McCarthy’s Get Mawwied: Rehearsal Dinner

Ok, so I don’t think I make a secret of the fact that my now-husband and I occasionally avail ourselves of a cocktail. But we can also be quite charming and appropriate and I would highly encourage you to consider us highly desirable dinner guests. We generally know when to rage and when to stick to our Table Topics. Generally.

On our rehearsal dinner night, I think Pete got confused.

We held our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on the Thursday before our wedding, the thought being that we wanted a really intimate rehearsal dinner, and most guests would not arrive until Friday, so we could keep it small without excluding anyone. Friday night would be a Welcome Party for all geusts- more on that later.

So Pete and I arrived in Aspen on Tuesday, and had dinner with both of our parents. Pete and our families stayed in town all week, and I stayed at our ranch where the wedding was to be held with my bridesmaids.

Wednesday a few friends and family who had arrived in Aspen early had a casual dinner at Woody Creek Tavern. Thursday afternoon a bus came from the hotel in town with our families, Pete, his groomsmen, and ushers and house party for the rehearsal.

P.S. I was telling my friends after my hair and makeup was finished (by fabulous professionals) that I thought I looked like Taylor Swift.

They just looked at me confused like I had a star-shaped head.(Mind you, in trying to imagine, the lips were red!)Maybe??

What was the first thing my Mom said when she saw me that afernoon? “You kind of look like Taylor Swift!”

I love you, Momma.

Afterwards, we loaded the buses back up and returned to town for the dinner at Caribou Club.
It was such a cool atmosphere, we had drinks in their sort of Native Americany lounge…

Very Ralph Lauren chic, no?

…Before a seated dinner in the main dining room.

Because of the setup tables were small, 4, 6, and 8 people a piece, and it was a really great way for people to start to get to know each other who might not already be bffs. The tables were beautiful and simple, just some good old fashioned red roses and candlelight.

Dinner was delicious- or so I heard. I was too busy listening to all of the incredible toasts to be worrying about food- which is saying a lot for a fatkid like myself. I mean honestly, I think most bloggers would probably have to admit to a little vanity- why else would you put your life out there in the interwebs unless you think you are at least a little awesome and might be in need of some more attention. I will. So to have the people I love most in the world stand up, bathed by super flattering candlelight, and tell heartwarming and funny stories about how much Pete and I rule was pretty much my bliss.

Literally every single toast was funny and heartfelt and made Pete and I feel so loved.

One of the highlights for sure was my two bridesmaids and bffs, Laura and MayMay, who set their toast to a musical review.

Their song choices, quite appropriately were as follows (with some choice lyrics, natch):

Hit Me Bailey One More Time

Oh Bailey, Bailey/ How were we supposed to know/ That we would have to share you/ Oh Bailey, Bailey/ Ain’t gonna let you go/ But now you’re gettin’ married/ We must confess/ We are jealous (Of Pete!)/ It’s killin’ us nowwww/ Don’t ya know you’re my best friend/ What did you say?/I thought she was miineee/ Love ya Bailey for all time!

Petey Got Back

I like Pete McCarthy & I cannot lie/ Chicago boys are so fly/ When Bails walked in/ freshman year/ with a cocktail in her hand/ Pete got SLAMMED!

Their Hearts Will Go On, and finished with a rousing edition of Baby Mama- if you haven’t heard it, it’s by Fantasia and is amazing. Look it up.

Me lovin’ on Mayzr after her performance.

It was all very lovely and heartwarming. Afterwards there was a cocktail reception at the Sky Hotel for all of the guests that had flown in that night.Lots of my super cute ladyfriends at The Sky.

But then somewhere along the way I think Petey got some bad ice in his drink. And things kind of fell apart a bit.This was the last documented moment of Pete’s presence that night, and I think it just really accurately expresses everything. Just everything.

Now, I am not using my blog to unfairly call out my truly adorable husband. I too became a wildebeast at one time or another over the weekend, I just waited- like a lady- until I was in the privacy of my own home…

…with props… Of course.

Tomorrow I will be posting our invitations (for the first time!) and our save the dates (for those who missed them…) and some behind the scenes scoop of just how we got to the big day so that we are all caught up for the Big Day posts on Monday! Sound good?