While "replaying the video in my mind", a few more special moments popped into my head:
My brother and nephew played the music in Church before and after the ceremony (the Guitar and Viola). What a gift.....
Posing for a picture with my first cousins - There were 10 of us there! Most attendance at any function in YEARS!!!
Suse and Bobby made sure the band played "Color My World" - The song that Mr. W and I danced to 35 years ago at our wedding...
Taking a picture with my two oldest friends.... just as we did at their children's weddings...
Hearing so many guests say, "We had the BEST table".... this reassured me that I did a fine job in setting up the seating arrangements.
Having the photographer hand me a CD with all the pictures from the video montage played during dinner.
Getting home to a "squeaky-clean" house.... Allison's team did a spectacular job of erasing evidence of 60 people partying there for 2 hours!
A special Thank You to ALL my friends and relatives who called - emailed - texted to say what a wonderful time they had at the wedding. After all is said and done (and paid for), the only things left are the memories.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Royal Wedding
I thought I might share some special "Mom" moments with you all. Every mom thinks their child's wedding is perfect.... but I had some moments that will forever be in my heart.
Rehearsal at the Church was irreverent, funny, and sweet! When the priest finally reined in the bridal party, he sent Bobby and Michael Jr (best man) down the aisle. It was just so sweet to watch the two of them walk away from me with their arms around each other and poking eachother. I could see their bodies shake as they laughed the whole time. It was as if they were 5 and 7 all over again. Seeing Allison trip across the altar as "Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live" brought the entire church to laughter! Watching Michelle alternately laugh and cry was both predictable and sweet!
At the rehearsal dinner, my beautiful "new daughter" hands me a gift, hugs and kisses me and says, "THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, we love you". Inside was a lace handkerchief embroidered with the words, "Thank you for raising your son to be the man of my dreams. Love, Suse"
I was hounding Michael Jr. for weeks about his Best Man speech. He had been promising to send me the 'rough draft' for days. When I picked him up the day of the wedding, he finally read it to me. He made me laugh and cry.... I think I started holding my breath from that moment on.
Bobby arrived at the house early and he sent his sister, Allison, to deliver a wedding gift to his bride. (are you crying yet?) The photographer and groomsmen soon appeared. Pictures and "SHOTS" all around!! - YAY!! Soon, we were all off to the church.
Since there were a couple hours between the ceremony and the reception, I was not sure the kids would have a full Church - BOY, was I wrong! Nearly everyone invited to the wedding was there. What a beautiful site .... some of my cousins left their homes at noon to be there (and the reception was not ending until 1:30am!)
The big moment finally arrives..... everyone is in their place and we all stand as Suse walks in with her father. Since I already knew how beautiful she looked, my eyes were plastered on my son's face... watching as his eyes fill as he caught his first glimpse of his bride .... what a moment!
After kissing 300 people on the receiving line, we were off to take pictures. My family was headed back to my house for some light refreshments prior to the reception. Imagine the excitement as they pulled up to my house with waiters standing outside with trays of cocktails to greet them! (Thanks to Allison and her staff)
When Mr. W and I walked into the Cocktail Hour at the Hall, we were just mesmerized by all the people and the kind things they were saying to us. There were guests from NY, NJ, IL, FL, CA, and Portugal!! What an amazing night this was going to be!!
After we all made our grand entrance, they called up the Best Man to give a toast. Michael Jr. read his speech, as Bobby and Suse stared into his eyes.... all the while, Bobby had his hand wrapped around his brother's leg. People were laughing and tearing up as well. This was the most heartfelt speech/toast I had ever heard. I started to breathe normally after that!
The food was great. The music was fabulous. The dancing was superb (yes, those lessons paid off!!) Then Suse danced with her father to a traditional Portuguese song, "Beautiful Bride". So Sweet! Finally, it was my turn to dance with my son. Bobby picked out the song and kept it a secret.... "A Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men. As long as I live, I will never forget those moments with my son....
.... It was a magical day.... Everything was perfect.... Hopefully this will set the stage for a lifetime of love and happiness for my son and 'daughter'.
Rehearsal at the Church was irreverent, funny, and sweet! When the priest finally reined in the bridal party, he sent Bobby and Michael Jr (best man) down the aisle. It was just so sweet to watch the two of them walk away from me with their arms around each other and poking eachother. I could see their bodies shake as they laughed the whole time. It was as if they were 5 and 7 all over again. Seeing Allison trip across the altar as "Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live" brought the entire church to laughter! Watching Michelle alternately laugh and cry was both predictable and sweet!
