After Wedding Reflections of a MOB Grab a seat and a snack!! This is a bit long!!!!!
Well, I think I'll begin with loading the van!!!!! It all fit!!!! ![]()
The trip was uneventful on the way to Long Island, with the exception of my Husband and Son asking me to be quiet, so they could hear the GPS lady, telling DH how to get to the Farmingdale Courtyard Marriott. It's almost impossible for me to be quiet!!!!!![]()
We encountered very little bumper to bumper traffic, and had only one confusing moment after we exited a bridge, and started going in the wrong direction. But, our Son reset the GPS, and voila!!!!! We made it to the hotel!!!! The front desk staff were very friendly. My Husband decided to change our room from two queen beds to one. ( There was no difference in price)!!!! Not a good idea!!!!! We had only a small wooden wardrobe instead of a normal closet, and I had to hang my MOB dress way up on the ledge of the wardrobe, so it didn't drag on the floor. The bed felt like a slab of rock, but I slept better than here at home!!!!
The only negative thing about the bathroom, was a lack of fan, to clear the fogged mirror after a shower. We prepared for the rehearsal dinner at Ambrosia Restaurant and Catering in Farmingdale. The staff were friendly. The food was delicious, and it was a clean restaurant. Debi gave out the OOT sandbuckets there, since most of the OOT folks were in the BP. Later, Debi and I handed out the remainder of the buckets at the hotel. One friend of Fred's, on receiving his bucket, questioned if the extra strength Tylenol was for a hangover. I told him yes, just take four!!!!!![]()
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I never posted the BM/Flowergirl gifts, but they were from Things Remembered, and consisted of heart shaped jewel boxes, lipstick holders, and compacts, all engraved. The wedding day earrings for the girls were put into the jewel boxes. I have to think about the Jr. BM and FG. I know they each got a jewel box and jewelry. The three little boys received a toy giftcard. The RB and Jr. GM, being OOT, received a lot of stuff in their sandbuckets, including their favorite snacks/candy, including Sponge Bob Crabbie Patties, and Sponge Bob disposable camera, hand held Sponge Bob game, Sponge Bob toothpaste/brush, and a Spiderman flashlight. I made Debi a Bride/Cinderella Sandbucket with all kinds of candy, etc. and Fred a Groom's Sandbucket with everything from the health food store. After the rehearsal dinner, it was back to the hotel, for my 6AM appts. with Roseanna Amador for hair and Jill Harth for makeup. Roseanna had her Daughter assist her, while Carla assisted Jill. We all met in Debi's Bridal Suite, down the hall from our room. With all the electric goings on, the power went off in the sitting area of the suite, and even while it was reported, the power stayed off until Debi and Fred left on Sunday!!!!! Roseanna, Jill, and their assistants were very sweet, very personable, and dear Rosanna even helped Debi with her gown!!!! Soon, the suite was abuzz with photographers and videographers. Ben Grandson, Shaun, Donna's Boyfriend, Josh, and I got into our van, and headed for CLM. Shaun was disappointed he did not get to go in the limo, but Donna said he wasn't ready when the Groom and his guys were ready to go. My Son had programmed the GPS, so we found CLM, and gave out the flowers that hadn't been previously given out. We waited for the Bride's limo, and DH and I helped Debi into CLM. The 'reveal' was next. I can't wait to see the pro pics to see Fred's expression at seeing Debi for the first time. This is one part of the experience that I did not like. In a 'normal' ceremony, everyone would have have experienced that sweet moment. Then, it was picture time. The sun was too bright, and the BP were squinting, so Thomas Paul had to take the pics inside CLM, and later, outside on the dock. Debi and Fred also had beach pics taken after the reception. Then, it was time for the ceremony. While waiting in line, champagne with strawberries was offered. Then, the time came for us to walk down the aisle to the gazebo, but I had to avoid the palm fronds of the trees along the way. Debi and Fred read their vows to each other and had a sand ceremony. Pastor Cliff Tomlinson, of Long Island, had a brief wedding message. While Debi and Fred went on the yacht ride, the guests had the cocktail hour. And I met sweet Liz and her dear Husband, Gary!!!!! Since I had left my camera in the Bridal Suite, not wanting to carry it up the aisle, I made up for lost time when the wedding assistant brought it to me. The wedding meal was good, but I didn't eat much because of the cocktail food!!!! And, Liz, I hope you don't mind, but after you and Gary left for your next event, the waiter put cake at your place, not knowing you had left, so not wanting to waste it, I had your piece, in addition to mine!!!!!![]()
