Wedding, Vegas-Style

This should have been posted AGES ago, but I've been busy and have preferred reading to writing lately.

Anyway, brudda man Dan's wedding was actually quite a hootenanny. All told there were just under 100 people there (the bridal party made up half of that number...) and everyone had a really good time. Dan's friends were hysterical and it was fun having most of the Kettelberger cousins in full effect. We were a little worried that there might be a rude outburst or bitch-slap from saucy Grandma Lolo, but she kept her cool and just danced and gossiped with the rest of us. The bridesmaids dresses were actually pretty (even though mine was too loose and I had to keep tugging it up) and the boys looked very handsome. My mother kept a smile on her face thanks to my wonderful Leo, who made sure that she always had a drink in her hand. He was also kind enough to take pictures throughout the whole ceremony since D & T decided to save money by not getting a photographer. It was like the paparazzi, flashbulbs going off everywhere, a dozen photogs lined up for the perfect shots. The highlight of the outdoor wedding ceremony (which felt like a really long time due to my superfly but painful heels) was when the multiple firetrucks and ambulences flew by with their sirens blaring.. Michele and I couldn't hold it in, and when we saw that Dan Dan the Groom Man was laughing, everyone burst out. After that the mood was lighter. The ceremony was nice, and even though there have been legendary Schmidt-Poeller issues in the past, it was plain to see that Dan and Tanya are very much in love. My favorite moment was dancing the polka with my brother, who said the next day that I "started off a little snarky, but by the end I was everyone's friend." Ah, the miracles of alcohol.

I am happy to say that I put together an excellent honeymoon in Costa Rica for them, and they had a blast white-water rafting, rappeling down waterfalls, and watching the volcano erupt.