Just In Case...

This isn't new, but it's awesome.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: Part 2 (In Which We Meet For A "First Look")

When we last left our hero, he was waiting in the conservatory for our "first look."

The "first look" is a set time before the wedding ceremony where you create a special little moment for the bride and groom to see each other for the first time in their wedding gear. It's generally for people who have their reception right after the ceremony, and don't want to spend cocktail hour taking pictures but still want that "Oh my God, you're bride/groom!" moment when you meet.

So Dan and his buddies are waiting for me downstairs, in defiance of my orders that the first look be for me and my groom alone.

In their defense, I made him wait for a while. I was doing very important things in the bridal suite.

Like... Biz's hair.

Discussing my earrings.

Drinking!

Then it was a hug for Scotty and down to the conservatory.

Dan stands facing away from the door.

Then I magically appear.

He gets the okay to turn around.

And is overcome with a tidal wave of joy and love!

We gave each other's finery the once-over.

He passed muster.

We were all giddy and geeking out.

Then it was hugs, kisses, and time for pictures. Lots of them.

all images courtesy Inbal Sivan

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: REWIND! (Rehearsal Dinner)

I was so excited to begin writing about the wedding that I forgot about the rehearsal dinner. Blow your nose and wipe your tears, people: I'm doing it now.

Two days before the wedding is best left undiscussed. Let's say I got lost on the NJ Transit bus system and ended up at an outlet mall in Elizabeth, NJ, instead of my dad's dental office, and my dad experienced for the first time a whopping dose of Meghan: Unhinged. But no matter. The day before the wedding, I got my nails done with Mom, Aunt Mary, Biz, and Katie, and then we picked up some flowers for the rehearsal dinner. Very chill. I am still proud of my arrangements - aren't they pretty?

Katie's mom made the ribbon bonnet at my shower. Have you ever seen such an abundance of ribbons???

Then Katie and I had a quick Bouquet-Tossing 101 practice session, and it was time for the rehearsal.

Does anyone care about the rehearsal? Ours was really easy. Dan printed off sheets for everyone telling them what to do, we walked through it once, and that was it. The best part was the meet-and-greet at the beginning. My parents met Dan's family. My dad met his grandson. Everyone met Grace. Enchanting!

Grace fed everyone an amuse bouche of Goldfish crackers.

Obviously we wanted to spend time with everyone at the wedding, but it was so nice to have this extra evening with family members we don't get to see often. Then we had our dinner at Broccolini's, a restaurant in Madison that closed down its big room just for us. We drank excessive amounts of wine and champagne, ate delicious food, and were regaled with emotional and humorous toasts.

Moms!

Jakes!

I met nephew Jakey for the first time that weekend. He is. So cute.

Wait, you're Meghan's brother? No shit, me too!

Then Dan got Iced, setting off an Icing epidemic. Taubman got iced. Bates got iced. My brother got iced... by my mother-in-law. Apparently Willis was so excited about buying the Smirnoff Ices that he ran into the liquor store without putting the car in park, almost killing the groom and his immediate family. Good times!

And back to the party...

The toasts begin... MKam starts us off with the waterworks.

Justin tells an awwwww-inducing story about how Dan texted him, "I just met the girl of my dreams" on the night we met. 90% sure that's a lie, but I'll take it.

Tomfoolery continues...

And I somehow manage to stay awake. I loved my outfit that night, but looking at the pictures I realize that I was running on fumes.

Then it was back to the hotel for everyone and to bed for me. I will forever be grateful to Biz for giving me her bed that night. She was so unhesitating when I said I really wanted to sleep alone and could tell I wasn't too excited about the guest bedroom (that bed kind of sucks). Yay sisters. Siblings are the best.


E
ven when they deliberately ruin your pictures :)

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: Part 1(b)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... or rather, in the boys' room...

When Dan and I went over the wedding day timeline, we never quite came to an understanding with the photography situation.

"So the photographers will get here around 2 to take pictures of me and the ladies getting ready, and I can send one of them to your room to take some pictures of you and the guys."

"But you'll be in my room."

"Well, whatever room you're in."

"I don't know where I'll be."

"Can you please figure out where you'll be?"
"But you'll be in my room!"
"Every single one of your groomsmen will have a room! You can't just hang out in one of these SEVEN ROOMS?!?!?!"
"What's there to take pictures of?"

"You guys getting ready!"

"It will take us two minutes to get ready!"

"Of you guys hanging out!"
"Why would I want pictures of us hanging out????????"

And so on. Please keep in mind that Dan has approximately seven pictures total from his entire semester abroad in Europe (I have 200 from a single side trip to New Zealand - from a film camera), so I don't know why I was surprised about this complete indifference towards documentation. I sent the photographer anyway. Judging from the photos, the guys had a very exciting morning. Unfortunately, the photographer missed him and the guys eating Domino's in the courtyard, but what can you do. I'm glad we got these shots. How else would I know about the guys' feeble attempt at pre-ceremony drinking?

Like me with the champagne, Dan was so nervous he forgot how to pour beer.

Naturally, Justin did not.

Isn't this one great? Everyone's so excited, and Dan looks like he's about to crap his pants.

Then it was time for the guys to troop down to the conservatory, so Dan could eagerly await his bride. They were super enthusiastic about it.

Okay, I'll stop ragging on the guys from here on out, I promise. To show how much I mean it, I'll post a picture of Gramza smiling:

See? Not everyone was totally irritated by my pre-ceremony plans. Thanks, Andy!

Next up, smiles become the norm.

all images courtesy Inbal Sivan