Saturday. July 20, 2019. This is the day. Oona and Sam become Mr. and Mrs. A year of engagement and now…. it’s that day!
Today is the day!! And I have the embroidered hanky that Oona’s Maid-of-Honor had made for me and Sam’s mom!
The wakeup call at 7:30 had me reaching for the glass that Bonaparte handed to me. Although the beverages from the night before left me without a headache, I felt rather…….empty and needed the assistance of ol’ Speedy Alka Seltzer.
Thank you Speedy for relieving my aches *wink*!
Oona, the Bridesmaids and Yours Truly were to convene in Oona’s suite at 8:30 for hair and makeup. Luckily because I merely have to plop a head of synthetic tresses on my noggin, I was able to show up a few minutes late.
Hmmm..hmmmm. Breakfast fun before the makeup gets done!
It was fun to be among the girls and watching them, animated and giddy, was very entertaining for me. It made me realize what great friends Oona has and each of them were transformed into greater beauties than they naturally are.
Oh yes she is..and the champagne flowed freely!
The Bridal Bouquet arrives!
As do the flowers for the Bridesmaids and..
….the groomsmen
We all know who this is…
Our beautiful Bride!
With trepidation, I took my place in the chair and had my makeup done. I’m not a fan of others doing my face but for this occasion, I chalked it up. And oh, was I glad I did. The foundation was airbrushed and I had never had airbrushed makeup. It was great—just like a second skin and Sarah Cormier, the owner of Moxxie Makeup did a fantastic job. She was so thorough and aware of my “mature” skin. She went light on the eyes and did a very natural look and I loved it so much.
Sarah did a stellar Mother-of-the-Bride look on me. Not overdone and just perfect!
She used MAC’s “Faux” lipstick on me and I’ve made note to buy it! I LOVE the shade!
In the end, I opted to keep my hair down and the compliments I received on the Mother-of-the-Bride hair from my friends at Estetica Designs was a hit a!
Had I kept the shapewear the dress would have looked a bit smoother but I’ll take comfort and fun on the dancefloor rather than being a stuffed sausage!
But what she did to Oona and the girls was gorgeous! Seriously, if you are ever in Cincinnati for an event and want your makeup done, give Moxxie Makeup a call!
My gift for photography really shines through–doesn’t it?
This was taken after the ceremony. Um..some aren’t in chronological order!
Back to the suite. Oona and Sam had a sitter come and entertain my neice Isis and Bonaparte’s granddaughter Sophie during the wedding. A pre-wedding photo of the bride was in order!
Another example of my talentless photography skills but man, does Oona look gorgeous!
Photographs were taken before the wedding and Sam had what is called a “First Look”. It’s what many young marrieds are doing these days. In case you aren’t aware, the first look is pre-arranged by the photographer where the groom and bride see each other for the first time in a more private setting. It’s a pragmatic thing because thereafter, the bridal party takes photos and more time is free for them to enjoy the reception.
We convened in the lobby of the hotel shortly before the 6PM ceremony and then headed off to see my baby become a married woman.
Brothers-of-the-Bride off to see their baby sister get married! Team Bro!
The ceremony was beautiful. Strings were played as the party and bride walked up the aisle. The Pastor was a great orator and within moments, Oona went from being Ms. Urbanski to being Mrs. Butts.
These young women from Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music did a wonderful job! It was a great touch!
Flowers decorated the room..
Me and the boys! I had to suppress my case of the giggles!
The groom waits for his future bride..
Time for the ceremony to begin..
The Pastor performs the vows
The veil is straightened..
First kiss as Mr. and Mrs.
The look of love..
Let’s party!
And after that it was such a blur! It was so much fun that I failed to take the photos I thought I would.
During the cocktail hour, more photos were taken..
I have no idea who took this photo but it is out of focus (as if I have the right to comment)
More out-of-focus pics (I may have taken this one. Oops!)
Trying to organize more family pics before the cocktail appetizers run out!
We were on the dance floor for hours. My brothers and sisters and my family are such dancing animals that I do believe the only times we left the dance floor was to replenish hydration with “beverages” (Hey. Make mine a gin and tonic please!) and to stop and chat.
The food at the cocktail hour was fantastic! In fact, my regret was while taking family photos with the Bride and Groom, I missed my chance for Goetta Fritters! Goetta is a kind of Scrapple food item that is popular in the Cincinnati area—or maybe the Midwest! But, since I trashed my shapewear from the night before, I still managed to be comfortable in the dress I wore!
Goetta fritters will have to wait till next time. Gotta Goetta fritter!
The dinner was incredible. Steak in a mushroom sauce, Asparagus cooked just right. Mashed Potato Rosette, Salad, cake that I never even tried because I was dancing so much and the cookies, I never took with me because I forgot about them!
Tables were set..
