Our Wedding: The Potluck Party with Square Dancing!

Today is the third and final installment of the wedding recap, with some images that show what we did the day after the wedding. With nearly all of our family and close friends coming in from out of town, we wanted to give them something fun to do—so we came up with a potluck party at a local state park with a band, square dancing and pie! Also, the event came with an added bonus: I got to wear my dress again, this time with comfy (though sparkly) flip flops.

The lodge itself was beautiful (I believe it was built during the 1930s by the CCC), so we kept decorations to a minimum. (Also, I was trying my best not to have the cleanup be too much of an ordeal, because I suspected that we'd all be tired.) My mother in law and my sister handled putting flowers in mason jars on the interior tables, on top of linens that were hand stitched by my paternal great grandmother.

 

Outside we hung the garlands that I made from paint swatches that I'd gotten at work from Yolo Colorhouse, and put potted boxwood basil and citronella candles on the picnic tables.

 

I had three vintage cakes stands from Virginia's wedding that we used to show off some of the dozen pies that we had for dessert. Two of them were huckleberry, which Josh's mom made the morning of this event using berries that she brought frozen in a cooler during the two day drive from Montana. We even had two gluten free pies (I made sure to get the crust recipe!), which was an unexpected treat.

 

And then we square danced...

 

because it is so much fun. I so loved getting to share a square dance with my dad!

 

Josh sang "Shady Grove" with the band. I tried my hardest not to cry.

 

Since the pies were out for the entire 4 hours of the party, many of us had more than one slice of pie, which to me is the sign of a good time.

 

When the mosquitos became unbearable, we moved the band inside.

 

And my friends and family promptly decided that it was time for them to get up and sing. So they started "You are my sunshine" and we all joined in. That, hands down, was my favorite moment of the day. Oh, apart from this one...

 

That my friends is my blurry attempt to capture my new husband playing his guitar and leading us in song on the way home from the potluck. I think we're going to have an excellent marriage!