Lakers and the Celtics both lost, LeBron won the MVP and that the Indians won. It was solidified that it was a perfect day in Ohio.