Best friends in our hearts

Husband and I participated in our final wedding of 2011 on Saturday. My best male friend, Philboy, had stood with the bridal party on my side during our wedding, so I was touched that he included me (and Husband) on his side in his wedding. We have been friends for 8 years (yeah, dude, it's been that long), and he is one of the most intelligent and funny people I know. Lucky for him, he found a partner who is all that and more.

Exhibit A. Gorgeousness personified.

Their ceremony was just the right mix of traditional and modern; religious and irreverent; solemn and celebratory. They wrote their own vows, they symbolized their unity through a sand ceremony, and Philboy was so excited about getting married, he tried to say his "I do's" twice.

Rather than throw sand or blow bubbles, each guest was handed a personalized flag to wave as the newlyweds left the chapel. It was an absolutely adorable touch.

I have to give a special shout-out to my hair (or hairdresser, that is). It wasn't sleek and it was off-center and totally not something I would ever request, but I absolutely loved it. I didn't want to take it out after leaving the reception. 45 hairpins later, however, I will admit my scalp was a bit happy. (And check out the Adonis I conned into posing with me!)

The bride and groom made their own cake topper out of Lego. Behind the little figures is a red heart. It was so sweet and unique!

Dee-licious:

The bride and groom are honeymooning in Disneyworld (I had to look that up, because I always forget which is in California, and which is in Florida). These adorable hats sat in front of their places at the head table. They wore them as they departed the reception.

Squee!

The Puritans. We're all a little older, a little wiser, and a little drunker. But we're still all together. I love these people.

This has nothing to do with anything, but what would a wedding be without moustaches? I'm thinking about adding this as a permanent accessory.

Thanks to their wedding reception, I've had LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" stuck in my head for seven days now. At least it isn't "Pussy Control."

Every day I'm shuffling.

This is one of those weddings that I will remember. Not because it was any better (or worse) than any other wedding we've attended recently, but because I know that these people will be in our lives for many years to come. In fact, when they return from their honeymoon, they are going to become our neighbors for awhile. They are two seriously wonderful people, and I am so happy that they found one another. They deserve so much happiness. They are our best friends in our hearts.

You know that, RIGHT?

A groomsmaid* at a bachelorette party

Although I will be standing on my dear friend Philboy's side during his wedding this coming Saturday, his beautiful and sweet fiancee included me with her bridesmaids this weekend during her bachelorette party. We painted pottery, ate a fabulous meal, and then debauched. It was a glorious evening.

If you've never had a girl's event at a pottery painting place, I highly recommend it. Everyone gets to do their own piece, and you end up with something to remember the event by.

*Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?* that was me singing. I cannot wait to see her in wedding regalia!

Both mommies attended the painting and eating portions of the evening (and debarked before the debauch).

Speaking of mommies, I made this for my mommy! I hope it turns out well after firing!

Eee!

Thanks to the gals for including me! Especially that hottie in the middle!

*Husband pointed out that I'm actually a groomsmatron, which I detest. I need to be ten years older and have several more chins before I will call myself a matron, thankyouverymuch.

Showering with a group of women

Last weekend I worked 25 hours on my home computer. Out of the 48 hours allotted for a weekend. On a project for my "day job," which I do not get paid extra for in any way. Because I'm that dedicated. For the record, I feel I have earned the right to whine about that.

I earned a short reprieve on Saturday morning, when I attended one of the nicest bridal showers I've ever experienced. It was for one of my best friend's fiancees, who has quickly also become a dear friend. She is a doll.

We were met at the door with mimosas, we had a lovely plated brunch, and we feasted on adorable cupcakes. And there were no games. Bridal Shower For The Win!

I can't wait for their wedding!

New York Chicago State of Mind: Part 4, The Second Wedding

We left for home on Thursday through what I can only adequately describe as the asshole of New York. Also known as LaGuardia. I've been through a lot of airports in my time, and it was the dirtiest and most claustrophobic. The airport horrors were magnified when our plane was delayed for an hour. Finally, we escaped to a layover (*cough* four hour layover *cough*) in Milwaukee, which was bright and clean and had a Chili's where we wasted time by ordering dessert. We arrived home around 2 a.m. Friday morning and were gone twelve hours later, this time by car, headed to our second wedding in two weekends, located near Chicago.

