We parked on the grass and kind of snuck in to catch the part of the ceremony where the two of them jump over a broom. They made the jump without touching any part of them to the ground or the broom (even clothing), so the universe approves of their marriage? Something like that. They ran off and jumped into the horse-drawn carriage and went off… somewhere…
So, where do I start? The groom and groomsmen were all in plain black suits. The bridesmaids were in beautiful saris. The bride was wearing a custom gown that was inspired by Star Wars, but I searched and I can’t find a picture. It was beaded and gold and flowy and gauzy and unique. I could go on, I have decided not to.
The bride and groom headed off in their horse-drawn carriage and the rest of the attendees headed inside for cocktails and appetizers. I saw my former in-laws, some of them for the first time in very many years. It was quite heartening how well-received I was and how happy they were to see me there. Later in the evening, my ex-mother-in-law came to say that my presence there speaks volumes, my mother added, for all three of us. The simple fact that Dragonmaker, Dragonmaker’s wife and I get along well enough for me to not just be tolerated, but welcomed at the wedding really goes to show that people can be grown-ups about divorce. I do wish them well, and they know it.
So cocktails and appetizers. My drink of choice for the evening was gin and tonic because I didn’t want to have to think about it. I had to drive home, so I moderated my drinking and I think I only had about 3 drinks (over the course of 6 hours). The appetizers were, frankly, strange. I only tried the carrot/coconut shooter, which was like a very strange and watery pudding. Dinner was much better.
Spawn, for the first time in his life, found himself playing the host at someone else’s party. In addition to running with his posse and being followed around by female groupies (aged 2, 4, 6 and 8 ), he introduced people to each other, mingled like a pro and even had his first slow dance with a girl! And what a dance it was. Although this girl is practically family, it couldn’t have been a better person to have that first slow dance with. He framed her well, looked into her eyes, held a conversation and (to a small extent) steered her around the dance floor. The fact that she let him lead and he stepped up was so impressive to me. "THAT," I told him later, "is exactly how you dance with a girl. Remember all of it."
I did some dancing and even forced one of my two brothers out on the dance floor. He claims that he can’t dance, but he made the effort and didn’t look nearly as much of a fool as he claimed he would. The other brother dug in his heels and wouldn’t budge (I had to literally drag the other brother onto the dance floor). A couple of friends of mine came with their 11 month old baby, who I was meeting for the first time. She’s adorable (and I’m not a baby person!). I went up to the dad and said "Give me your baby and go dance with your wife!" He handed me the baby who fell completely in love with me, cracking up every time I sang to her or stuck my tongue out. I think I made a new friend 
My mother asked me if I ever regretted not having a wedding "like this". She said that sometimes she feels like a bad mother for not having given me the fairy-tale princess treatment on my wedding day, but I’m really not a fairy-princess kind of gal. I’m starting to think that I have so many stories from my past that deserved to be told that maybe my wedding is one of them, but for now I don’t want to take away from Dragonmaker’s day.
The bride and groom danced together. Then the bride and her father. Then the groom and his mother. His mother was thrilled to be dancing with her son and it was wonderful to see how natural they were dancing together. It made me heart soar and she told me later that it was a wonderful experience to have. Good for them!
Dragonmaker is part of an improv troupe. Several of his friends from improv were there and wanted to sing. The first woman is someone I have met a few times, a wonderful woman. She’s got a gorgeous voice and a matching personality. She sang wonderfully. The second girl went up and the leader of the band said "I don’t know if this is really a romantic song…"
Someone please tell me… on what planet does someone sing House of the Rising Sun at a wedding? She was pretty drunk and she butchered and forgot a lot of the words. There was some measure of relief that I felt when she left off the line "I’m going back to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain." Because, you know, inappropriate…
A third woman sang and, after a few false starts it turned out very lovely. I was mostly trying to get my carful of people together, so I wasn’t paying all that much attention.
And then the bride and groom sang "Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off", which ended the musical portion of the reception. Once they were finished the band packed up and I started making my goodbyes. Spawn was having such a good time, that he decided to leave with the rest of my family, so I packed up Girl and my two brothers and we went back home.
Spawn got home about an hour after us and we all wound up staying up Far Too Late for having plans to hit Tulip Fest the next morning.