Apparently Enterprise likes to give us Dodge Avengers - at least at weddings - which I am totally ok with. We had a silver one in Kansas City last year at Erin and Matt's wedding, and (in typical Thompson Dodge fashion) a white one this time. They're really fun to drive...
We drove from New Haven to Kingston RI - and arrived despite a GPS derailment, and Mapquest hanging us out. (The printed directions were, well, wrong. It missed our destination by over 10 miles.) Luckily we still made it in plenty of time to check into the hotel, then drive on to the beach front inn where the wedding was to take place.
The sad news of the afternoon, was the wedding (which had been planned to take place out on a deck overlooking the ocean) was rained out. Instead, it took place in a small ball room, sans music or accompanied, since originally, it would've been serenaded by the waves. Regardless, it was beautiful. Tom and his groomsmen wore tuxedo shorts and flip flops (awesome!) and Dee and her bride's maids wore flip flops, too. As the wedding party entered, Dee had a malfunction, and in true Dee style - so Tom wouldn't worry - she called out from the back hall to tell us she'd be right there. :)
As Dee appeared around the corner, Tom teared up, which of course, reduced me to absolute tears. Tom's mom, Joe, was right there with me. Happy tears are pretty awesome.
I'm not sure how Dee knew the priest who married them, but she was pretty incredible. She composed (with the help of some long distance phone calls) 'the story of Tom and Dee' - how they met, came to fall in love, and decide to marry. And true to my frequent claim, they even gave me appropriate credit. (I often tell people - It's my fault.) True or not, I'm glad to take credit, because they are the kind of couple that is so sweet to see together your teeth hurt. They're really so cute, it's absolutely disgusting, and I love it. She continued to talk about Tom and Dee's engagement, families, and said some really beautiful things about relationships and people in general. Added to that vows they wrote to each other... it was a pretty incredible service.
While the wedding party photo-oped, the guests moved down to the real ball room for an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. We tried some great local brew (which I of course photo oped on the camera phone.) I also got to catch up with Joedean Marrott, Tom's mom, who is a great lady. Once we got our place cards (which were cute boxes filed with custom print M&M's) Jeff and I found ourselves at the "Theatre/College Friend" table, and sat with some of Dee's former classmates from RIC and coworkers from Trinity Rep. After the first few awkward moments, we got to talking, laughing, and directing the wait staff with their trays of finger food goodness to our table. Soon, any time a waiter couldn't get rid of their munchies, they came to us. We scarfed untold trays of raspberry brie in pastry,
spring rolls, coconut shrimp, mini-beef wellingtons, as well as made several trips to the bar. (We tried to make ourselves a pyramid of shame and/or dead count of beer bottles and glasses to see how big a dent we made in that bar service... but the wait staff was far too efficient at clearing the empties.) We dubbed ourselves "THAT" Table in short order.The wedding party (blessed with a short break in the weather to take some photos outside) rejoined us and we ate dinner, and began the reception festivities.
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| Tom and Dee's First Dance |
"THAT" Table made a pretty awesome showing on the dance floor, particularly towards the end of the evening. (All I have to say is I hope that much of the photographic evidence of that showing has been trashed, deleted, or otherwise destroyed... I know it isn't Vegas but I'd really like that kind of wedding behavior to stay AT the wedding! Ha ha!)
After the reception, we went to the after party at the house that part of the family had rented for the wedding festivities - and I proceeded to bust my self up - falling flat on my face thanks to a pothole. In my girly shoes in the poor streetlight I couldn't see a rain filled pothole, tripped, and fell right into another (full) puddle. My glasses went flying, I cut up both knees, both palms, and scrapped up my forehead. Already damp I was soaked to the skin, bleeding, and covered in gravel and grass. (My right knee is still pretty trashed and hasn't healed completely.) I spent the first 20 minutes or so drying my dress with Joe's (Tom's mom) hair dryer and receiving medical attention from various members of the party. We had a chance to chat with the bride and groom, then retired to the hotel room.
The next morning, we left the hotel in Kingston and drove back to Narragansett, had breakfast at Dunken Donuts, did a little souvenir/post card shopping, and stopped at the beach, before heading back to New Haven. All in all... a pretty darn good couple of days celebrating with our friends.
