1. The salon-set-up in my parents basement with girls dashing around getting ready.
2. When I locked my dad in the bathroom because my photographer wanted to do some editorial shots of my dress and my mother insisted he NOT see it before I put it on.
3. When it was time for me to get into my dress and no one was around to help me because they were all busy getting themselves ready. (this is remarkable because I am NEVER the one who is ready and waiting for others).
4. When my sister finally showed up to help me into my dress and as she zipped it up I could tell it felt a little snug. This was worrisome as I just had my last alteration 3 days prior and it was sewn to me to perfection! As the zipper went up, I thought, well, that's slightly more snug than I wanted but oh well. And when I bent over to put my shoe on the hook and eye shot across the room like a ninja star. Trying to stay calm my sister immediately ran to find it and announced that we would just sew it back on if we needed to in the limo. This was the moment I discovered that spanx control top pantyhose are a hoax. They do not make you slimmer, they just smooth things out and in fact, in this case, they added inches to me. This was also the moment I discovered that you really do need to bring ALL your intended undergarments to your last fitting even if it's just panty hose and you don't think they will make a difference. With both my male videographer and male photographer laughing at all the F-bombs coming out of this regal bride, I went in to the bathroom and decided that the control top panty hose would have to go and instead... I would go Commando. Not really though. I actually, by the graces of god, packed a pair of "Commando" underwear in my overnight bag and wore those. Which, as the name suggests, is basically like wearing nothing. I didn't have a bra either because my dress was so well tailored to me I didn't need one. Never ever ever ever in a million years would I have guessed that my wedding day would be the day that I would wear the LEAST amount of undergarments. Such is life. I never did have the eyelet sewn back on my dress- ain't no body got time for that.
5. When we sent Matt a joke boutonniere with hot chill peppers and he almost wore it because he thought it was another crazy italian tradition.
6. When my 1 year old niece, Sienna, who was known to be the happiest baby in the world, decided this would be the day she would prove that wrong.
7. When, at some point during the ceremony, I think when we were walking to sign the papers, I whispered to Matt that I had to go to the bathroom and he promptly reminded me that he was mic'd.
8. When we were announced as "Husband and Wife" and walked down the aisle and the only thing I could see was my absent friend Stacy's cutout head on a stick bopping up and down with excitement.
9. That 5 minute stint where I was ready to donkey-punch someone if they asked me where one more thing was supposed to go or which combination of photos we had not already taken and that we needed to take. The pinnacle being when the staff could not comprehend that our two seating charts were different (A-M and N-Z) and kept placing one across the mezzanine from the other so Matt and I, in our tux/wedding dress, picked them up and moved them... twice.
10. When all we wanted was a family photo with my neice (flower girl) in it but she decided this would be the only day in history she doesn't smile when she sees a camera so, with all else failing, we began to sing the Barney Song "I Love You.." With it beginning to work, soon, there was a group of about 30 people belting the song out in the middle of the cocktail reception until we got a good shot. We better have gotten a good shot!
11. When my sister, who was at her whits end with Sienna's uncharacteristic behaviour, handed her off to her evening baby-sitters and declared "Someone get me a drink, I'm getting wasted!"
12. When Matt and I peaked in during our hockey-style bridal party introductions to see the crowd loving it and whipping their napkins around like rally towels.
13. When Matt spoke Italian (although I could NEVER forget this)
14. When our best man Trevor, half-way through dinner declared that this was the most he'd ever seen a bride and groom eat at their own wedding. This was non-negotiable for me. I had a receiving line for the sole purpose of not having to get up during dinner and miss the food.
15. When the blow-up instruments came out and all hell broke lose. Also, the day before when I was sitting in the middle of the reception hall blowing up instruments and my mom was telling me how ridiculous I was.
16. When my college friends requested Mariah Carey's "Always be my baby" and I could have died happy right then and there.
17. When the DJ threw us an old-school curve-ball with Quit Playing Games With My Heart and every guy lived out their boy-band dreams.
18. And then when our DJ decided to turn the place into a club and the dance floor did not clear all night.
19. When we chanted "one more song,...one more song..." after several "one more" songs and the dj finally said he had to pack up so we decided to sing our own song. Hey Jude.
20. When I was 100% adamant that I was going to the bar after the wedding because I was in a wedding dress and I could do whatever I wanted. The bars were pretty much already closed.
21. When, at the end of the night, knowing that we were coming back the next day to collect a bunch of our stuff, decided that the one bathroom kit I made for the women's bathroom simply MUST NOT be left behind so I carried it home with my other essentials (one being a salami sandwich I so gracefully stuffed my face with).
22. When I walk/ran back to the hotel (with the bathroom basket in tow) because there was a marathon the next morning and the finish line was literally right in front of our hotel and it was likely the closest I'd ever be to crossing a marathon finish line.
23. When i pleaded for Matt to help me take out all the bobby pins in my hair and he gasped in horror that " A lot of hair is falling out!".... they were extensions.
24. When Matt, myself and my brother went to the bank in china town the next day and Matt told the lady he had to make a very large deposit and cited a wedding as the reason and when she looked up and saw him and my brother (Because I was following behind them) the lady joyfully exclaimed "ohhh congratulations!"… to Matt and David. To which they replied "No no no.. not us…" and she assured them "it's ok, it's legal now!"
25. All the moments in between.
