The Wedding Reception

Off to the Hotel we went. It was B and JR’s desire that their guest begin eating as soon as they arrived at the reception. The Bride and Groom stopped at an undisclosed location on the way to the reception to take a few pictures with the rest of the bridal party and didn’t want anyone waiting on them. The food was amazing! When we first started planning the wedding B and JR had some special wishes but we weren’t sure if we could pull it off. Their request was that we would have four stations of food, two representing JR’s favorite cuisines, French and German and two for B’s favorite cuisines, Italian and Cajun. It was a wonderful idea but I wasn’t sure we could make it happen until we talked with my friend Dana Boles. Oh, how we love Dana! I cannot even begin to tell you the work this woman and her family did to make this happen. B and I sat down with her one afternoon and she totally caught the vision. She got so excited and assured us this could happen. With our input Dana came up with an amazing menu and here it is:
German Table:
Char grilled Bratwurst with onions, sauerkraut and red cabbage
Stone ground mustard
Rye and Pumpernickel breads
French Table:
Cheese service including
Brie
Roquefort
Camembert
Gruyere
French Goat Cheese
Baguettes
Italian Table:
Tortellini Salad with roasted red bell peppers and kalamata olives
Pesto Cheese Torta (Blend of cheeses, peppers, pesto and lots of garlic)
Assortment of crackers
Chicken Parmesan (Bite size breaded chicken over penne pasta coated in semi-homemade marinara sauce. Shards of parmesan and mozzarella melted over the top)
Italian fig cookies-Made by T’s Mom, Tena
Cajun Table:
Crawfish Etoufee served as a dip with crackers-made by Joanie Jarreau
Jambalaya made in the biggest black iron pot I have ever seen-made by Mike Russo
Fruit and Vegetable Tower
Garden Dill dip
Cinnamon Sugar Dip
Caesar Salad with homemade croutons
Marinated olives







The food turned out amazing! We are so grateful to Dana, her mom, Gwyn, and sister-in-law Ronnie, along with their husbands for being such wonderful friends and working themselves to death to make it all happen so beautifully! We are forever indebted to them. I know your reward will be great in heaven!

By the time everyone had eaten the Bride and Groom appeared, and had their first dance. As soon as they were finished she was handed over to her Dad for their special dance. Now, what many people don’t know is that B and her Dad had been practicing their dancing for several weeks. Because T has been a musician most of his life, well, lets just say he hasn’t perfected his dancing. Anyway they practiced to a particular song and all the while B thought that this would be the song they would dance to at the wedding, but as they got out on the floor and began to dance the song faded out and another song came on. It wasn’t just any song, but one that her Dad had written for her and surprised her with. It was a very special moment that I don’t think either of them will ever forget.

The bride and grooms cake were cut just in time for everyone to have a piece and then the dance party started. Let’s just say that I was amazed at the energy of those out on the floor. I think the last time my body was that agile was when I was two years old. Oh, my how they cut the rug! It was a great time of celebration for both young and old! The party ended with everyone taking a noise maker to the lobby and making lots of noise as two of the most precious young people traveled through to their awaiting getaway car.
I have to say that this evening ranked very high on my list of favorites. There is nothing quite as joyful as knowing that your daughter just married the man of her dreams and that by the grace of God he will take wonderful care of her.