Andrea Dreschel & John Sherlock

When: Saturday, May 23rd, 2009
Where: Grand Forks Townhouse
1st Dance Song: "Keeper of the Stars" by Tracy Byrd

Too....tired....to.....type. Egads, the original contract had signed me up for a three hour dance. Reality set in about 10:15pm when the groomsmen let me know they were adding two hours of time. Great for them, but have you ever stood in dress shoes for... (does the math)... seven hours? I don't take breaks at these things, you know. Enough whining, on to the details.

Guests started rolling in just before 6pm so I caught the host couples up to speed, found a high chair for a guest, and helped fill vases at the head table for the bouquets. At 6:40 we got Andrea's dad, Paul, up for the welcoming toast, then I started dismissing tables for the buffet. Oh, and it turns out one of the bridesmaids was one of the nurses when our baby was born. Hi, Haley!

Helped the photographer get all her shots since she was only there about two hours: cake, toasts, family, and trivia. Wait, I forgot to explain that last one. To get Andrea and John to kiss you had to ask a question. So if you knew John was the little drummer boy in the kindergardner Christmas program, you asked Andrea what part he played. She gets it right, you kiss your neighbor. She gets it wrong, she kisses John.

Speeches, then straight to the dance. Nothing too unusual (except that it was FIVE HOURS!) but we did a dance off to give the garter away. I had to sweep the dance floor after a glass was broken. Oh, and the Townhouse staff didn't know how late I was allowed to play until (it took five people to figure that one out). And... I can't believe I almost forgot... Andrea's dad's favorite song was: Tootsie Roll! Sweet! I got footage of that one.

Paige Nielsen & Bryan Sims

When: Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Where: Grand Forks Holiday Inn
1st Dance Song: "Love of My Life" by Sammy Kershaw

Wow. My first wedding of the new season (11th year!) and I was actually a bit nervous. Fortunately, there was no cause. Things went very smoothly... or at least the things I could help with. There was the matter of the leaning cake (the photo doesn't do it justice). We took care of the photos quickly and started disassembling the cake before dinner, so no harm done.

This reception was a great reminder for me. Spend a little time chatting up guests, like Uncle Al, and you'll learn all kinds of things. Who can sing (or can't sing, rather), the bride's first hunting trip, and who is newly single so maybe you can get a hold of your photographer friend and try and introduce him to her (didn't work out). Important things that help make the evening a bit more individualized. That's how I got four different guests asking me how I knew the couple. They all assume we were friends, that I knew them personally. Good. That's what I'm going for.


Bryan and Paige did their first dance right when they arrived. I think they liked the idea of changing things up a bit.

The sign in the pic (to the right) is for the Twins game on Sunday. Paige bought them tickets for part of their honeymoon. We played a game of Hot & Cold for Bryan to find it (he needed help. Apparently its a game you need to practice).

By 12:30 am there were only about five or ten guests NOT on the dance floor. Everyone else was still eager to keep going, but sadly the Holiday Inn sets the rules and we had to call it a night.