Our
Rehearsal was held at the Wedding Pavilion at 2:00pm on August 23, 2001.
Reverand Jack set the mood with a great deal of humor, and the time flew
by.
After the Rehearsal, everyone had a little but of time to themselves before meeting again at O'Hana in the Polynesian Resort for our Welcome Party.
Instead of a traditional Rehearsal Party, where only the members of the
Wedding Party attend, we threw a big Welcome Party for all of our guests
who came down to Disney for our wedding. A few of our guests still had not
arrived by the time the party was held, but we had plans to meet them later.
We
all met in the lounge of O'hana, and waited until most everyone had arrived
before being seated. A few people were a little late in arriving, but eventually
everyone who should be there made it.
Michelle's
Dad took control of gathering everyone together and settling nerves, and
started off the evening right by ordering drinks for the soon-to-be-newlyweds!
Thus appropriately armed, we were able to let go of our bridal stress and
truly enjoy the night, surrounded by the love and laughter of family and
friends.
We
were all soon seated on one long table, with John and Michelle each on opposite
ends of the table. Our friends and family then gathered all around.
John, in true loving fashion, started an operator game by sending messages through everyone down to Michelle, and eventually passing notes. Everyone had great fun with this!
The
food was wonderful. Appetizer courses of salads, finger foods, and fixings
were brought out as the drink orders were taken and filled.
Throughout dinner, music was played and at various times the band got the entire restaurant to sing and play along. He even had us wave napkins in the air when singing some of the songs.
Finally
the waiters returned with the main course, carrying huge skewers
of chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp and serving as much as everyone wanted.
When he ran out of food, he'd leave and return with another long skewer.
With so much food in site (and no doubt because the meal was also on the
bride & groom! :) ), everyone quickly stuffed themselves.
Throughout
the evening, the O'hana CMs (Cast Members) had games for the kids to participate
in. The first was a game where the kids had to swat a coconut around the
restaurant with a broom, and John's niece, Tori, did a great job. She impressed
all of us in the second game with her ability to keep hulaing that hoop!
Finally
dessert was brought out - pineapples smothered in hot caramel. It tastes
so much better than it sounds, and I found I wanted to eat more of it than
was probably wise! :)
After food was served, and as everyone was beginning to wind down, we took out the boxes we had brought with us, filled to the rim with gifts for our wedding party.
Though
it is traditional to present gifts to the members of your wedding party,
and traditional to do so at the Rehearsal Dinner, still all of our family
and friends in our Wedding Party seemed completely taken by surprise. John
and I took great delight in their love of the gifts we bought them. We hope
they all know how much love went into them, and how grateful we are to all
of them.
Finally the evening had drawn to a close, after over two wonderful hours of food, drink, laughter, and fun. We all parted ways again, but only briefly, for we were due to meet up again at Pleasure Island for our "Last Night Out."
