Dance Fever!

Although my new hubby is NOT a fan of dancing and 3 dances was all I got out of him, it was more than I’d thought I’d get! Everyone else however, danced like crazy! The kids were hilarious! During every official dance and otherwise, kids were galloping and waltzing all over the dance floor! It was a blast!! I got in as much dancing as I could when I wasn’t otherwise distracted with pictures, talking with guests, trying to take it all in, etc! It was during the dancing that my the hubby disappeared quite a bit to avoid having to get out there!

Apparently there was even a lot of dancing going on before Ray and I even made it to the reception…I LOVE these pictures of my little girlies swirling around! My photographer had a great time with them! (and don’t their dresses look cute! Made by the two little twirlers wonderful mom!)

 

And now the wild boys! (video of the boys is much funnier than these pictures! Ray’s groomsman’s son, my cousin’s and nephews were dancing kings- and they knew it!)

Did you see the beads around the boys necks?? I had tons of stuff laid out on the kid’s tables, spilling out of sand buckets…games, jewelry, toys, lots of stuff to keep them entertained. Most of the beads, ended up on the BOYS – Mardi-gras style! I’m just hoping they didn’t steal them from the girls Mardi-gras style!! Ha!

My bro Craig and my good friend Josh were my DJ’s. Josh has known my family for years, so they did a great job picking out tunes! His wife was also my lovely coordinator! So of course, they picked out a very fitting song.

Their most obvious choice was “Stacey’s Mom.” Oh yes….it was a requirement and yes, my mom does have it goin’ on! The groomsmen dragged her out on the floor and they along with myself and my bridesmaids loudly serenaded her through the whole song! Now, my mom– is NOT a music listener! I don’t know that she’d ever even heard of the song before- except for the time I played it for her on my phone to show her it was her ring tone! They tried to get Ray to help serenade her out on the dance floor, but it didn’t happen!

It seemed like every time I tried to dance with my maids, I got pulled away, but we still had a blast!!

Betcha can’t guess what song we were dancin to here! I thoroughly protested against group dances, but for some reason they’re always requested at weddings! So, I just went with it! As long as the YMCA wasn’t on the playlist!

But….ummm….what exactly is going on here? Can’t say I remember this moment, but it kinda looks like the YMCA?? Or was it “Shout” and everyone is “throwing hands up?” Oh no!

However, I am ok with the dance line! It’s always funny!

My grams requested a special song for us to dance to…although I pretty much hate the song, I’ll do just about anything for her! After all she’s 85 and can still get down, so let her have her fun! She requested “Achy Breaky Heart.” Yes, you read that right. Supposedly in honor of a certain student I used to teach (since Grams is a little too old to actually know any of her songs, but knows her dad’s! Ugh!)

She grabbed me and a couple of my youth girls and created her own “line dance.”

And these pictures pretty much express how crazy things were all night!

 

Did you notice who was missing from all of these pictures?? He didn’t get back in the action until our last dance! Since he’d told me he wasn’t dancing after our first and the one with his mom, I didn’t pick out a last dance song.  No worries, plenty of people to pick that out for me….let’s just say a little Marvin Gaye was going on….and I’m glad that I was married because it would’ve been embarrassing dancing to THAT in front of my guests! Hehe!

Then it was time to take off for our bed and breakfast in our balloon filled car! The guys had to beg my dad for the keys to the rental so that they could do something! I know I’m particular, but I did NOT want to drive off in a car with dirty things written all over it, so that’s why we got a rental! That, and driving away in a Mustang convertible on your wedding night is just pretty darn amazing! Besides, I’ve already ridden with Ray in a car with filthy stuff and condoms hanging everywhere. Last year when my BFF got married they decorated BOTH their cars not knowing which they’d use and we had to drive her husband’s truck!

 

THE END!

(or at least, the end of what you get to know about!!) 

Junior Bridesmaids!!

Awhile ago, Chaundra, my good friend, seamstress, and mother of my fave kids in the world (other than my nieces/nephews!) helped me pick out material for the junior bridesmaids and flower girls. Two of her girls-Lauren and Olivia, and my niece Brittany are junior bridesmaids, and her youngest Gabriella and my niece Caylie and Ray’s niece Kaylee (yep, same name!) are flower girls. That’s a lot of kids to say in one sentence!! Yes, that means 3 jr. bridesmaids and 3 flower girls. It’s a lot, but there is no way I’d leave a single one of them out!!