The drive, though long, wasn't bad, the hotel was nice, and we got to see many college friends.
The handsome groom.
The gorgeous bride.
Unfortunately, unlike the wedding a week prior, this was not Catholic Lite but rather Full Monty Catholic. Maybe even Sadomasochistic Catholic, because the bride and groom didn't even get to sit, they pretty much had to kneel the whole time. It was a really neat wedding, because the priest who married the couple is the bride's brother. Awww!
They, too, done got hitched.
We were mercifully shuttled to the reception site, which was quite lovely. Check out this beautiful couple, and the bridesmaid's bouquet!
The cake was red velvet - delicious!
Pretty Gerbera daisy centerpieces.
The gentleman on the right once puked on my shoes. I still love him. Surprisingly, the gentleman on the left has never puked on my shoes. I'm sure it's only a matter of time. I still love him, too.
The favors were hockey pucks engraved with the bride and groom's names and wedding date - so unique! The groom was in my Freshman Orientation class in college. I couldn't remember his name at the time, so I called him "Hockey Boy." I'm sure this favor makes a little more sense to you now.
Sweet and playful couple.
Sweet and playful trio.
So glad to see them happily wed!
Husband, as per regular wedding tradition, got down with his bad self with the bride.
She was too cute throwing her bouquet.
*Giggles*
It was a wonderful wedding, and we got to spend time with so many great people that we only see once in a great while. The celebration was a perfect way to end our vacation. We drove home the next morning and then spent the day after that recuperating before returning to work. It wasn't a relaxing trip like our vacation to Michigan last summer, but it was an unforgettable trip.

New York State of Mind: Part 1, The Wedding

Just a few days after I returned from a work trip to Baltimore, I turned around and packed up my bags and was off again. This time, Husband got to tag along. We've been together for almost a decade, but we had never traveled on a plane together before. He had never been to the state of New York, and I had never been to New York City proper. We were in for an adventure.

After two hours of sleep, we were up and out the door by 3 a.m. to catch an early morning flight, with a layover in the Airplane Mall of America, also known as Detroit. This is where I obtained my first blister.

We reached Middletown, NY around noon, and my sistercousin and her husband, who drove out for a cruise to Canada the week before, kindly carted us around for the whole weekend. We were exhausted. Exhibit A:

I can still smile, even while semiconscious!

That night we had dinner with the impending newlyweds at my aunt's home, somehow managing not to fall asleep in our plates of lasagna.

The next day, we went to see my cousin (the groom's brother), his wife, and his two adorable boys at their home, just across the border in Pennsylvania. We wandered around their subdivision's wonderful lakeside beach and then had a picnic on the lawn of their adorable home. We had only ever met the oldest boy, who was just a few months shy of one year old at Husband and my wedding almost four years ago!

Sistercousin and Brother of the Groom Cousin.

Sistercousin and me.

Possibly still semiconscious.

After lunch, sistercousin, cousin's wife, and I got our nails done in town. Our husbands got lost on their way to pick us up (*cue Deliverance banjo music*). Eventually, we were all reunited, and we ventured into Middletown for the rehearsal dinner where we saw the most spectacular display of stereotypical New York/New Jersey guido behavior. It was beyond our wildest, delighted dreams.

As we approached the pub where the rehearsal dinner was to be held, a giant, rather unattractive man pushed a very tiny, mincing man out of the front doors and commenced screaming at him. "You disrespectin' me?" he asked. "No! I wasn't disrespectin' you, Tony," the mincing man replied fearfully (I don't remember if the guy's name was really "Tony," but I can only assume that, yes, every guy with that brand of accent is named Tony). They went back inside, and we followed. But, unfortunately, there was a second set of double doors in the foyer of the pub, which the pair set up shop right in front of, continuing to argue in a lopsided fashion. We eventually edged our way around them without taking any elbows to the face.

It. Was. Awesome. And became the running joke for the rest of the trip (ok, we're still reliving it. Often).

The next day we had to check out of our hotel before the wedding, so eight adults got dressed and primped in my aunt's house (note: one bathroom). It worked out well, though, and I even did my aunt's make-up. Then we made our way to the church for the Catholic Lite wedding (no communion, easy on the kneeling, and the bride and groom didn't even sit, phew!).

My cousins are handsome blokes.

The bride looked just beautiful.

It was a wonderful ceremony.

Eww, stop that!

And they done got hitched.

Upon our exit of the church, we were greeted by a bagpipe player. So unique!

After the ceremony, we drove an hour or so up a mountain to the Ardmore Mansion, the reception site.

We took pictures, partook of the hospitalities provided, and danced the night away. I am so happy for my cousin and his gorgeous bride. Watching them wed was worth the long journey there. It was a whirlwind weekend, but we got to spend time with everyone we'd hoped to see, and we made some lovely memories. I wish you all the best in the world, Mr. and Mrs. H!

Stay tuned for Part 2: The City