I'll Never Desert You: The Food & Dances

After Mr. C and I had our post-ceremony portraits taken, we were taken back to the house so that we could have a quick dinner in private and share our first moments alone together as husband and wife. The venue set up a small sweetheart table in the bridal suite and had our food waiting for us when we arrived. They made sure we had drinks and anything else that we needed! 

Like many brides before me, I could barely touch my food. What I did manage to eat was amazing though! Our venue is owned by an Atlanta/Athens catering company called A Divine Event. When we booked the venue, we knew that we were going to have amazing food, regardless of what we chose for the menu. After the wedding we had lots of guests gush about the delicious buffet-style dinner. We had cheeseburger sliders and buffalo chicken spring rolls as passed hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hour. For dinner we had bistro beef with a merlot demi-glace and parmesan crusted chicken with artichokes, wild mushrooms, and a lemon cream sauce. Our sides included a mixed green salad with oranges, strawberries, and sweet and spicy pecans, macaroni and cheese with panko bread crumbs, and sauteed seasonal vegetables. These were some of the most economical options available through A Divine Event and everything was great! I can only imagine what it would have been like if we had extra room in the budget to splurge on the food.  

After dinner I snapped a few quick photos with my phone to preserve the memories. We were newlyweds at last!

Just married!

Another reason I barely touched my food was that I was incredibly anxious to get back downstairs and see our guests. It had already been over an hour since the ceremony and it was time for us to be introduced to our guests as husband and wife. I didn't change my last name, so I had my brother (the DJ) introduce us simply as newlyweds. Then it was time for our first dances. 

All photographs are by Christopher Helm Photography.

Mr. C and I did not sign up for dance lessons before the wedding. Not only did we forgo the dance lessons, but we never even set aside time to practice our first dance! I think somehow in all the insanity and hustle before the wedding, it was simply forgotten. We ended up swaying awkwardly for several minutes in front of our intensely attentive guests. We passed the time by joking and laughing, hence all the photos of us smiling. I love these photos and I don't regret not taking lessons or practicing. It worked for us -- but a warning to future brides: it can be awkward! 

We danced to Adele's cover of The Cure's "Lovesong." I think it's a really romantic and beautiful song, and I love the lyrics. I've always loved the original song by The Cure, but Adele definitely adds an extra element of romance with her beautiful, haunting voice. 

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am home again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am whole again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am young again

Whenever I'm alone with you

You make me feel like I am fun again

However far away, I will always love you

However long I stay, I will always love you

Whatever words I say, I will always love you

I will always love you

And then, the moment I was silently dreading: the father/daughter dance. Why was I dreading it? Because I knew I was going to cry my eyes out! I wrote about this months ago, about how I'm such a daddy's girl and I knew this was going to be a very emotional moment for me. I was cruel to my father and never told him which song I chose. It was "I Will" by The Beatles -- the song he used to sing me as a little girl. I still can't listen to this song without my eyes welling with tears.

As predicted, I cried the entire two minutes. Thankfully, it's a rather short song! I settled for covering my face with my bangs to avoid looking like a hot bawling mess in front of 80 guests.

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to, I will.

For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same.

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart.

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
Oh, you know, I will
I will.

Luckily Mr. C and his mom were able to lighten the mood a little after the emotionally charged father/daughter dance. Mr. C's mother chose the song for the mother/son dance: Sarah McLachlan's "Ordinary Miracle." Their dance was a lot less emotional, more sweet and lighthearted. It also gave me a moment to finally sit down at our official sweetheart table (which was barely used throughout the night).

It's not that unusual
When everything is beautiful
It's just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when it's time to snow
Don't need to teach a seed to grow
It's just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn't it remarkable
Like every time a raindrop falls
It's just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling
Will always make it home by spring
It's just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
'Cause we're all a part of the ordinary miracle

Do you want to see a miracle?
It seems so exceptional
The things just work out after all
It's just another ordinary miracle today

Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night
It's just another ordinary miracle today

At this point I think our guests were eager for the dance floor to officially open. My brother, the epic DJ, set the night alight with some awesome music. Up next, the guests get down and the lovely speeches. 

Previously on The Camel Wedding Recaps: 

1) Getting Dressed & Exchanging Gifts

2) Putting on the White Dress

3) Our First Look

4) The Ceremony Begins

5) The Reading 

6) The Vows

7) The Kiss and Recessional 

8) The Bridal Party

9) Wedding Portraits

I'll Never Desert You: Putting on the White Dress

After opening my gift from Mr. C, it was time to get dressed! Unfortunately, I had made the mistake of asking my bridesmaids to get dressed at the wedding venue. I thought it would be fairly simple as Cloverleaf Farm has a large bridal suite with great mirrors and several bathrooms. This was actually a big mistake! There just wasn't enough time or room for all the girls: nine in all including Mr. C's "groomsladies" (his three sisters). Future brides, learn from my mistake and have your wedding party get dressed at the hair salon or elsewhere! 

I spent most of this time sitting on the couch in the bridal suite feeling really numb and overwhelmed. Everything was happening so fast. After such a slow and relaxing start to the day, time was suddenly speeding up! People were buzzing around me, floating in and out of the room. I recall staring blankly out the windows, not sure when I was going to put my dress on or get ready. Nothing felt real. At last all the ladies were dressed and it was time for me to don the Jim Hjelm gown that had been purchased nearly a year earlier. A lot of brides get really emotional when they put on their dress, but I was relatively calm and collected. I was just happy to finally putting on the dress I had waited a so many months to officially wear!

The photograph above is a really special one for me. It shows my mom and stepsister adjusting my dress. It's significant because it shows those two previously separate parts of my life (my mom and my dad's new family) working together for the first time. If you recall from my rehearsal dinner post, my mother only just met my stepmother and step-siblings for the first time. Again this image is symbolic of those two sides finally joining for the first time! 

There was lots of adjusting and fiddling with the sash so that the bow looked just right. I had no idea what was going on, so I just stood still while I let my mom and lovely bridesmaids do their work! 

Soon enough I was handed my gorgeous bouquet of garden roses and delphinium, given a few more adjustments, and then it was off to meet Mr. C for our first look! 

And now a peek into the groom's suite to see what Mr. C has been up to! He actually got dressed before the present exchange, but all the same here are some great photos of him getting ready. I was able to find a tie to match my sash at Macy's! I'm so glad I could find a color that watched so well! 

What a dapper gentleman I married!

Hugging his best man and brother-in-law.

Mr. C's mother pinning his boutonniere.

I love this sweet photo!

Up next is our emotional first look! 

Previously on The Camel Wedding Recaps: 

1) Getting Dressed & Exchanging Gifts