A Life Full of Laughter: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Our reception didn't turn into a raging dance party, but our guests kept the floor pretty busy anyway. SIL Hyena called all the married couples out to the dance floor for the anniversary dance, and it was packed! She started eliminating couples based on how long each had been married. Mr. Hyena and I were the first to leave the floor, since we'd been married less than a day!

 

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Now, I'd like to take a second to commemorate something amazing that happened during the anniversary dance. Mr. Hyena and I were watching all the married couples dancing from the stage, and about halfway through the song, Mom Hyena and H-Dad walked out to the dance floor. You may remember that my parents don't dance. In 30 years of marriage, they had never once danced together.

I saw them from the stage, and immediately flagged down our photographer. "My parents are dancing! MY PARENTS ARE DANCING! They never dance, get a picture!!!"

The dance floor cleared out as SIL Hyena called out 35 years, 40 years, 45 years, and the two of them kept dancing until it was only them and my grandparents left. I think they realized then they were supposed to have left a little earlier, but why stop a good thing? :)

My grandparents stepped up to the mic. Grandpa Hyena was quite a ham, and pretended he couldn't remember how long he had been married to Grandma Hyena because he's too old. Grandma Hyena remembered though: 55 years! Their advice to us?

Grandma: "Keep smiling!"
Grandpa: "And do what she says."

After that, we were able to keep the dance floor going.

My friends are always down for a little "Thriller"!

We also never met a line dance we didn't like.

Mr. Hyena got that dance he wanted with his mom.

Meanwhile, I two-stepped with Groomsman M.

It was perfect.

unless otherwise noted, all photos by Danny Boyle Photography

Previously on A Life Full of Laughter:

• "The One Where We Get Practice Married"

• "The One Where The Girls Put On Their Faces"

• "The One With The Beautiful Words"

• "The One Where The Dudes Get Sexy"

• "The One With The Big White Dress"

• "The One Where We Smize"

• "The One Where We Don't See Each Other"

• "The One With All The Walking"

• "The One Where It's Official"

• "The One After The Ceremony"

• "The One With Our Wonderful Families"

• "The One With The Bride and Groom"

• "The One Where We Dance"

• "The One Where We Mix 'n' Mingle"

A Life Full of Laughter: Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night

As soon as our first dance was over, I grabbed my mom and tried to haul her out to the dance floor in an attempt to get the dance floor rockin'. This didn't really work. Remember, Hyena Parents don't dance, so I let it go; people would dance when they wanted to. Instead, Mr. Hyena and I went around to visit with our guests, who were eating the delicious hors d'oeuvres, drinking good beer and wine, and having a good time.

Our coordinator convinced me a few weeks before the wedding that we should rent a few cocktail tables to go around the dance floor area, and that turned out to be the best idea ever. It made the dance floor seem more intimate and gave people a place to set their food and drinks (especially since we didn't have enough banquet seating for every single person).

But the banquet tables still got plenty of use!

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I know they say you can't count on eating at your own wedding, but we were hell-bent on getting some food! Bridesmaid J was awesome and plated a little bit of everything for us. We snuck off for a few minutes to scarf the sundried tomato bruschetta, bacon and goat cheese-stuffed mushrooms, cranberry pecan brie rounds and chicken quesadillas. SO. GOOD.

Mr. Hyena's Uncle C videotaped our ceremony and bits of our reception for us, and he asked our families to say a little something. We watched back the video when we got back from our honeymoon, and we are so glad to have those memories on tape! Hyena Hint: It's okay if you don't hire a videographer, but get someone to film the important parts.

We got pictures with the friends we don't see very often; these are my Oklahoma peeps!

