put a ring on it - the wedding in review

i was just driving back from morning mass, and the radio started to play Beyonce's song 'Single Ladies', and i started to think about this past weekend...

my cousin got married, it was in Chicago and because of a little drama between she and i, there were moments when i almost wasn't even going to go.  i had been originally asked to actually be in the wedding as an usher and was excited about it, but in the end that wasn't going to work out.  in hindsight, i'm surprised that myself or one of my other 3 cousins who were asked to be ushers weren't groomsmen... only because there were so many bridesmaids that TWO of the groomsmen had to walk down the isle with two bridesmaids.  the logical one in me tells me that you either need more groomsmen or less bridesmaids... i dunno... there were also two maids of honor.  the wedding was excessive.

the view from the rehearsal dinner

first, i went up 2 days early, i needed to go, i wanted to touch base with a few agents up there and took care of that my first day there.  i was happy to find out that 3 of my top agent selections were a block from each other in greektown, just blocks from the train station.  one is a division of Ford Models, and, i so look forward to working with them.

the first night was the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner - i totally forgot my camera or there would be pictures other than the night cityscape i took as my phone battery was going dead.

the cruise ran late due to many many people being caught in traffic, and in fact many still missed it, but the boat was awesome as it carried us down the Chicago River and in to Lake Michigan.  the boat was large in size and its roof was decked out with a bar nearly as well equipped as the interior 'salon' allowing us all to take in the gorgeous night.  just after the half way point a large screen which had been cycling through a series of old childhood photos of the bride and groom started to play a video of the two of them getting their pictures taken for.... whatever reason that happens.  there was a LOT of making out, but it was nice.  then my cousin grabbed the mic and announced that she had another video she had made as a surprise for her beau where she was interviewed in a classic almost film noir format and told the story of how much she loved him, with more pics which were very well done.

after, the booze had been flowing for a while, a lot of us were back outside, when a sudden downpour rocked us and caused a run inside... i met a great gal while inside and spent some time talking to her, a nursing student with what seems like a great outlook on life (not to mention completely gorgeous).  i was lucky enough to get to know her over the weekend and we should be staying in touch.  the rain died after we started to head back, but then started again just as they were telling us all to get out!  that, kinda sucked.  i bolted under the michigan ave bridge and hailed a cab to Second City.

the next day more cousins arrived and we headed to a place in Lincoln Park for more excessive 'man vs food' style eating.  the drinking started around noon-ish, which you'd think we would know better than to do with the events we had in front of us.  finally, it was time.

under the jewish wedding canopy on the catholic altar

we all headed back to the hotel and got ready.  i donned what i'm calling the retro-mod tux, and ya know, i think i made it work.  the wedding was at 5pm on a saturday so tux was the way to go, and most people followed along with various types including my uncle bob who went with the classic white, right out of a Bogart film.  i got a surprising number of compliments on my shoe choice.

the wedding was gorgeous, and the mix of catholic and jewish traditions was done very very well.  my cousins come from a strong irish background, so they were led out by a drummer and bagpipes, and then all us from her side of the family gathered for a picture with the new couple on the stairs of the century old stone downtown church.

after, a set of old school chicago trolleys took us out to a country club for the reception.  the place was totally old school, brick & stone buildings, oak panel walls, framed pictures of the couple throughout the years on the tables and fireplace mantles as well as old pictures of their parents.  the bar was open and wine was being handed out by waiters as well as servings of grape gazpacho and small finger foods.

the dinner was phenomenal, a salad with a citrus base, a lemon sorbet, then each person was given a filet mignon and a chicken breast, with a vegetable medley and potatoes, and finished of course with slices from the wedding cake - and in a first for me, it was chocolate... and while i'm not much for sweets, it was really good.

the large terrace outside had been encased in a tent which came with its own air conditioning system so the guests could have more space to dance, keep cool, and avoid any possible rain.  the reception went well past midnight as the bride and groom were carried around on chairs and later the bride and her sisters did a traditional irish jig they had learned from their grandmother as children.

the trolleys ran non-stop until nearly 2am when two large charter buses came to get anyone who remained and take them back downtown to the hotel and/or the bar across the street which had been designated the place to go for the 'after party'.  some of my younger relatives tried to make use of the drive in a manner which the driver didn't appreciate causing him to grab his mic and announce, "ok young people, we can't b'havin any smoke in da bus...  especially THAT smoke".  i can't lie, it fractured me.

most anyone under the age of 40 headed to Dugan's and we continued the night along.  the bride and groom didn't make it as they had sped off in their private 1930's era limo from the reception under a long line of well wishers holding sparklers, so my family and our new friends carried the night forward.

half the bar was full of tuxedos - and while i've seen that happen many times, i've never been a part of the party until this event.  with the laws in chicago we all flowed in and out all night, carrying on at length while some went across the street to the hotel to change and others chose to make sure they stayed with the party until the had some place to go or someone to go home with.  in the end, the night was fairly drama free, full of energy, and just a great time.

on some level, i'm happy my aunt called me to make sure i was going, and really happy she made she i'd be up early to be on that boat.  the people i met and the times i had were a reminder of how life can be when you let go of all the pressures and agendas life can weigh on you.

the wedding was excessive in many ways, a few of the ladies commented (in a positive way) about things, and then followed up with their estimates on how much it must have taken to pull it all together.  watching the 3 photographers, 2 videographers, many wedding planners, and various event management people run around was almost entertaining at times.  the men all noticed as well, and while the ladies gabbed, the men seemed to have a fairly steady view that they didn't want all that, they would do it, but they'd all rather just be with a great person.  kinda odd given that was coming from the men, but i guess when the booze gets flowing and the truth comes out i guess the guys stood firm on wanting less to deal with and focusing on the idea behind it all - if you find someone worth putting on ring on it, that's all that's important, without that you just have a big party.

oddly, as much as i was annoyed with all the various dramatics that preceded this wedding, i could tell that my cousin was very very into the idea of being with justin.  and in that, i'm happy for her.  i think she would have married him if it had been a simple ceremony on a thursday afternoon with barely a guest if any.  until this weekend i got the feeling it was more about the show, but i really got that feeling from her from some of the things she said during it all that while she was totally into the show, she was very into him, and really, that's what's important - if you're engaged, you should be willing to go right then and there the instant you get engaged, or you're really doing it for the wrong reasons.

all the pictures i took are in my WebAlbums, with more to come when i get them from others.... not that the world wants to bother with some random set of pics from a wedding they didn't attend - but, in case someone actually reads this, that's where they are.

i was just happy to get to spend the time with my family, my cousins and more, be in a great town, have an excuse to get away from my thoughts, meet some new people, and have many laughs.  the next morning i woke up without my bags or a change of clothes and had to roll into the post-event breakfast in the same tux slightly worse for the wear.  i was fed from an awesome after wedding breakfast buffet and dodged a few of the comments from my various family members until my cousin instructed me to get my stuff and get in the shower before the road trip home.  i was a little sad to see it go, the spectacle and the people, but it was time to return to life knowing i'd be sharing things online, talking to my new friend on facebook, emailing my cousins and sharing the memory in the future.