Rehearsal Dinner :: Sharon Country Club, Sharon, CT
Dallas & Zach accidentally both wore off-white suits with pink shirts and striped ties. They thought they were Crockett & Tubbs.
Bill, Matt, Dallas, Ross :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT
Colleen & Rachelle :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT
Maureen & Nancy :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT
Marinella with George & his wife :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT
Ross :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT
Tommy & Matt :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT
Matt & Molly’s wedding rehearsal dinner was held at the Sharon Country Club in Sharon, CT. It was lovely. We had cocktails before dinner then we were all seated. A big delicious crab cake occupied the salad for the first course (and you know about my crab cake obsession). For an entree we were to choose chicken or halibut. I chose the fish and it was delicious. Dessert was strawberry shortcake.
The seating at the wedding was non-traditional. .. or maybe very old-school traditional? I’m not sure, but I’d never seen it before. We were all shuffled up. I sat at a table with 7 people I’d never met before. I thought it would be awkward, but it was actually kind of nice because then in the following days they were friendly faces for you to talk to. At each place setting there was a gift of Hilliard’s Chocolates. In addition the groomsmen each got a snazzy tie for a gift and the bridesmaids all got beautiful emerald necklaces and earrings. Of course the ties and jewelry were for them all to wear the next day, but then to keep forever.
Before and during dinner there were many speeches and well-wishes and toasts by the parents and wedding party. Dallas was asked to make one and I was worried that he would stand up from his seat and say congrats and sit back down. I didn’t know what to expect, but he actually did a really great job up in front of everyone. He thanked Matt’s family for their kindness and hospitality. When Dallas lived in Boston he was far from his family and friends and Matt’s parents and brothers were somewhat of an adopted family for him where he could hang out and spend holidays. Seriously, though, Martin and Luanne are the nicest ever. At the end of Dallas’ speech he spoke about his Hawaiian upbringing and his Japanese heritage and had everyone do a Kanpai toast. People were coming up to him all weekend telling him how great his toast was, which made me really proud. There was also a beautiful slide show set to music of Molly & Matt’s lives and how they’ve come together. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room after that aired.
After dinner we went to the Boathouse in Lakeville, CT where we met up with more friends who were getting into town and had some drinks with them for a few hours.