Busy Weekend

In June, we were invited to the wedding of our "junior" financial advisor (it's a father and son team).  So I've known for nearly 2 months that the wedding was to be last weekend, and thought, "Well, I've got a few dresses in my closet which will work...."  The ladies out there know what I'm talking about.

So, on Thursday night, around 11PM, I decided that since I don't know New Jersey customs, and this was to be in a Catholic church, with a country club reception, I needed something new.  Long dress or short?  I decided on one of those fancy high-low hems, cut a rough idea out of an old sheer curtain I had lying around, basted it together, pinned it to a dress that had a suitable bodice, and decided that this was what I'd wear - of course, made out of a lightweight royal blue brocade.

I spent Friday afternoon sewing, and in only about 4 hours had this:

I was pretty pleased.  (Blogger won't post it vertical.  Sorry for the crik in your neck which is developing right now from looking at it.)

The wedding was the most over-the-top affair I've ever seen.  12 bridesmaids and 12 groomsmen.  Seriously, where do you find 24 people you love so dearly that they absolutely must be in your bridal party?  That doesn't count the four nieces and nephews (ages 2 to 8) of the couple, who were just adorable in their little tuxes and dresses.  The groom told us there were 270 people at the reception.  Holy cow.  I was pretty sure I saw 4 celebrities there: Dr. Melfi from the Sopranos, Gene Hackman, Kenny Rogers and Ralph Acampora. Almost all were lookalikes: Dr. Melfi lacked the annoying voice, Gene Hackman was really a financial advisor to big-time athletes, Kenny Rogers was really a CPA or lawyer or something, but we really did meet and converse with the real Ralph Acampora.  OK, that's only exciting if you're a longtime CNBC and financial news junkie, which we are.  There were several big-wigs, active and retired, from huge corporations, too, although I can't recall all the names.

The food was astonishing, too.  They had rented a room at a boat club for the 2 hours between wedding and reception; libations and snacks were liberally available.  The reception was at a country club overlooking a huge river in New Jersey - about a mile wide at that point.  For the first hour, there were hors d'oeuvres on the patio - mini quiches, mini pigs in blankets, bacon wrapped scallops, coconut shrimp, beef crostini, beef something else, crab claws, shrimp, fruits....a full meal right there.  And then this was the dinner menu:

Anyone who left hungry had only himself to blame.

The big downside to the day was the freakin' eastern New Jersey traffic.  The d**n Garden State Parkway sometimes moved as fast as 30 MPH; the net effect was that it took me an hour to drive 17 miles at 1PM.  Delightful.  I swear I'll never drive in eastern New Jersey again unless it's between midnight and 5AM!

So, I hope you all had a more relaxing weekend than mine.  Happy Monday, everyone!