Evan and Cori's Wedding Part 3: The After Party

Immediately after our ceremony was over we joined our photographer, Sarah Neal, for the rest of our shots. It was glorious. We got to explore a ranch, hang out with a horse, smell manure in a barn (okay, maybe only some people will get that one), sit on a dock over the water at dusk, and pose around old broken down trucks like vogue models. Basically, we got to run around an entire estate thanks to the oh-so-generous owner and manager of the Foxboro Ranch. Not just anyone gets to do that!

My absolute favorite shot, possibly from the entire wedding:

It was magical.

We had appetizers and drinks for our guests while we were away and by the time we got back everyone was ready to eat dinner and start the after party. The food from Thornager's was delicious, with an amaranth quinoa pilaf, salad with avocado dressing, vegetables, fresh rolls, and mango salsa over smoked turkey. All was gluten, dairy, and nut free except the rolls on the side. We weren't that big on the idea of shoving cake into each other's mouth (even though I love cake), so since we had already reached our small budget we didn't worry about it. No one mentioned a thing about the missing sweets. With wine, beer, and a bottle of rum, who needed anything more? All of our serving wear was from the company World Centric that I posted previously about, and it worked perfectly! Beat throwing away hundreds of pieces of styrofoam and plastic.

If you look closely at Evan's cup you can see where it says cougar bait, thanks to my cousin and his sense of humor.
Our decorations looked amazing. My wonderful Aunt took charge and transformed the place, along with the help of my sister, my dear friend, and the huge amount of people that showed up the day prior to help.We used the mason jar idea, they picked flowers to fill all of the vintage bottles I had purchased at thrift shops, set things on stacks of old books that we brought from home, had tea light candles in nifty holders, and put everything on the coolest boards that they surprised me with that were covered with old Alaska maps and spray painted to look antique. I loved them.

When Jes over at A.Mountain.Bride posted this idea about a wedding tree, I flipped. I had to do it. We had our close friend Aaron create the skeleton of a tree with india ink and quality art paper, and had people stamp their thumbs as leaves and sign their name.

Our guest book was a combination of the tree and the picture below. We took pieces of fiber paper that had been torn into smaller rectangles and put them where people could write their favorite memories, wishes for us, or words of wisdom. They were packed away after the ceremony and sent with us to read on our honeymoon. Eventually, I plan on making a wedding album/ scrapbook and having these included. We also posted our vows here after the ceremony for people to read since they were requesting them and there wasn't a microphone in the field.

I don't like being the center of attention, it's just never been my thing. This, I found, is unavoidable on your wedding. It was Evan who pushed me to do the first dance, father-daughter dance, and mother-son dance. Since it was important to him I supported it completely, and in the end was so glad we had chosen to stick with this one tradition. Due to the pre-wedding craziness, picking a song with my dad had somehow slipped away from us. So instead, we had a quick family meeting during the reception and decided to go with Joe Cocker's You are so Beautiful. Which made my mom and my aunt cry. It was such a priceless time to connect with my dad and talk, just his little girl and him. I didn't realize what a gift it was to each other.

Dancing with Evan... it was hard for us to chose which song we wanted because there are so many that could represent us and our journey together. Music is... very special for us. It has been since the beginning when I was 18 and he was 21 and we were in the top story of a cold Portland house on dark winter nights. We danced to Marry Song, by Band of Horses. We listened to this song from Portland to Alaska and all through Canada and down the western states, coming home to where we are now. How I love that boy.

He and his momma danced to Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight, which made both of them cry.

Speeches and toasts, and lovely grandmothers. She wore the jewelery my poppa gave to her one year in Alaska, which was significant since his absence left an unfillable void that day.

But we celebrated for what was and what is and what is yet to come. We danced and embraced and loved every minute of all being finally together again.

Plus you really can't go wrong with Fat Bottomed Girls makin' the world go round.

Or a man who can slide into a circle of the women of my family and charm them all.

Or a grammy who dances to Shorty Got Low.


Or a husband who dances with your grammy.


Or sisters that swing each other around like they did when they were little.

Or friends and family who take care of things for you.


Who also surprise you with a limousine ride home.


And then danced the night away.

It was so good. We are so blessed.

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