On Sunday, two of my bridesmaids and I went over to Chaundra’s to get their dresses altered. Yes, not only is Chaundra making the 6 little girls dresses, she’s also altering 3 of my BM’s dresses and my dress- she is that fabulous!!  Obviously, because that morning she whipped up this dress for Olivia!

Doesn’t Olivia look like a little princess!! It will be a little shorter, so the girls can dance the night away without tripping all over themselves, and it will have a sash around it- a little thinner than this one that Chaundra just threw around Olivia to get the effect!

It will be exact opposite colors of the BM dresses!

The flower girls will have the same dresses in white with navy sashes!

I can’t wait to see all my beautiful ladies all dressed up!! ;o) 

Flower girl/Jr. Bridesmaid Gift Bags!

Ok, so you know I’m a big fan of anything cheap! I come by it honestly, it’s in my blood- from my Grams, to my mom, to me!

My mom found these adorable purses at The Dollar Tree a couple weeks ago, and I just recently had time to go look for them myself. She’d bought one of the navy ones above and one of these light blue/brown polkadot ones below….

At $1 a piece, I couldn’t make them that cheap!! I found the rest of the navy ones, and found enough for all 6 little girls in my wedding party (yes, SIX!!) and decided to just go with the navy/light blue, since they match better. The jr. bridesmaids are wearing navy dresses with teal sashes (opposite of my bridesmaids), and the flower girls are wearing white dresses with navy sashes. So these will match both sets of girls!

I decided to keep the light blue/brown one for myself because it’s just so cute and I’m always needing bags to throw stuff in to carry around! And again….it’s $1!!

I’m planning to fill them with fun stuff like lip gloss, candy, play jewelry, etc……anyone have any more ideas on how to fill my little girl’s gift bags??

I’m sure I’ll think of lots of things, but if you have any fantastic ideas, please share!!

If only boys/men were as easy as girls/women, I’ve already got nailed down for the most part what my girls are getting!! The males?? Who knows?? Not Mr. Fiance, that’s for sure!

Kid’s table ideas!

I’m going to have a LOT of kids in/at my wedding! It’s going to be soooo much fun! Kids are such a huge part of my life that it wouldn’t be right, any other way! )

I’ve got 120 students and WISH I could invite them all- but they and their parents would take up most of the space in the church where there is only room for 300!! Yipes! So, I’m inviting my two homeroom classes, and a few kids of teachers, etc.

I’ve also got 10 kids who will be coming down the aisle/standing (or sitting!) up with us at the altar! Three flower girls, 3 Jr. bridesmaids, 2 ringbearers, and 2 jr groomsmen! Plus 4 other kids who will be passing out programs, bubbles, etc! They’re all cousins, neices, nephews and the kids that I nannied for (and continue to stay close to!). I wouldn’t want any of them to NOT be a part of things! (At least that will give us space for about 325 in the church with all the kids, wedding party, musicians, pastor, etc!)

Therefore, I’ve got to come up with a LOT of stuff to keep the kids occupied! ) At our cake reception- I won’t have to worry about it too much! It will be fairly short, and we are having a smallish candy buffet. See my posts on candy ideas!  Candy Direct and Easter Candy

I have several shell/starfish shaped bowls and large margarita glasses to use, and plan on something like this- with the sand dollars, etc around it to give it a beachy feel!

And I wouldn’t do this one….but how beautiful is this! (from candyfavorites.com)

I just came across this link to a favors site with a blog on candy buffets! It’s got a lot of great info on how to set up your table, where to get stuff, and lots of comments from readers with good ideas! How sweet it is!

For the kids at the family/wedding party reception, I’m sure we’ll take the leftover candies- if there are any!! But I am also planning on putting special stuff just on their table. Different games, toys, activities to keep them happy and out of trouble! I’m sure they’ll have lots of fun dancing, eating, and playing in the chocolate fountain too!

Last night, I spent WAY too much time in Michael’s searching through all the cute stuff they have! They have a good supply of $1 items, where I got some little gifts for bridesmaids and fun stuff for the kids table!

They also have these really cute beach buckets for $1 that I’m going to use on the table to put all the toys, etc. in! They are the perfect color- but they are a dollar, so the handles and shovel are a little cheap! Perfect for the table, but they wouldn’t be good if you wanted to carry stuff around in them- or use them for Out of Town Baskets!

Can’t wait to find more cute stuff for the kiddies!! Speaking of kiddies….my third graders are here and ready for their test!!