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And even though it turned out to be more of a cocktail party than a giant dance party, people still came out to dance...

unless otherwise noted, all photos by Danny Boyle Photography

Previously on A Life Full of Laughter:

• "The One Where We Get Practice Married"

• "The One Where The Girls Put On Their Faces"

• "The One With The Beautiful Words"

• "The One Where The Dudes Get Sexy"

• "The One With The Big White Dress"

• "The One Where We Smize"

• "The One Where We Don't See Each Other"

• "The One With All The Walking"

• "The One Where It's Official"

• "The One After The Ceremony"

• "The One With Our Wonderful Families"

• "The One With The Bride and Groom"

• "The One Where We Dance"

A Life Full of Laughter: A Grand Entrance

We pulled up in front of Downtown 202, and heard the strains of our cocktail hour music coming through the speakers.

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H-Dad was up at the microphone, and as we entered, he announced us as Mr. and MRS. Hyena!

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I passed off my bouquet to one of the bridesmaids and we made our way up to the front of the stage.

We wanted to start the reception with our first dance so everyone would know the dance floor was open. "Smile" began playing over the speakers and we began our first dance as husband and wife.

You're better than the best

I'm lucky just to linger in your light

Cooler than the flip side of my pillow, that's right

Completely unaware, nothing can compare

To where you send me, lets me know that it's okay

Yeah it's okay

And the moments where my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun, fall out of bed

Sing like a bird, dizzy in my head

Spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe

Shine like gold, buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Oh, you make me smile

Even when you're gone

Somehow you come along just like

A flower poking through the sidewalk crack

And just like that you steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun, fall out of bed

Sing like a bird, dizzy in my head

Spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe

Shine like gold, buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Oh, you make me smile

Don't know how I lived without you

'Cause every time that I get around you

I see the best of me inside your eyes

You make me smile

You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe

Shine like gold, buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun, fall out of bed

Sing like a bird, dizzy in my head

Spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe

Shine like gold, buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Oh, you make me smile

Oh, you make me smile

unless otherwise noted, all photos by Danny Boyle Photography

Previously on A Life Full of Laughter:

• "The One Where We Get Practice Married"

• "The One Where The Girls Put On Their Faces"

• "The One With The Beautiful Words"

• "The One Where The Dudes Get Sexy"

• "The One With The Big White Dress"

• "The One Where We Smize"

• "The One Where We Don't See Each Other"

• "The One With All The Walking"

• "The One Where It's Official"

• "The One After The Ceremony"

• "The One With Our Wonderful Families"

• "The One With The Bride and Groom"

A Life Full of Laughter: Our Party People

Let's get to some fun pictures, shall we? We gathered our bridal party to get some group shots!

I love jumping shots. They're goofy. :) I look like a floating cupcake, and Bridesmaid L is making the best face ever.

Remember when the groomsmen picked up Mr. Hyena? Well, they wanted to pick me up too.

So the bridesmaids decided it was only fair if they got to pick up Mr. Hyena as well!

Okay, so that didn't exactly work out as planned, but it made for some awesome pictures. :)

With those done, we sent our bridal party ahead to the reception so Mr. Hyena and I could get some pictures of just the two of us.

We dragged a bench outside from the lobby of the church. These makes us look way cooler than we actually are. :)

After returning the bench to its usual location, we left the church to take some pictures in downtown Bryan. This is my favorite picture from the entire day.

Yeah, we're smoochy. What can I say? I just married this hottie! :)

The day was flying by. Our reception had already begun! Best Man J drove us the few blocks to Downtown 202 for our grand entrance.

Would you let your bridal party pick you up while in your dress?

all photos by Danny Boyle Photography

Previously on A Life Full of Laughter:

• "The One Where We Get Practice Married"

• "The One Where The Girls Put On Their Faces"

• "The One With The Beautiful Words"

• "The One Where The Dudes Get Sexy"

• "The One With The Big White Dress"

• "The One Where We Smize"

• "The One Where We Don't See Each Other"

• "The One With All The Walking"

• "The One Where It's Official"

• "The One After The Ceremony"

• "The One With Our Wonderful Families"