Laura Topp's wedding

I'm still running about a week behind...but last Saturday we attended Art and Gayle's daughter's wedding in Vero Beach. Art and John have known each other since 1st or 2ND grade...so naturally Laura and Brenna have been friends since day one.
Laura went to Eau Gallie High...Brenna went to Melbourne High...so they each had a different circle of friends, but they've always remained in touch with one another. Brenna was pleased to be asked by Laura to be a bridesmaid. We booked a room at the hotel Costa de Este...which is where the reception was going to take place. (no need to drive anywhere!) The weather for the weekend was PERFECT!(...well...a tad windy...but otherwise perfect.)
After a wild trip home...canceled flights, missed connections, etc...Brenna ended up changing plans and landed in West Palm Beach instead of Orlando. She managed to set up a car rental en route...and arrived to find a van waiting for her. The clerk told her "It will hold all your stuff!"...that was great...except all her stuff was on the other plane..haha She did have a sundress and the bridesmaid dress with her...she brought them with her down to Vero Beach on Friday night. The rest of her things were delivered by Delta directly to the hotel...so it all worked out.
We arrived Saturday early afternoon. In time to check out the preparations.

Gayle's sister-in-law Nancy joked that Gayle was like an addict without drugs...when they told her she was not allowed to take ANY pictures during the ceremony! She took plenty before and at the reception...haha
The ceremony was at the Riverfront park in Vero Beach. I had never been to that park...it was huge!...They had reserved one area with a large Gazebo (with one smaller one one each side)
Art and Laura walking up the "aisle"
Laura and Frankie walking back.

Lindsey (the brides sister) and A.J. - Frankie's son)
Brenna & Christy & ?
the flower girls...they were cute...on the way "up" they were tossing the petals around like crazy...they all ran out long before they got close to the crowd...one was kind of pouting about it...haha
back at the hotel they had an open bar for an hour...while the photographer(s) finished up. When the group got back...Gayle was armed and ready with her camera...took this nice shot of us.
pretty flowers
Lindsey and Brenna...(Brenna was in between Laura and Lindsey they are all about 1 year apart) I think
Laura and her mom, Gayle
Gayle made a nice video for the bride and groom...here's a picture of her and Lindsey watching it. It was a little long...but then again Laura and Frankie have been dating since Laura turned 21...she'll be 28 in May. It was nicely done...Gayle is good at that...and we all know there was no shortage of pictures! haha
Brenna with Frankie and Laura at the reception.
Glenn and Cathy's daughter was also in the wedding...she and Laura went to school together and were good friends for many years.
three of the bridesmaids
There was lots of dancing...the DJ was great. Once he got people going...he kept things moving...I didn't know all the music...but he made it fun...and again kept the momentum going. He did a great job. I have been to other receptions where I knew and liked all or most of the music (Brittany and Zach) and we ALL danced and had fun...but I have also been to some where I didn't really know the music and the DJ was terrible...I won't mention any names... I just liked the way this guy mixed up the music a bit...but played mostly what the bride and groom wanted and managed to keep everyone happy. (maybe the older old folks got left out...there wasn't much slow dancing going on)
Art and John. Art was glad to not be responsible for anything else at that point...haha...and John was saying something like "One down and one to go."

A Wedding

Yesterday marked a new milestone...we attended one of our friend's daughter's wedding. Several of my friends have been watching their daughter's get married this past year or two...but this was the first time John and I attended one.
Pretty sunflowers(Brittany's favorite) for table decorations(made by Zach's mother), the cake (made by a friend) and bouquets
The weather was kind of funny...a little cool, kind of cloudy and a few sprinkles near the coast earlier in the day; But when 3 pm rolled around...it was breezy but pleasant. And once the ceremony started...the sun came out almost as if it was waiting for just the perfect moment.
The groom's grandfather officiated and some friends were in charge of music...(live and taped.)

