Wedding Highlights Video!

You might remember we debated hiring a videographer.
But if we didn't, then you'd miss out on the awesome details of our wedding, me sighing dreamily during my husband's vows, our first dance as we muddled through it, us on chairs for the Horah, and even some Rogge-Rabbit dancing action.

Need a pick me up and to smile all dopey-like?
Then there's this (only 4.30 min long!):


which I love, love, love!
Also? I love my sister's speech and am so glad he opened with it.

Wordless Wednesday: MORE Day After Photos !

Day After Photoshoot: Up on a Fire Escape

And then our photographer said she always wanted to do a shoot on a fire escape.
So we asked a random building to do just that.
On a random Wednesday afternoon, the staff happily obliged.

By the way, I hate heights.

 These pictures were so worth the adventure!

{Studio Juno photography}

Day After Photoshoot: Downtown Georgetown

Forgive my brevity, I'm only using 9 fingers to type thanks to a silly bread knife injury & trip to Urgent Care on Halloween night.
Right.

After returning from our honeymoon, we met up with our fav photog, Leah of Studio Juno.  We intended to finish our hour (honestly 3 hour long) session with a Trash the Dress romp.

First up:  Georgetown cityscape shots

 I love these shots!
Bee Tee Dubs, lovely locks sculpted by David Beck & exquisite make-up crafted by Andrea, both of Salon Rouge.

(Wedding Recap) Dance the Night Away

The remainder of the night passed in a blur of music, dancing, and fun.  In fact, I took a little break to cool off.  All that dancing in a dress made out of the "best" (translation heaviest) fabric in 80 bazillion layers, can really tire out a girl!
[Note to designers: make detachable wedding dresses that turn into short, cute, dancing dresses for the reception. One dress, two ways.]

The guests danced on....

and LOVED the photo booth, which we turned into our guest book!

The photo booth props turned into an opportunity to have more fun...

  and you KNOW where you can find me when the Electric Slide hits...

My last present to Mike -

my rendition of (Mike's least favorite band) Journey's Don't Stop Believing.

 Because honestly, who doesn't love Journey?!

(This took some creative scheeming and planning with the band)

((and we majorly butchered this song))

(((because all my friends sang along and embarrassed my new Hubby)))

It was awesome to the max.

...and during the after party I went to the ER due to heat exhaustion & low blood sugar.

(apparently you're supposed to actually eat at your wedding? and for the record, I stopped drinking halfway through the reception)

((I wish I was kidding to the max))

The first time Mike referred to me as his wife, in public,
was at GW Hospital.

There's a story for your grandkids!

THE END.

(Wedding Recap) The Dollar Dance!

Immediately after the Hora we moved into another fun family tradition: the dollar dance (older post on the Polish history of the dollar dance).  It was completely exhausting going from the 25 minute hora to a 15 minute polka, and simultaneously fun. 

See, you pay a dollar to dance with the bride.
And then we use that money for the honeymoon (or to start the couple's life -- same diff).

My mom and sister collected the money for me while the dancers lined up and waited their turns.

My brother-in-law actually knows how to polka and totally whisked me around the dance floor!

My cousin is also amazing.

(so is my whooshing dress in this pic!)

My girl friends, in on the fun!

My dad, rocking the accordion again, with my aunt & uncle.

Because he's also amah-zing.

And of course my niece enjoyed the fun dancing too!

This great tradition really captured my Polish side & allowed me some individual time with friends and relatives.  (I especially loved when cousin Steve brought me a glass of water!)

(Wedding Recap) The Hora!

During the post-wedding-feedback stage, several people told me the Hora stood out as their favorite part of our wedding. Comments varied from, "I've never seen a group of people so excited!" to "Twenty-five minutes of straight dancing without stopping was incredible."  Our band rocked it out and kept the party going, for what seemed like a great forever.

[Sidenote: around this point the bustle in my dress began failing & falling.  I stepped on the hem and got frustrated and started hated my dress.  Oh, the heat, too.  The temperature under 6 layers of fabric grew unbearable.]

But that did not stop me from dancing!

I showed off my roger-rabbit skillz.  for realz.

The guys and girls created their own circles.

 Mike flung me around in circles

And then came THE CHAIRS.

My word, the chairs.

The scary chairs, lifted up and down, all over the place.

Feeling like you're going to fall.

The chairs.

Scary and exhilarating.

(mostly scary)

Once back on the ground, my dad broke out the accordion!!!!

 

Look at him rocking out!

So awesome.

He's one talented Dad.

Speaking of talented, Mike & danced for each other

This goes down as one of my favorite moments in my life.

Seriously, the best Hora ever!

{Photo amahzingness: Studio Juno}

(Wedding Recap) Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances

I cried more dancing with my father than any other time during the wedding. (Sorry husband).  Even though my dad and I only practiced once, about 5 minutes before we took the floor, he managed to swing, twirl and promenade me all over that dance floor. That man can lead (he and my mom ballroom dance <-- cute!).  During the dance he whispered complements to me, telling me how beautiful I looked, how amazing everything came together, and how lucky he was. Cue the waterworks.  We shared a great Father's Day moment right there.

You might recall the emails exchanged between he and I, where I wondered if he could guess my favorite Disney movie song?  and BAM without prompting, he knew what our song would be:
Candle on the Water, by Helen Reedy, from Pete's Dragon.

I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on you'll make it
Here's my hand so take it

Look for me reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow
I'll never let you go

I'll never let you go

Mike and his mom danced to Barbra Streisand's If I Could.

If I could
I would try to shield your innocence from time
but the part of life I gave you isn't mine

I've watched you grow
so I could let you go

but I know that I can never cry your tears
but I would
If I could
yes I would

I love that Mike's Grandparents began to dance and are in the back of this shot! So sweet!

What were your father/daughter or mother/son dance songs?


{pictures courtesy Studio Juno}

(Wedding Recap) Yichud & Our First Dance!

After the wedding ceremony it is customary, in Judaism, for the bride and groom to have time to themselves (yichud). They are escorted to the "yichud room" and left alone. We used this time to scarf down food & say "wow" about a million times.  Back in the day, this time together made the marriage official -- if ya' know what I mean. 
These moments of seclusion signify the couple's new status of living together as husband and wife.

Once we had enough to eat and drink I texted our wedding planner, eager to move on to the next moment!  We hoped to mingle with our guests, but had to use the time instead for family photos.  Honestly, this became my least favorite part.  We spent time prior to the ceremony taking some family shots, but didn't finish.  At this point I simply wanted to dance and celebrate with my friends.  I love my family but that flash bulb drove me crazy.... (and of course, I was in every picture).

Once the necessary family portraits finish the cocktail hour time sadly passed.  Next up: Our First Dance!
Mike & I long debated over which song to use for this moment. I wanted something timeless, that might play in the grocery store one day and make us remember back to that day.  He wanted something lively and fun.  We finally decided on one song, and then promptly changed it 3 days later to our final decision. 

We chose the Beatles, I Will

I absolutely love this shot!

(Also, do you see the little glimmer of white in the background that is my niece, the flower girl? adorbs.)

{all photos by Studio Juno}