After the ceremony, the rest of our wedding day was a total blur. Were we really there? Did we experience the following four hours? I don’t actually believe it. It all seems like a complete dream. I now fully understand what every bride before me was talking about.
But before we could get to the fun part—the party!—first, there were copious family portraits, starting with the (small and cozy) Luna family:
The (extended) Housholder clan (my mom’s side):
The VVs, all 500 of them:
The kidlets, Jack and Kiva:
The bros:
Of course, once family photos were over, we spent a good portion of the dinner hour(s) on Muir Beach taking our portraits, so when we arrived back at the inn, most people were already done eating and onto drinking.
Dad and his drinking buddies, Frank and Jim
Scott with his our(!) sister-in-law, Vanessa
Me with our dashing ushers, Ryan and Anthony
My editor, Matt, and his gal pal, Katy
New friends (Harriot and Bill) mingling with old (Jana, who I’ve known since I was 2, and her fiance Matt)
High Priestess Lemon with Holly and Moose
Catching up with two of my childhood besties, U.S. diplomat-in-Tokyo Tracy and fashion-designer-turned-teacher Mary Lambeth
We sat briefly and wolfed down some bangers and mash and who knows what other goodness (I can’t even tell you what we had for dinner that night), before resuming the mingling.
The toasts were probably my favorite part of the entire night—even though I had been somewhat worried no one was going to get up and say anything. Lemon had already done her duty with the whole ceremony thing, and neither of our dads are exactly comfortable in the spotlight.
But Scott’s brother Jim got up to kick off the toasts and wowed us all with a zinger: After lavishing us with compliments about what great people we are, blah blah blah, he put us to the test of how well we really knew each other.
I’m mighty skeptical of what’s coming next…
First, he had us each remove our shoes—this is when it was made evident that I ditched the heels for my Haviana’s—trade one with another and then answer a series of questions by holding up the shoe of the appropriate owner. He asked us things like who’s the best cook (SVV, hands down), who’s the biggest klutz (this girl) and who does all the cleaning (the both of us).
Apparently, we were too honest—or rather, a match made in heaven; yes, let’s go with that one—as we answered them all the same.
Then, my sister gave a witty (perhaps slightly tipsy) ode herself…
…followed by my always loquacious cousin John, who was the first to meet SVV five long years ago when we spent our first Christmas together with John in his Vienna bachelor’s pad.
Scott and my forever lovely mother-in-law Joan also both said some very kind words. (I remained silent, as public speaking—even in front of 85 of our closest friends at my own wedding—gives me hives.)
It was then time to cut the (cup)cake(s)—which we served with old-fashioned bottles of Strauss milk in champagne buckets of ice, alongside the (Ghirardelli) hot chocolate and coffee bars—and we were not the only ones excited about this. As I consider myself a cupcake connoisseur—this site would more accurately be named “Camels & Cupcakes” these days, or simply just “Camel Cupcakes” as my blog friend Orion calls it—I was happy to hear a whole lot of “these are the best darn cupcakes I’ve ever put in my mouth!”
We had our first dance to one of my favorite songs, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Lady Antebellum (as selected by my mom!)…
…then danced with our parents. (I’m pretty sure my dad starting singing “Louie, Louie” at that point, which is why I’m cracking up in all our photos together.) After that, there actually wasn’t a whole lot of dancing, as many people took the early shuttle back to the city (we arranged one shuttle coming and two going so people didn’t have to drive the windy way after drinking), but that was A-OK with us. I preferred hanging out and finally getting to talk to people to busting a rug. Besides, our guests made good use of the photobooth, the pub area and the Snug Room, which we were hoping they’d do.
I was so incredibly sober that night after managing just one glass of champagne in a seven-hour period that I drove us through the snaking roads of Muir Woods to Sausalito for the night, where our generous friends bought us a night at Inn Above Tide as a wedding gift. Though literally, we were in and out in under nine hours and back to the Pelican Inn for a hearty English brunch (and darts—check out Jack in its suave suit Joan made him) with the family and wedding party early the next morning.
We did, however, pause long enough to admire our balcony view in Sausalito—finally, a sunny day in the Bay Area after so many weeks of fog and cold—and, of course, fist bump (again) to pulling it all off.
*****
**All wedding photos by the incomparable Barbara Ries, who is off shooting Chelsea Clinton’s wedding this weekend!
You two are so beautiful. And you got the cuter brother. 🙂
I love the photo of your first dance. You can feel the emotion in that shot!
As a kid, I had the biggest crush on your Dad’s drinking buddy, Jim. He was probably 17 or so and I was like 6 when I saw him at church. I thought he was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen! He’s still pretty beautiful;)
Looking at this made me tear up—SO BEAUTIFUL and happy and amazing. I’m thrilled for you! What a perfect day.
Can’t wait to see you this weekend!
Fantastic! I love it all!
What a gorgeous wedding! I LOVE the cupcakes on vintage cake stands.
I’m teary. Love these posts – kind of sad they are ending. Maybe you could renew your vows next year? 🙂
So beautiful.
I love these photos, thanks for sharing. It’s as if I was there!
So beautiful! So you guys. So happy for you!
I love this. LOVE.
Happy day! I love how everyone is glowing with joy, especially you two 🙂
Just gorgeous darling!!!!!!!! Everyone is glowing with love. I’m so happy for you and SVV. 🙂
Freakin’ gorgeous! It looks like you had the perfect balance of glamor and intimacy. Gorgeous.
(Also? You don’t know how many times someone has tried to jar my memory by saying, “He/She was at your wedding…” except that honest to god, the Pope could have been at the wedding and I wouldn’t remember meeting him.)
Delightful! All looking like fun. And you two so happy you glow. I think you remembered the whirlwind well. I remember my 30 year ago ceremony (only lasted 15 years) but barely a thing about my reception. Way to excited about the 3 week honeymoon hitchhiking from Chicago to California and back. Now that I remember. The photos are great and I especially like the shot of you when Jim began the “game”, actually you both look so, almost mystical. These were certainly worth the wait. Hope married life is good to you both. Keep on lovin’!
It looks perfect. I love the flowers, the location (the fire in the background–awesome!), the cupcakes, and the sense that it was just a really good time with your closest friends and family. And I know exactly what you mean about it all passing in a blur. We’re celebrating our 5(!) year wedding anniversary today, and honest-to-God, it feels like we got married yesterday.
Three cheers to love. And to celebrating love with your closest family and friends at a cozy little inn that I totally want to move into. These photos are all so fantastic. You two just look so! happy! So happy for you both.
CAMEL CUPCAKES! I think it’s the new phrase for anything. Stub your toe? Camel cupcakes! Garner a wage increase at work? Camel cupcakes!
I liked the shoe game, I’ve never heard of it before (and I’ve attended my share of weddings). Looks like everyone had a fun time and the photos are classic. It’s really cool you had time to chat with your guests.
So happiness and so beautiful you are! I like the wedding like this,and your brother is so cute.Beat wishes to you!
Beautiful pictures! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding! The kids are adorable! 🙂
YAY! So beautiful.
And, yet again you’ve made me SO EXCITED to get this damn show on the road.
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