So, after rehearsal was over we left Maxine, who told us to meet the "guide with a straw hat and light saber at 8:00 at the international gateway" and that she'd see us when we got to the French arm.
So, we head over to the Boardwalk to meet everyone and have dinner at Big River. It’s only about 5:15 at this point, so we're about 45 minutes early. We get down to the boardwalk and Greg calls Monica to tell her that the group is on the Boat, and they're at the Swan. So we decide to wait by the boat launch for people.
So my dad and Bob came down and asked if the space was ready. I said no, we’re waiting for everyone it’s too early, they’ll be ready by 5:45. Well apparently I know nothing, and they went to check themselves, which really irritated me. I was like - um hello, this is MY event I do know what's going on! They came back and told me that it wasn’t ready yet. I was like really? Who would have guessed that? I think it was just the whole situation, but it was about to explode.
So the boat docked and everyone gathered at the dock and waited a bit...
If you're wondering what she was taking a picture of....
And my Grandma was being anti-social as usual...
We call this one Grandma with duck
She was more interested in the ducks than in us... Ahhh grandma
Ohh, happy family...
Then this happened...
Seemed to be a (disturbing) theme this night...
at about 5:45 arranged a super-secret hand signal with my mom (it was me flailing my arms about – very discreet - shhh don't let the secret out!) to get everyone moving if they were ready. They were and I had a glass of wine in my hand before the masses arrived.
So funny story... my uncle sees my wine, and asks me in a (mock) accusing tone, "what's in that glass" so I say the first thing that comes to mind... "Milk" The waitress was next to me and starts laughing hysterically. She said "Of everything you could choose to say that kind of looks like wine, apple juice, ginger ale, whatever, you choose Milk" I was like "um yeah..." So my sister ordered a glass of Milk too. We're strange, what can I say.
Milk... it does a body good... I mean just look at us
So we mingled before they brought out the food..
Despite my worries, Big River did a great job of the actual event. Everyone really enjoyed themselves, and the food was great. We started with Chicken Nachos and then had a choice of a Cheeseburger, Chicken Cashew salad, Chicken Sandwich or Mahi Mahi sandwich. It was all delicious, and exactly the right size of food, because everyone was still hungry for dessert.
At some point, this happened...
See disturbing...
He liked the events so much, he wanted to be the "back up bride" - so took my ears and went around to each table and thanked them for coming.
I mean look how happy that made my dad... You can't force a smile harder than that...
So I notice that Chris’s grandma wasn’t there, so I ask his dad where she is, and apparently they got lost. They received the welcome bag, but didn’t read the contents of the folder. So DF’s dad – who has never been to Disney – was trying to explain to them where to go. I questioned why no one ever handed me the phone, but whatever. So basically they just gave up and went back to the hotel. I was mad, because that cost me like $100! And I knew that DF really wanted her to be there, she really would have enjoyed it.
Soon, it was time to head over to the dessert party...
Did someone say dessert? Me like dessert
So after dinner, I go around to all the tables and explain that those who want to walk can follow Chris and those who want to ride a boat can follow me. My grandma who is a crazy witch, refused to take the boat and basically ran to the gate. I mean she was like 30 yards in front of Chris! Matt followed her because she had no idea where she was going. And he kept telling her to slow down, but she was on a mission. She needed to beat the boat to prove her crazy point. Ugh - family!
So anyway, we go to leave, and my dad goes to pay the bill and it's about $800 more than we had guessed based on the estimates
He just paid it and we didn't go back and fight with them, but if you do an event with Big River make sure you get a finalized price from them in writing. We were told between $20 and $25 pp and it ended up being about $40. But they did give us a hat and t-shirt
Most expensive hat ever...
So, anyway... the not (or at least slightly less) crazy people got to the gate and we instructed those who had park admission to go through the gate, and we were looking for someone with a light saber and a straw hat. I saw no one matching that description. We were right on time, so I don’t know what happened. I called Maxine, and she said she was right on the other side of the gate, so she’d figure out what was going on. About 5 minutes later, I asked my cousin Jamie to find her (she’d been at the rehearsal) because I couldn’t find Chris.
Well turns out that DF knew where we were going so he grabbed Matt and they went to France and found Maxine and the guy with the light saber and Straw hat – aka Tony. So Chris dragged him to the front – there was another lady that was supposed to greet us, but she was MIA until after Tony arrived. So after standing around clogging up the International Gateway for about 15 minutes, we were all inside and on our way to France.
So we get up to the bar, and I ask for a hot chocolate. They looked panicked and say there’s no hot chocolate. I tell them it’s fine, I thought I remember it being on the BEO, but it’s no big deal. Well 10 minutes later I have a cup of hot chocolate in my hand.
The blankets were a huge hit, they were going like hotcakes! Everyone loved them – which I think made Oma happy and proud. The glow sticks and glow glasses were also a huge hit. It was funny to see all these straight laced adults wearing glow necklaces and bracelets.
Sr. Mary Grandma of the Pretty Pretty Princess order
Oma had a gluten allergy, and you can sort of see her special dessert that they made for her - they did this at the wedding too - she commented how good it was for gluten free.
This is the best shot I have of them (my photographers don't understand the importance of documenting for DIS) but instead of centerpieces we had glowing beer and wine glasses. They were fun, and relatively cheap - we even still have some that we took home!
This picture is fuzzy, but you can see how the glowing took over and made it fun...
Our view
They didn't get pictures of the food either (amateurs) but we had mini creme brulee tarts, linzor diamonds, cream horns and mini crepes w/ nutella to go with the french theme.
So then the fireworks started, and cousin Paul's step-brother and his girlfriend start doing an interpretive dance to the music. It was quite strange.
Everyone commented on how great Illuninations was and how nice the party was.
After it was done, my mom and Monica headed out on the monorail with the group and Chris’s dad and my dad and Bob and DF and I headed to the boardwalk to the van. Overall a great success.
Apparently on the monorail Cousin Paul's other step-brother kept yelling "It's Labor Day Everyone" they're quite odd.
Afterwards, people gathered in our room at BLT for some follow-up drinks and munchies. I think we were in bed by l2. I was so tired at this point, I slept like a baby.
they're awesome. 
great posts! I'm thoroughly enjoying your TR. Bummer the best man got stuck on R&R and the rehearsal was slightly boring. It sounds like you guys had a great time drinking around the world. We really want to try doing that one day! Can't wait to read more!
SCORE!! That's my goal - to confuse small children! Glad to hear I'm suceeding! 
