The Reception: Dancing and Toasts

Dan & I chose Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man for our first dance. Dan's dad is a pastor, so it only made sense! Plus, it's just such a classic song. Unfortunately someone had unplugged the speakers so when we started dancing the music was only playing out of my laptop speakers and no one could really hear the song! Thankfully, my bridesmaids stepped in and started singing the song so we wouldn't be awkwardly dancing in silence.

I chose James Taylor's Copperline for the father-daughter dance. For some reason the song just always reminds me of my Dad and I can't quite put my finger on why. It was an interesting moment to be dancing with my Dad in the dress that my Mom wore when they were married. Who would've thought he'd dance with another girl in the same dress?

We used the same space for the ceremony and reception, so after the ceremony everyone moved out of the hall so it could be transformed into the reception space. During that time we signed our marriage certificate, shook a ton of hands (and met a ton of new relatives) and everyone sipped on tasty mimosas in mason jars.

The toasts were really wonderful. Everyone gave beautiful (and sometimes funny and/0r alcohol assisted) toasts and I almost made it without crying until Kristi, my best friend and Maid of Honor gave hers. We've been best friends since 8th grade and she's been with me though pretty much everything major in my life. She used to say back when I first met Dan and started liking him in 2006 that one day we would get married, and that she'd never seen me be more myself and more inspired and full of life than when I had Daniel in my life.

photos by Arrow & Apple