Romig Wedding Part I
I'm just now finding a few minutes to reflect and collect my thoughts on one of the best weekends of my life-my little brother's wedding. I want to make sure I capture the highlights so that years from now, I can look back on the festivities with the same joy and excitement I'm feeling right now. So if you find yourself bored, my apologies...
Thursday (the night before the rehearsal dinner)
I arrived into NOLA on Thursday evening greeted at the airport by my father, the birthday boy, and my mother's brother, my Uncle John. Upon arriving home, we began celebrating my dad's birthday with a dinner for 12 hosting my family, my grandparents, and some extended family. I feasted like a king on filet, spinach, potatoe casserole and black out cake.
Post dinner, the kids left for Midcity's Rock N' Bowl where we met up with the Honore' family (bride's family) and spent the remainder of the evening listening to good music, bowling, and drinking. It was laid back, incredibly fun, and allowed us to socialize with some of the wedding party before things got too hectic.
Friday (the rehearsal)
We spent the better part of the day Friday picking up the tuxedos from Perlis, working out at the gym, and bumming around the house. We set out for the rehearsal at 4:30pm down to St. Patrick's Church in the Quarter. I'm always amazed how intricate rehearsals can be. The wedding planner for the church was a no-nonsense, by the book, STRICT, elderly woman who shushed us when we laughed in church. Oops! I have to admit we were a bit confused throughout the rehearsal but imagined we'd figure it out on Saturday. With 1 best man, 2 maids of honor, 2 matrons of honor, and a wedding party totaling 26 persons, there was a LOT going on.
Post rehearsal, we jetted off to Broussard's for the rehearsal dinner. We spent the first hour socializing in the courtyard with jazz music, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres. I loved seeing so many family members from both sides as well as good family friends. I can only imagine how excited my brother was! We were seated in the dining room around 7:30pm and I was excited to be sharing a table with my sister, cousin, uncle, and two of the bride's sisters and their husbands. There were about 100 people at the rehearsal dinner and the night couldn't have been better!
I had been nervous about giving the Best Man Speech and had jotted down some thoughts on the plane ride home that I referred to on the way to the rehearsal. Once dessert had been served (bread pudding!) and my dad and the father of the bride finished their brief hellos and welcomes, it was time. I stood up and before I even began, loud applause filled the room. GULP! But I launched into the schpeal I had semi-prepared with a mixture of jokes, stories from growing up, heart-felt tugs, and wishes for the future. When it ended, I felt a wave of release and received a myriad of compliments throughout the night on the speech. Speeches continued for what seemed like hours as all 4 of the bride's sisters, my sister, cousins, groomsmen, extended family and other friends got up to give a toast. The bride tried to stand up twice to begin her thank yous and was shot down each time.
What I was most impressed by was my brother's wrap up thoughts at the end. He spoke for close to five minutes and was so eloquent, poised, and articulate. He commented on several of the speeches and I had to try with all my might to keep myself from tearing up when he said to me that he couldn't have asked for a better best man or best man speech and that he hopes one day if he could be so lucky to try and be and do the same for me. Love that kid.
Once dinner wrapped (circa 10:30-11pm), the younger crowd headed out to enjoy the rest of the night at Pat O's. We had a wonderful evening and though we didn't get to bed until close to 2am, it was well worth it!
Stay tuned...Part 2 coming soon!
Thursday (the night before the rehearsal dinner)
I arrived into NOLA on Thursday evening greeted at the airport by my father, the birthday boy, and my mother's brother, my Uncle John. Upon arriving home, we began celebrating my dad's birthday with a dinner for 12 hosting my family, my grandparents, and some extended family. I feasted like a king on filet, spinach, potatoe casserole and black out cake.
Post dinner, the kids left for Midcity's Rock N' Bowl where we met up with the Honore' family (bride's family) and spent the remainder of the evening listening to good music, bowling, and drinking. It was laid back, incredibly fun, and allowed us to socialize with some of the wedding party before things got too hectic.
Friday (the rehearsal)
We spent the better part of the day Friday picking up the tuxedos from Perlis, working out at the gym, and bumming around the house. We set out for the rehearsal at 4:30pm down to St. Patrick's Church in the Quarter. I'm always amazed how intricate rehearsals can be. The wedding planner for the church was a no-nonsense, by the book, STRICT, elderly woman who shushed us when we laughed in church. Oops! I have to admit we were a bit confused throughout the rehearsal but imagined we'd figure it out on Saturday. With 1 best man, 2 maids of honor, 2 matrons of honor, and a wedding party totaling 26 persons, there was a LOT going on.
Post rehearsal, we jetted off to Broussard's for the rehearsal dinner. We spent the first hour socializing in the courtyard with jazz music, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres. I loved seeing so many family members from both sides as well as good family friends. I can only imagine how excited my brother was! We were seated in the dining room around 7:30pm and I was excited to be sharing a table with my sister, cousin, uncle, and two of the bride's sisters and their husbands. There were about 100 people at the rehearsal dinner and the night couldn't have been better!
I had been nervous about giving the Best Man Speech and had jotted down some thoughts on the plane ride home that I referred to on the way to the rehearsal. Once dessert had been served (bread pudding!) and my dad and the father of the bride finished their brief hellos and welcomes, it was time. I stood up and before I even began, loud applause filled the room. GULP! But I launched into the schpeal I had semi-prepared with a mixture of jokes, stories from growing up, heart-felt tugs, and wishes for the future. When it ended, I felt a wave of release and received a myriad of compliments throughout the night on the speech. Speeches continued for what seemed like hours as all 4 of the bride's sisters, my sister, cousins, groomsmen, extended family and other friends got up to give a toast. The bride tried to stand up twice to begin her thank yous and was shot down each time.
What I was most impressed by was my brother's wrap up thoughts at the end. He spoke for close to five minutes and was so eloquent, poised, and articulate. He commented on several of the speeches and I had to try with all my might to keep myself from tearing up when he said to me that he couldn't have asked for a better best man or best man speech and that he hopes one day if he could be so lucky to try and be and do the same for me. Love that kid.
Once dinner wrapped (circa 10:30-11pm), the younger crowd headed out to enjoy the rest of the night at Pat O's. We had a wonderful evening and though we didn't get to bed until close to 2am, it was well worth it!
Stay tuned...Part 2 coming soon!
Comments