friends

Happy with the way everything turned out for Brittany and Zach. Proud Dad of the bride with John and Al
While the photographer took pictures of the families...there were appetizers, tea and lemonade outside. The wedding was at Bayside Lakes...there was a covered pavilion, outside and then the community room and porch next to the pool. It was a nice setting. Family members had prepared the appetizers and Mike provided the fish and our friend Ron made some delicious ceviche to go with the crackers. Meanwhile inside more friends were getting the dinner together, Mike had prepared roast pork and gravy and crab stuffed flounder. (for 150 people!) That along with rice and mixed vegetables and rolls made a delicious meal. It was even better knowing Mike had managed to catch and prepare all the fish for the occasion. It was delicious!
sisters of the bride and Mom and Dad
The bride and groom knew there were going to be lots of young children (most of them younger cousins) and you should have see the look on the kids faces when they spotted this candy. It happened to be right next to our table...hahaha. It was fun to watch them loading up on M & M's, pixie sticks and assorted treats!I believe it was ALL gone by the end of the party...haha


Brittany
Brittany and Zach
and happy parents
first dance
Al got up and made a toast to the couple and I think he summed up what we all thought. These days you see all the shows about lavish weddings, parties, etc and it's easy to get caught up in all that. But this was truly a celebration of family and friends...Grandpa officiated, friends provided music, family members provided food and flowers, Mike caught all the fish and prepared the food, other family members and friends also provided food. Friends loaned needed equipment to serve the food and keep it warm and many family members were included in the ceremony. It was a NICE celebration and a great way to start a new life together! And it was fun! :)
we had to suffer sit through a few line dances...haha...but we knew there would be good dancing music...it was the Roys after all! When Men Without Hats came on...we ALL danced with Mike& Denise and family to "Safety Dance" (someone told the DJ...if she didn't play it she wouldn't get paid...haha)....because......................................................
"We can dance if we want to
we can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance well they're no friends of mine!" haha...not really.....but if they don't dance...they're missing out!

Celebrate Good Times......Come ON!

Can't you just hear that song playing in your head? we heard it last night at our neighbor's wedding.

It was a perfect afternoon for a wedding..................................................................................................

Matt from across the street got married to a young lady...Xiao yan..... he met while teaching in China.

They have been in town for about a month now...introducing her to his family and just relaxing at home with Ra and family. This past week all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins started arriving. Ra's from a typical Irish Catholic family......and I think most of them made it down for the wedding festivities. I felt right at home amongst the several Margarets, Matthews, Johns, Bridget, Darby, Brennan, etc. None of Xiao yan's relatives were able to make it...so it was all the grooms side of the family and friends of course. As a matter of fact Matt joked at one point that he was always young Matt(hew Joseph) to his Uncle's Matthew Paul...but now one of the cousins has a young son named Matthew...so he figures now it'll be Baby Matthew, Middle-aged Matthew, and Old Matthew. The two of them will be here for about another week and then head out west...before going" home" to China. and a ceremony and celebration with her family and friends

As you can see there were fans and little take out boxes of treats for the guests....but the groom and his brothers and nephew looked a little more Irish! The ceremony was outside in the Gazebo next to the beach. It was warm...but I managed to get a seat in the shade. And as you can see...it was rather breezy...so that helped. just not the hair!

Matt's sister and his nieces

Ra and Xiao yan

Matt-Ra-Xiao yan

Tossing the bouquet....they had all the women get up...not just the single girls

We had fun visiting with everyone and dancing. They played a few songs for the little kids to dance to...then the older folks got going. The DJ was pretty good...not too annoying like some can be...and he played a nice mix of danceable music. It was nice to be at a party and dancing..since yesterday would have been my mom's 84th birthday...and many of the songs reminded me of other celebrations with my own family......so what might have been a sad day...ended up being a fun celebration...that made me miss Jenifer, Mom and Dad.....but also remember good times I had with them.

I guess I should have straightened out my necklace! haha