Like Clockwork, Kinda

Well it’s done. It’s over. I’m hitched. A good thing I think. Honestly I don’t think we could have asked for a better set of circumstances. Everything went according to plan; at least as close to it as could be asked. We all started getting ready in the early afternoon then loaded up the cars and headed to the park to take photos. There really wasn’t much traffic for a Friday afternoon and while there were people at the park we didn’t really have much hassle getting into the Japanese gardens and Conservatory. The only real hassle was a group of kids taking photos before their prom. They took quite a bit of time at some of the settings we wanted to use. No big deal though we dropped our idea of going to a second site on the side of St. Paul so we had plenty of time. The drive to Summit Manner was just as easy as the drive to Como Park so we were about 20 min early.

So we took photos outside for a while and before long it was time to go inside. Everything was ready to go long before the scheduled ceremony with the exception of the sound system (this caused a couple minute delay no big deal). All the guest arrived in time for the ceremony and no one fell down the stairs. I really don’t remember everything that was going on I was focused on the justice of the peace and RB. After a picture perfect service we went out the side circled around the building and re-entered through the front of the house. Everyone mingled for a while then with Dave Summit’s manager’s prompting everyone got some food and sat down to eat. Again the food was good, there was plenty, the wine and beer were also good (though we had more beer than we needed after buying a few extra cases at the last minute – thanks Kara!) and there was plenty.

After everyone enjoyed a meal we had a few toasts. My brother’s was amazing. Very well thought out and form the comments I received later one of the highlights of the night. Then we cut the cake, an act that is very awkward really. In fact having everyone’s attention at the level it was is a very different feeling. After cake came the dancing. The DJ did a great job though we did have to prompt him to put in some normal dance music. I am just not a fan of doing the chicken dance or the Makaraina, though the YMCA was funny and the air guitar (inflatable guitars for people to run around with) was a classic idea. Our first dance was good and of course the Father/Daughter, and Mother/Son dances were nice. But the real fun started once we opened the dance floor and got some funk playing. Many of my favorite pics are from people dancing like crazy people! In fact we ran a little bit over on time because we couldn’t get people off the floor!

Once Summit Manor closed up shop the night was far from over. RB or rather RG now wanted to invite everyone over to our place to finish off the beer from the wedding and have some of AP’s home brew. The party was on. We all shared cigars with SB, danced the night away, and partied like rock stars. The weather was perfect, the ceremony was perfect, the reception was great, and the after party was awesome. We had a 20 min service and a 9 hour party. We had a little hit when it came to only doing one site for photos and we started the ceremony 10 min late but I certainly am not going to dwell on such little things. I don’t know what I did right that the fates would grant us such a wonderful evening but it was amazing.