Since we were already (accidentally) announced into the cocktail hour, the reception started with our first dance. We chose a different rendition of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” because we couldn?t agree on a song that was more the two of us. We have so many songs we both love, but too many memories attached to that song to have chosen anything else. (The captain randomly played this song every morning when we were on a scuba trip in Australia, and a rendition was played on the banjo when we were engaged.) I kept telling Mr. S we couldn?t have the same song for when I walked down the aisle and for our first dance, but in the end it really didn?t matter?
All photos by Amber Bridges Studios!

I felt like things would have flowed a bit better if all of the special dances weren?t one after the other, because it seemed like our guests were standing around just watching for a while. Then again, it would have been difficult to stop all of the dancing to insert the father-daughter dance and mother-son dance, and maybe that?s why they?re usually all together at the beginning of the reception" It does help to think about the flow of your reception and when certain events will take place—which we, of course, didn?t really do. After Mr. S and I  danced for the first time as husband and wife (!), I danced with my dad to “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty.

Then Mr. S danced with his mom to “Young at Heart” by Frank Sinatra.

Then it was time ...