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I'm not a dancer, but thought at polka time, I'd go dance with Debi, a very tricky thing, because of Debi's bouffant skirt, and my new slippery shoes!!!!!! That's rightttttttt; BOOM, I fell down!!!!!!! I was ok, more
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than anything. I told Debi and Fred, that scene WILL be removed from the video!!!!!!!!! ![]()
When my Husband took Donna, her boyfriend, and Shaun back to the hotel at the end of the reception, and everyone else had gone to The Fighter Group Club, to celebrate more, I didn't mind, because I used the time to organize Debi's stuff. The CLM staff were busy preparing the room for another wedding, and said I didn't have to hurry out, since that party wouldn't start until 7PM, yet I felt rushed to remove all the boxes of decorations etc., so I moved them twice, to get them closer to the stairs for Ben to carry them out when he came. Meanwhile the place was getting crowded with other wedding guests, and my DH didn't come, and didn't come, and I was getting really upset, and nobody would answer their phones!!!!! I prayed!!!! FINALLY my DH, and Son came, but by that time, I was so frustrated, I burst into tears!!!!!! My DH apologized, saying he didn't realize how long it would take!!!! We got back to the hotel, and when DH opened the back of the van, a box of Debi's stuff fell on the ground, breaking one of her starfish candle holders, from the cake table. That REALLY UPSET me!!!!! She later said she didn't care. But her sand ceremony holders also fell, but thankfully, did not break!!!! Then, as we entered the hotel, a wedding guest, who had too much to drink, plopped herself on top of the cart of Debi's stuff that my Son was pushing, and he had to ask her to get off!!!!![]()
We finally got to our room, I talked to Debi briefly, and she reassured me about the starfish holder not being important, and was very sorry for my frustration back at CLM. I collapsed into bed!!!! The next morning, Fred's parents joined DH, my Son, Debi and Fred, and I for breakfast, before we left, to navigate by GPS, out of Long Island. My Son asked his Dad if he wanted to go home using the way we came or the 'quick' way the GPS lady would give. Well, DH chose the quick way, which led us right through New York City, and I had time to take a pic of the MACYS sign!!!! But everytime we went through a tunnel, and lost the signal, my Son had a fit, not knowing where to tell his Dad to go next!!!!! But we made it home safely, PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!! PS Fred's parents gave us a lovely welcome basket of Long Island goodies!!!!! I ate the LI potato chips!!!!!! Mary
The only negative thing about the bathroom, was a lack of fan, to clear the fogged mirror after a shower. We prepared for the rehearsal dinner at Ambrosia Restaurant and Catering in Farmingdale. The staff were friendly. The food was delicious, and it was a clean restaurant. Debi gave out the OOT sandbuckets there, since most of the OOT folks were in the BP. Later, Debi and I handed out the remainder of the buckets at the hotel. One friend of Fred's, on receiving his bucket, questioned if the extra strength Tylenol was for a hangover. I told him yes, just take four!!!!!
When my Husband took Donna, her boyfriend, and Shaun back to the hotel at the end of the reception, and everyone else had gone to The Fighter Group Club, to celebrate more, I didn't mind, because I used the time to organize Debi's stuff. The CLM staff were busy preparing the room for another wedding, and said I didn't have to hurry out, since that party wouldn't start until 7PM, yet I felt rushed to remove all the boxes of decorations etc., so I moved them twice, to get them closer to the stairs for Ben to carry them out when he came. Meanwhile the place was getting crowded with other wedding guests, and my DH didn't come, and didn't come, and I was getting really upset, and nobody would answer their phones!!!!! I prayed!!!! FINALLY my DH, and Son came, but by that time, I was so frustrated, I burst into tears!!!!!! My DH apologized, saying he didn't realize how long it would take!!!! We got back to the hotel, and when DH opened the back of the van, a box of Debi's stuff fell on the ground, breaking one of her starfish candle holders, from the cake table. That REALLY UPSET me!!!!! She later said she didn't care. But her sand ceremony holders also fell, but thankfully, did not break!!!! Then, as we entered the hotel, a wedding guest, who had too much to drink, plopped herself on top of the cart of Debi's stuff that my Son was pushing, and he had to ask her to get off!!!!
