After we finished smooching (I believe Angelas mother said something to the effect of, Thats enough, girls!), we sashayed back down the aisle as married folks. Just like when I walked down as a single girl, I spent the whole time laughing, although I dont remember why. It is quite possible that Angela stepped on my train.
Like all other Wedding Pavilion couples, we were whisked off to the side for photos while our friends and family amassed for the staged exit. The sky was perfectly blue, and we definitely exuded the We just got married! glow.
When the bubblers were in place, the Disney people radioed over, and we walked overAngela tripping on her dress most of the wayto meet our guests.
All the bubbles:
My family is big on bubbles, and everyone looked so happy and pretty, the orange yarmulkes shimmering in the bright sunshine.
The bubble chorus line:
More smooching:
As we neared the end of the gauntlet, where our parents and bridal party stood, the Penn contingent of our wedding (about 1/3 of the total guests) burst out in our fight song (Hurrah, hurrah, Pennsylvania! Hurrah for the red and the blue!). Like many college fight songs, it involves a fair amount of fist pumping, and Angela and I got into the act with our bouquets held aloft. Angela had mentioned before that she wanted to sing the Hurrah at the wedding, but I expected it would be part of the reception. Instead, our people of honor (all but two of whom are Penn grads or current students) conspired to serenade us as we were bubbled. We also noticed, getting out of their car, two of our friends that had missed the wedding because they were so late. At least they got there in time for the food.
Laughing at the absurdity of the Penn fight song and the tardiness of our friends, Angela and I performed the trademark sit and swish to get into the limo (she sat on my dress most of the ride, which I still find kind of funny). We waved goodbye (See ya real soon!), and I noticed that the song playing in the limo was our song. Not our first dance song, but Sarah McLachlans Angel, the song that I most associate with our relationship, the song we wake up to every morning, and the song that we would have used for our first dance if we hadnt discovered it was about overdosing (see PJ, page whatever, for more information). At first, I thought that someone had purposely popped in the CD, but we realized it was just playing on the radio. We were amazed; it was such a perfect sign.
We circled the parking lot, listening to our song, and then got back to the Wedding Pavilion to begin more picture taking. First up, my family (there were a lot more of us). My sister began griping again, and at one point, pretty much refused to take any more photos. Oh well. She chose to elope, and so missed out on all the fun photo ops (and the gifts), which was her loss. But being so jealous as to be unsupportive at my wedding wasnt the most mature strategy. Luckily, we had so many people that were itching to be in pictures that we didnt need her for very long, and she was soon free to abscond to the Grand Floridian to eat. Picture-taking time actually ran pretty smoothly after that; there were only minor mishaps. My brother accidentally left with my parents, so hes not in the bridal party shots, but maybe Ill figure out how to PhotoShop him in. Misty kept saying, Sunnys family when she meant Sheris family (my moms side), so my fathers parents were a little flustered about where they were supposed to be. But my family wasnt as bad about being herded as they could have been, and we stuck to our time schedule. Misty took a few shots of Angela and me on the GF beach until the Disney people and the incoming storm clouds reminded us to get moving to our pre-reception. We had originally intended to spend a few minutes just the two of us in the WP bridal vestibule to fulfill the Jewish tradition of yichud (during which you can, um, consummate the marriage), but we never got the chance. Given that all the food was over at the pre-reception, I dont think Angela minded skipping it.
Back to the limo (Angela sitting on my dress again), and over to the GF! I was very glad, given Saturday nights events, that the reception was held in a semi-private location. First, Jennifer met us with a plate of food for a very grateful Angela, and ushered us into our reception room to see everything before the guests arrived. There are no words for how awesome the reception room looked. It was beyond awesome, beyond perfect. It was as if Disney had turned all of our wildest wedding visions into reality (which come to think of it, they did).
Everything was bright-colored. The centerpieces were piled high with sugary goodness, although not so high that our guests couldnt talk to each other (one of my pet peeves is centerpieces that are so tall people on the opposite side of the table are shielded from view). With the yumminess sprinkled on the tables, it looked as if candy had exploded out of the centerpiece and flowed onto the tablecloths. I am so glad we splurged for the chair covers, too; they added the perfect extra touch.
As if the tables werent sweet enough already, we also had the gorgeous candy bar:
And, oh yeah, the ping pong table!
Only time the thing wasnt in use:
This photo does not do the cake justice. It was so beautiful, with the colors an exact match for the rest of the wedding.
After we were done oohing and aahing (for the moment, anyway), Jennifers assistant, Kevin, helped bustle my dress, and Angela and I went to join the pre-receptioners. Were not super formal (I know, hard to guess, right?), and we did not want to be announced or anything like that. So we just walked into the pre-reception room. Everyone stood and applauded for us anyway, which was sweet.
Kevin holding Angelas fooddont even think about eating her pastry!
I really like the idea of the pre-reception: guests get to mingle, take more pictures, and start in on the eating and drinking. What I had of the food was fantastic, and my family apparently required the servers to replenish the fruit in a record amount of time. The string trio played a bunch of Disney songs, which gave the room a fun feel. Ultimately, I think it was nice to have a few minutes built into the day for relaxation. People also had the time to write us love notes and put them in our box. My mom had decorated each side with different fun stuff that represented us (Disneyish, weddingy, beachy, you name it), and then bought Disney princess crayons and markers for everyone.
Top of box:
Inside of box:
All too soon, Disney ushered us from the pre-reception room down the hall to the real reception room. On the way, my (paternal) grandmother told me that shed found a lucky penny when she walked out of the Wedding Pavilion. She is super-superstitious, and she took it to be a sign (she also kept the penny for her lucky penny collection, which is roughly large enough to pay for my college tuition; Angela was amazed she didnt give it to us, but thats because she doesnt know my grandmother as well as I do).
As we walked into the reception room, amid all the oohs and aahs of our friends and family members, DJ Silva welcomed us and we started in on the first dance. Of course, he announced that it was the Shrek theme song, just in case anyone didnt know how corny we are.
I think its great when people choreograph their first dance; Vanessas routine or Carries swing looked so much better because of all their practice beforehand. Angela and I, however, are not dancers. We took salsa lessons once, and it was an unqualified disaster. Angela does not move her hips. Im tone deaf, so the music doesnt really help me to move. We dont enjoy clubbing, so its not like we get tons of practice, either. We knew that our first dance would consist of us moving slowly in a circle, hugging, laughing, and kissing, because frankly, thats us.
I love how this shot shows off the sweetheart table, but what is my Dad doing?
Still swaying in a circle:
Did you think we'd learn a new move or something?
Embarrassing first dance overtime for toasts!
Coming up: Little men, inappropriate hidden Mickeys, and the best? worst? most interesting? wedding toast ever given.
Oh well, if that's the worst that happened - you're lucky!
She's totally an "I'll wear a dress, but their is no way you'd get me in a 'Disney Dress' " kind of gal... Only thing I can get her excited about is Space Mountain. 
I love the pic of you walking down the aisle! 
You look so happy and gorgeous! Can't wait to read more! 
sorry just had to say that). You looked so pretty and your hair looked great. I think those tight curls fell into pretty waves like you wanted.
)
Thanks for sharing....your TR has been great to follow, I find myself bummed when you're done and I have to wait for the next installment!!
