So we arrived at the reception place which appeared to be an old converted schoolhouse. It had three stories, two larger rooms on the top floor (one was the honeymoon suite for Robert and Laura) then more guest rooms on the second floor along with a small reception hall where we were for the evening that had a nice balcony/porch looking over the countryside, then the bottom floor was a reception area and the kitchen.
When the limo arrived we were all given rice and rose petals to toss at them as they went in (the little flower girls got a bit carried away with the throwing) then we all followed them upstairs for dinner.
There was soooo much food! All kinds of salads, cold cuts, bread and vegetables were waiting on the tables along with a cluster of bottles every five feet or so, one vodka, one brandy, one red wine, and one champagne. The tables were together in a U shape with the bridal party at the base of the U, Jeremy and I were seated close by in the corner of two tables with some of Laura’s English speaking friends. On e everyone was seated the hot food was brought out, breaded pork cutlets, potatoes with dill, a tasty brown sauce and some kind of braised cabbage that was quite tasty as well. Before we ate the champagne was opened and Dita made a toast to the couple (with Gunta translating). After everyone had their first serving of food, Pastor Joe and then Jim made nice toasts, then we ate some more and had our first dessert, a raspberry mousse/custard with a berry sauce.
After the meal Robert and Laura had their first dance with all the guests circled around them. Laura even taught Robert a simple waltz that morning for their dance. Those two are so in love, they were making googly eyes at each other the whole time. There was some informal dancing for a bit then all the girls got up and each danced with Robert (I tried to get him to do some swing dance steps but he said he didn’t know how to do them) then there was more hanging out and dancing for a bit.
Jeremy and I decided Robert and Jim should do a shot of vodka with usbut when we went to find Robert he was missing. He had been kidnapped by members of the bridal party and Laura had to sing a song fir his release. Once Robert was freed we toasted each other and congratulated the couple and had our shots.
Jeremy and I took pictures the whole time and ended up “chatting”, well pointing and using single words really, with the wedding photographer (a friend of Laura’s) discussing a trick Jeremy showed me of using a business card (or in our case placecards) as a reflector to soften using a flash indoors.
We had wedding cake (a four layer cake with lemon and raspberry filling) around midnight and the last thing was lighting two hearts of tealights and offering well wishes to the couple. We then got a ride home with Maria, Laura’s cousin who had done all if the flowers for the wedding, and her British husband and their two young daughters who were the flower girls. We were packed in the car and the youngest girl was sitting in, then fell asleep, on my lap, it was very cute. Once we got to the hotel around 1 we went straight to sleep after enjoying a great day of celebrating with Robert and Laura.
