After the beautiful wedding ceremony and riding off on the groom's Harley, the bride and groom joined the guests on the beach for a group wedding photo. Family and attendants stuck around a little longer to take some photos with the bride and groom before they took off to take photos on their own. We had some time to kill between the photos and the cocktail hour, so several of us went back to the air conditioned house to cool off and put our feet up! I later heard that the place to be was on the beach near the reception hall. Guests were able to enjoy a canoe filled with beer and ice-cold water, lounge in beach chairs, and/or play corn-hole with fancy "Mr & Mrs" boards!
Group photo of all the guests
Can you find Colin and me?
My photo with the bride!
I love jumping photos!
We made our way over to the reception hall just as the cocktail hour started with brushetta-type appetizers, goat cheese balls, and chicken kabobs - which were all delicious!
Candid of Colin and I at the cocktail hour
Janelle and I were the two Raleigh bridesmaids
We traveled and spent most of the weekend together
Soon after the bride and groom arrived from taking their photos, it was time for the reception festivities to begin! It started with the attendants and bride/groom making our formal entrance, moved into the reception hall for the meal, and proceeded with traditional wedding details (speeches, toasts, dancing, cake cutting, and garter and bouquet toss).
The venue was beautifully decorated with a "rustic" look and we had several buffet stations to choose from. There was a pasta-to-order station, a bacon station, a potato bar, and a salad bar. The bacon station was by far the most interesting. There were bacon donuts, bacon truffles, various seasonings on strips of bacon, and pork sliders! It was a tad bit too much bacon for me, so I opted for a sample from each of the stations.
A Nicol(l)e sandwich making our official entrance to the cocktail hour
The beautifully decorated Sanderling reception hall
All credit is due to Laural's florist for this look
Once our bellies were full, the toasts/speeches delivered, and the music started, we were all ready to head outside. Colin spent most of his time enjoying the firepit while the girls did our thing on the dance floor. Speaking of the dance floor, I think the highlight of the night was the choreographed performance delivered by the bride and groom. It was fantastic and they both nailed it!
Colin hanging out by the fire pit with me taking a picture of the setting
(as the photographer takes a picture back)
A snapshot of the wonderfully choreographed first dance
The day did not feel nearly as long as it was - until I got into my pajamas and into bed! But being part of such a wonderful day was worth every last ounce of energy. There is nothing quite like a wedding celebration between two people who really love each other. And I'm grateful to have been a part of it.
