Wedding Part 5: The Dance Party

Pardon my delay in blogging- one of my clients shifted quarter work and MY BFF GOT MARRIED!  So, I've been a busy lady.  Okay, so today's story... our dance party, more familiarly known as a reception.  Hallelujah!

Our first few seconds as Mr & Mrs Martin.  This may have actually been the most emotional moment of the day.

Since it had been a solid 45 minutes since we had smiled for any pictures (the longest I'd gone all day), it was time to get our mugs back on camera.  We took some pictures with our beautiful familias while the rest of the guests went to get their cocktail hour on in the reception ballroom. 

Ryan & I with Pastor Thomasson

The Brady (my Mom's side) portion of the family - Kyle, Natalie, Uncle Tom, Aunt Jan, Brian, Miranda, Aunt Jean, Travis, Ashleigh, Matt, Me, Hubs, Ava, Grandpa Brady, Kara, Daddio, Mamacita, Julie, Taylor & Paul

My side of the family - Jules, Matt, Me, Ryno, Mom & Dad

With the amazing people who raised us.  Daddy B, Mama B, Me, Ryan, Mom M & Dad M.

Ryan's side of the family - Tiff, Me, Ryan, Melanie & Mike

Ryan's extended family - Bryce, Jace, Sandy, Kevin, Jenny, Bob, Grandpa Workman, Pam, Tiff & Kylie, Ryan E, Me, Hubs, Melanie, Larry, Mike, Meemaw Brown, Lori, Stan, Connor & Taylor.

My lady gang.  Court, Jenn, Caitlin P, Chelsea, Melissa, Tiffany, Me, Ryan, Jules, Dena, Caitlin B, Shawna & Jen.

Ryan's man-terage: Jimmer, Matt, Brendan, David, Uriel, Me, the Mr,  Austin, Jonathan, Blake, Ramon & Ryan E

After Ryan and I's mouths reached a level of twitching that impaired our ability to smile for photographs and the wall of windows caused the sun to fully blind us- we decided it was probably time to get to the party.  The bridal party, Ryan & I all got to make our grand entrance down the beautiful staircase at the Bell Tower.  Upon reaching the bottom, it was so heartwarming to see all of our friends, family and loved ones in the room, faces a glow with the warmth of cabernet sauvignon.  It was particularly heartwarming to be greeted with the guest of honor at the reception - cardboard Amy & Ryan!  You all may remember cardboard Amy & Ryan from one year prior, at our -1 year anniversary.  It was so nice to be reunited with this old friend.  I think my parents were particularly excited that it made it out of their attic.

My what a fabulous dress/cover up.  Who makes that?  Photoshop by Shawna Florida?

Heeeeeeeey.  Fancy seeing ya'll here.

Ryan and I had our first dance as husband and wife, which may or may not have happened to be our first slow dance ever?  I am not sure really when else we'd have danced.  Did we dance at your wedding?  If so, you likely had wine there because I do not recall it.  Anywho, we danced to "Crazy Love" - the Michael Buble version rather than Aaron Neville because it's shorter.  And if I hadn't married Ryan, I'd have married Michael Buble.  That felt like the longest 3 minutes of the entire evening.  If you're not accustomed to dancing in front of 165 of your closest friends, then it is a pretty uncomfortable feeling. 

So... how's your day been?

Signaling for drinks to the bartender.  This is somewhere near the 1.5 minute mark of our 3 minutes of dancing.

After everyone got their grub dined on beef tenderloin, chicken florentine and pasta with spicy marinara, it was time for cake cutting.  I told Ryan that if he shoved any cake on my face that it would mean HGTV on non-stop until September.  It turns out all I really needed to tell him was how much it costs to get your make up done. 

Seriously.  Til September.

I am 100% certain you are not supposed to do what Ryan is doing in this photograph.  He has clearly not  read much on the Knot.

Cutting into the Xbox was painful for Ryan.

Again- get a room.

While people were eating their cake, they were treated to the speech stylings of my proud papa, my incredible co-MOHs, Jen & Julie, and Ryan's BFF, Austin.  We made it clear that we were not responsible for any cake lost due to laughing or crying during said speeches.  All 4 of these people did an amazing job and were individually complimented multiple times for the remainder of the evening.  I wish I could play all of their speeches here for you because they were so awesome.  However, in the interest of space I will give you a brief summation of what we learned from all of them.

