Reception Details

I got a little ahead of myself and forgot to blog about all the reception details. I can't describe how amazing it was to see all of my hard work come together in one room. I had trouble focusing on Brandon during our first dance instead of looking around the ball room.

Guests were asked to find their little bird escort cards in order to find their seats.

The table was decorated with extra bird houses, kusudama paper flowers, candles and a large framed picture of us from our engagement session with Daniel Yu.

The birds were placed in alphabetical order and separated by rose petals.

Instead of a guest book, we asked everyone to leave us their wishes on separate cards.

Cards were then placed in a glass apothecary jar. We got some great wishes, some sweet and some funny. I wanted to post some on here, but I had completely forgotten to scan them before I pasted them into my scrapbooks.

Crossword puzzles were available to distract guests with before the reception began. However, I think most guests decided to munch on the yummy bread instead.

Cards were collected in a bird cage.

Our centerpieces were absolutely gorgeous in the East Room, which explains why I have so many pictures of them on this post.

Here is a picture of our table numbers at work.

Place cards were printed on extra stationary leftover from the invitations.

Menus were placed on each table setting.

Candles hung from the manzanita tree branches.

The gorgeous chandeliers really completed the classy atmosphere of our reception room.

Yup! Gorgeous. (Picture taken by Bridesman Tony)

Photography by Hannah Suh unless otherwise noted.

Toasts for the Bride and Groom

I have to admit that I was pretty terrified when it came to time for the toasts from our Maid of Honor and Best Man. My sister had been joking about stories from my childhood for months leading up to the wedding... "Remember when your head got stuck between the banisters and we had to butter you out?!" Would this become a celebrity roast?

I wish I had the transcripts to the speeches because they were both suiting and emotional. Plus, it's pretty ballsy to stand up in front of a crowd with just a microphone and some champagne to sip for liquid courage.

Kyle exposed the inner workings of our late night conversations. This poor guy had to listen to hundreds of phone calls between two love birds on the opposite ends of the country.

Debbie's speech made us all a little teary-eyed at the end after she had welcomed Brandon into our female-heavy family. "Even our dog is a girl"

Shh...don't tell, but here I am faking sipping my champagne because I absolutely cannot stand the taste of alcohol. I'm not they type to believe in superstitions, anyway.

Pictures by Hannah Suh

Let It Be Me

I can't dance. Seriously. So the thought of dancing in front of dozens of people was frightening and I dreaded it. But now I look back and I just want to relive that moment because it was so personal and just...happy. That's the most concise way to describe what it felt like. Just happy.

We chose Cat Power's version of "Sea of Love" for our first dance early on in the planning process. About two days before the wedding, we changed the song selection to Ray LaMontagne's "Let It Be Me" because it would allow us to enjoy the moment even longer and the lyrics are just so beautiful.

There comes a time
A time in everyone's life
When nothing seems to go their way
When nothing seems to turn out right
There may come a time
You just can't seem to find your place
For every door you open
Seems like you get two slammed in your face

And he held me close.

And we kissed...a lot.

That's when you need someone
Someone that you can call
When all your faith is gone
It feels like you can't go on
Let it be me
Let it be me
If it's a friend you need
Let it be me

Feels like you always coming up last
Pockets full of nothing
Ain't got no cash
Don't matter where you turn
You ain't got no place to stand

You reach out for something and they slap your hand

I remember all too well
Just how it feels to be all alone
You feel like you'd give anything
For just a little place you can call your own

That's when you need someone
Someone that you can call
When all your faith is gone
It feels like you can't go on
Let it be me

We managed to get through 4 minutes and 12 seconds without any tripping or stepping on toes. Success!

Pictures by Hannah Suh

Welcome to the Army!

One of the only things I was certain about for my dream wedding was the saber arch where I would be officially welcomed into the Army. Major thanks to Groomsman Paul for getting the sabers for us!

My bridesmaids and bridesman were first escorted by the handsome men in uniform to the song "Chariot" by Page France. The song was supposed to continue for our entrance, but there was a bit of a mixup with our wedding coordinator and the Army Strong song played instead. It was brutal, but fitting.

Swing, like a chariot
At the trumpet call
When we're all unsaved,
Swing like a wrecking ball
Like the heart of god
What a mystery
Filled with the wedding feast
For the snakes and bees
With the angel teeth, swing

Come and carry us
Come and marry us
To the blushing circus king
And dance like elephants as he comes to us
Through a fiery golden ring
With a violin and a song to sing
As he brings for us our wings
Now he's one of us
Plays the tambourine
Breaks the bread for us
And sings

Will you wait for us
Will you stay for us
Will you grace us everything
You're a wrecking ball
With a heart of gold
People wait for it, swing
Like a chariot
Swing it low for us
Come and carry us away
So we will become a happy ending
So we will become a happy ending

Fire come and carry us
Make us shine or make us rust
Tell us that you care for us
We need to hear a word for us
Let your body stand with us
Or let our rags be turned to dust
Chariot you swing for us
We think that you can carry all of us
So we will become a happy ending
So we will become a happy ending

This next part was my grandmother's favorite part of the wedding. Anytime someone asks her about our wedding she talks about "those boys with the big swords."

Kissing to pass!

Bracing myself for a swift smack on the butt...

Best man, Kyle, hit me a lot harder than he had to. (Picture by Antonio Gomez)

You can't see, but I'm giving him a dirty look here.

But I quickly got over it, and prepped myself for our first dance.

Pictures by Hannah Suh, unless otherwise noted.

Smile Pretty

I'm finally settled in at our place in Georgia so it's time to finish up this wedding blog and start my new one.

Brandon and I took some portraits before and after the ceremony. We're pretty awkward models, but Hannah took some of the best pictures we have ever taken together. Here are some of my favorites:

A picture from the same spot in May 2005 for Brandon's senior prom:

I actually have a lot more that I love, but I didn't want to overwhelm you with pictures of just us.