Going to the Chapel: The Reception

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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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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):

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

The VVs, all 500 of them:

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

The kidlets, Jack and Kiva:

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

The bros:

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

Dad and his drinking buddies, Frank and Jim

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

Scott with his our(!) sister-in-law, Vanessa

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

Me with our dashing ushers, Ryan and Anthony

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

My editor, Matt, and his gal pal, Katy

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

New friends (Harriot and Bill) mingling with old (Jana, who I’ve known since I was 2, and her fiance Matt)

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

High Priestess Lemon with Holly and Moose

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach,  marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach,  marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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).

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach,  marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach,  marin, california

Then, my sister gave a witty (perhaps slightly tipsy) ode herself…

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

…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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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.)

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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!”

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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!)…

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

…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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

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.

pelican inn, wedding, san francisco, sausalito, muir beach, marin, california

*****

**All wedding photos by the incomparable Barbara Ries, who is off shooting Chelsea Clinton’s wedding this weekend!

COMMENTS
  • July 29, 2010

    You two are so beautiful. And you got the cuter brother. 🙂

  • July 29, 2010

    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;)

  • July 29, 2010

    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!

  • July 29, 2010

    Fantastic! I love it all!

  • July 29, 2010

    What a gorgeous wedding! I LOVE the cupcakes on vintage cake stands.

  • July 29, 2010

    I’m teary. Love these posts – kind of sad they are ending. Maybe you could renew your vows next year? 🙂

  • July 29, 2010

    So beautiful.

  • July 29, 2010

    I love these photos, thanks for sharing. It’s as if I was there!

  • July 29, 2010

    So beautiful! So you guys. So happy for you!

  • July 29, 2010

    I love this. LOVE.

  • July 29, 2010

    Happy day! I love how everyone is glowing with joy, especially you two 🙂

  • July 29, 2010

    Just gorgeous darling!!!!!!!! Everyone is glowing with love. I’m so happy for you and SVV. 🙂

  • July 29, 2010

    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.)

  • July 29, 2010

    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’!

  • July 30, 2010

    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.

  • July 30, 2010

    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.

  • July 30, 2010

    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.

  • August 5, 2010

    So happiness and so beautiful you are! I like the wedding like this,and your brother is so cute.Beat wishes to you!

  • August 5, 2010

    Beautiful pictures! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding! The kids are adorable! 🙂

  • August 9, 2010

    YAY! So beautiful.

    And, yet again you’ve made me SO EXCITED to get this damn show on the road.

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