• Daddio:  I make excellent choices.  Except when I allowed Jen to become my friend, to gift me with a Bath & Bodyworks candle and then to use that candle to roast marshmallows in my room.
• Jen:  I am an okay accountant.  If Ryan did not appreciate Whataburger's seasonal HBBQCSS, she may not have approved our marriage.
• Julie:  Thankfully she wrote  her name down on the piece of paper or she may have forgotten it with her 30 second crying prelude.  Also, I made her ask my parents what "scr0tum" meant.  I had kind of forgotten that. 
• Austin:  Ryan hit 2 homeruns one time that Austin did not forgive him for and Ryan may have been on steroids as a youth?

Seriously though, all of these speeches were the most touching things that anyone has ever said to or about either Ryan or I and we can't thank each of you enough for taking the time to put your thoughts into such well-crafted words.  We love you.

Ryan looks like he's re-thinking his decision.

1.  This is the only picture in the series from Jen's speech where we are in the same frame as her.  She clearly was leary of coming near us.  2.  It kind of looks like cardboard Ryan is trying to make a Jen sandwich.

Crying.  Not just for Julie anymore.

Ryan toasting his homeruns.

After the speeches, I clearly hadn't cried enough for one day.  So to further induce waterworks, Daddio & I had our father/daughter dance and Ryan & his Mom had their mother/son dance.  Dad & I danced to My Girl and Ryan & his Mom danced to Meaning by Gavin DeGraw. 

I love you, Dad.

Sweet moment.

Because we danced so well, everyone was inspired to get their groove on and this is when the party REALLY got started.  However, I'm going to fast forward to the bouquet/garter toss pictures so that all of you party animals can close out the picture segment of this post with your mad dance skills. 

So I did the bouquet toss... appropriately to "Scrubs" by TLC.  I only want what's best for my friends.  Duh.  Proving myself to already be an amazing wife, I provided Ryan with a little surprise as he went up my dress in the form of a UT garter.  I can't believe I kept this a secret from everyone except Julie, Jen and my Mom for so long.  High five to me!  My cousin Taylor caught the garter and his girlfriend Natalie caught the bouquet- 4 weddings in one year on this side of the family?  Let's make it happen!

Natalie = winning.

Awwwwwkward.

Getting hook em'ed is the new iced.

Okay, and finally the verbiage comes to an end.  After the garter and bouquet tosses were over, so were Ryan and I's responsibilities for the evening.  We promptly headed to the dance floor and celebrated to the utmost with all of our party people.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I think that one of your friends doing the cupid shuffle is worth at least five thousand.  Thank you ALL for coming, thank you ALL for eating, drinking and watching us be married!  We adore you.

Jenny & her Grandpa and my Mom & her Dad

Sinders family pic (minus Tripp)

Tiffany & Mr. Sumerlin showing people how to get down.  Both literally & figuratively.

Rachel & MoJo gettin' it.

The gorgeous Wilsons

I believe the Cupid Shuffling has commenced.  Dena is beckoning to her off camera fan club.

Blake's just a twist & shout man in a sea of cupid shufflers.

Both Dena & Willow Smith whip their hair back & forth.

Ramon doing a little jig?

Melissa looking surprised that she ended up in the middle of the circle.

Ash & Ava breaking it down

Wowsa.

Jersey Shore fist pumping Missouri-style.

Grandpa & Rachel.  Dingo fo life!

Love this pic.  Morgan, Grandpa Brady & Rachel.

Ryan teaching Taylor what her first HS dance will be like.  Only hopefully her partner is not holding a beer.

Miranda & Trav: May 2012!

Group hug.

 Pretty ladies.

Awwwww.  They look so nice when not wearing Yaga shirts.

Ash & Kyle: October 2011!  Miranda will not be marrying them. :c)

Melissa & Blake: September 2011!  Uncle Blake wants YOU.

So many moves.

Pippa.  Raging.

Haha.

It's closing time.

That's a wrap!