At the rehearsal dinner, my beautiful "new daughter" hands me a gift, hugs and kisses me and says, "THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, we love you". Inside was a lace handkerchief embroidered with the words, "Thank you for raising your son to be the man of my dreams. Love, Suse"
I was hounding Michael Jr. for weeks about his Best Man speech. He had been promising to send me the 'rough draft' for days. When I picked him up the day of the wedding, he finally read it to me. He made me laugh and cry.... I think I started holding my breath from that moment on.
Bobby arrived at the house early and he sent his sister, Allison, to deliver a wedding gift to his bride. (are you crying yet?) The photographer and groomsmen soon appeared. Pictures and "SHOTS" all around!! - YAY!! Soon, we were all off to the church.
Since there were a couple hours between the ceremony and the reception, I was not sure the kids would have a full Church - BOY, was I wrong! Nearly everyone invited to the wedding was there. What a beautiful site .... some of my cousins left their homes at noon to be there (and the reception was not ending until 1:30am!)
The big moment finally arrives..... everyone is in their place and we all stand as Suse walks in with her father. Since I already knew how beautiful she looked, my eyes were plastered on my son's face... watching as his eyes fill as he caught his first glimpse of his bride .... what a moment!
After kissing 300 people on the receiving line, we were off to take pictures. My family was headed back to my house for some light refreshments prior to the reception. Imagine the excitement as they pulled up to my house with waiters standing outside with trays of cocktails to greet them! (Thanks to Allison and her staff)
When Mr. W and I walked into the Cocktail Hour at the Hall, we were just mesmerized by all the people and the kind things they were saying to us. There were guests from NY, NJ, IL, FL, CA, and Portugal!! What an amazing night this was going to be!!
After we all made our grand entrance, they called up the Best Man to give a toast. Michael Jr. read his speech, as Bobby and Suse stared into his eyes.... all the while, Bobby had his hand wrapped around his brother's leg. People were laughing and tearing up as well. This was the most heartfelt speech/toast I had ever heard. I started to breathe normally after that!
The food was great. The music was fabulous. The dancing was superb (yes, those lessons paid off!!) Then Suse danced with her father to a traditional Portuguese song, "Beautiful Bride". So Sweet! Finally, it was my turn to dance with my son. Bobby picked out the song and kept it a secret.... "A Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men. As long as I live, I will never forget those moments with my son....
.... It was a magical day.... Everything was perfect.... Hopefully this will set the stage for a lifetime of love and happiness for my son and 'daughter'.
Monday, October 08, 2012
Dancing machines!
As the "big day" was approaching, Mr. Wonderful suggested that we take some dance lessons so we would really enjoy the reception. Hmmm, what the hell was he talking about??? I enjoy EVERY wedding reception!! I usually dance all night long!! - OH WAIT!!! I usually dance all the real slow romantic songs with Mr. W. and everything else with assorted cousins and friends!!!
Since I obviously love to dance, taking dance lessons was a no-brainer for me. My father was a wonderufl dancer and I grew up learning how to be a wonderful dance partner. I could follow anything he did on the dance floor. I was excited at the thought of "tripping the light fantastic" with the love of my life.
We signed up for 10 lessons - we were to complete these lessons in less than 3 weeks - YOU do the math! We practice everyday in our livingroom. I have never seen the man so intent on mastering a skill! I must say, this is the most fun we've had in a long time. We laugh, we hug, we move in rhythm - and we can do it all in public!!
I was trying to figure out his sudden motivation for learning to dance. Was it that he did not want me to dance with anyone else at the wedding? Was it that he would rather be on the dance floor than make small talk with 300 people? Was it that he wanted to expand the horizons of the things we can do together? I stopped trying figure it all out..... I am just being the best dance partner I can be!
Since I obviously love to dance, taking dance lessons was a no-brainer for me. My father was a wonderufl dancer and I grew up learning how to be a wonderful dance partner. I could follow anything he did on the dance floor. I was excited at the thought of "tripping the light fantastic" with the love of my life.
We signed up for 10 lessons - we were to complete these lessons in less than 3 weeks - YOU do the math! We practice everyday in our livingroom. I have never seen the man so intent on mastering a skill! I must say, this is the most fun we've had in a long time. We laugh, we hug, we move in rhythm - and we can do it all in public!!
I was trying to figure out his sudden motivation for learning to dance. Was it that he did not want me to dance with anyone else at the wedding? Was it that he would rather be on the dance floor than make small talk with 300 people? Was it that he wanted to expand the horizons of the things we can do together? I stopped trying figure it all out..... I am just being the best dance partner I can be!
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