Why is it that I can’t take a decent photo of a human but I can take a great one of food?
The food was excellent and that floral touch only added to the elegance!
Fun at the dinner table. I really love my spray tan!
First dance…
A little announcement!
Jake and Julia ready for the dance floor…
Me and Oona’s bridesmaid Gin having a good ol’ time!
Roman and me and..
Me and Bonaparte showcasing a French smile!
In homage to my daughter’s new last name, I HAD to get the new Mrs. Butts and her girls to pose in this every bootylicious way! BTW, that backdrop proved to be incredibly popular!
Strike a pose!
That’s me twerking my butt off. I have NO idea who filmed this but since I’m a giver, I’m sharing!
And after the reception, an after-party was held. At this point, I was more about unwinding at the Hotel Bar and I met up with friends while the Frenchman headed upstairs to our room to sleep!
A more demure shot!
Sam and Oona were party animals. Before heading off to the after-party they stopped at the hotel bar to join some of us in a beverage!
Oona and her friend Megan. These two have been friends since aged 4. They danced together in Irish Dance and Megan got engaged recently. Her mom who is one of my best friends has joined the Mother-of-the-Bride club. Next summer…..
Off to a lifetime of teamwork! They are such a great couple and I wish them every success. I have a son-in-law!!!!!!!
It was five fun-filled days with a dash of drama, a splash of emotion, a bit of crazy and tons of great times.
I’ll never be the Mother-of-the-Bride again, but to my fellow women who are presently in the Mother-of-the-Bride club and for future Mothers-of-the-Bride, savor every moment. Enjoy this time with your daughter as she heads off on her life journey. Have fun getting all girly with the spray tan and the hair and makeup. Be there to listen to your daughter (of which I could have done a better job).
Preview of a REAL photo. The photographer, Rachel Spears. Are you in Cincy? Check her out. Her photos are beautiful and she’s incredibly talented!
And above all, keep your big mouth shut! It’s her day. Not yours!
Catherine you looked beautiful!! And Oona and her bridesmaids were stunning! All the men folk were handsome, too! Such a wonderful event. Congratulations to all of you.
Oh how I enjoyed these posts! Thank you for sharing and taking us with you to the wedding! What a beautiful bride and you look fabulous too!
Hi Nancy! So glad you could make it!!! Thank you!!! XOXOXOXO
Congratulations to the beautiful couple. Looks like it was a wonderful day! Catherine you looked beautiful. ! I wish the couple all the best and thank you for your MOB Advise!! xoxo
Thanks so much Denise. It certainly was an epic day and I still cannot believe the time went so quickly. XOXOXOXOXO
What a great time you all had!! I love the backdrop and the ‘cheeky’ pose by Oona and her bridesmaids. Wonderful! Food looked delicious, too.
I went to the courthouse to get married and did not have a wedding per se. We spent the money on our honeymoon instead. I’m not sure it really upset my mom (I was her only daughter) but my dad was pissed at me for a long time. Ever since I was a kid, I couldn’t envision myself doing the whole wedding thing, even though I thoroughly enjoyed going to other people’s weddings! (Is that selfish? Maybe.) I think it’s mostly because I’m introverted and don’t like to be the center of attention. Also all the stress that seems to surround such gatherings. Not sure why I’m typing this, it’s not about me — but your wedding post reminds me to think of how I got married, that is all.
You looked splendid in your gown, hair and makeup. Absolutely gorgeous, and glowing from within. Truly a memorable experience and thank you so much for letting us all share in your happiness for your daughter and new SIL. Congratulations to you ALL!!
Hi Vava! LOL. Writing this post brought memories of BOTH my weddings. The first one back in 1981 and the more recent one to the Frenchman. I enjoyed both but my heart really loved the courthouse one that the Frenchman and I did. Nobody but us. Very chill. No drama. No nothing!
OTOH it was so wonderful to see my daughter so happy and so in love. She and Sam are a wonderful team and I wish the best for them always! Thank you so much for your thoughts! XOXOXOXOXO
Loved coming along for the wedding. First of all you have a beautiful family. Love the way The Frenchman smiles. I’m impressed that you actually took photos. You did a great job. At least you did it. Too bad the light was always from behind. Funny you didn’t take a cookie.Why did you have your makeup done in the morning if the wedding was at 6PM? You were so smart to not wear the “girdle.” So much better to have fun a rock it than be size 0. No one cares and you looked beautiful. Loved the string quartet, great idea. All, now what will you write about. We’ve been looking forward to this wedding for months. Bottom line Mazel Tov!!!!!
Sandy thank you so much for the Mazel!!!!!!!! It truly was a wonderful time! Yeah. My photo skills leave much to be desired. We got our makeup done early because the professional photos of the wedding party were taken early. Family photos taken later. Surprisingly the makeup stayed put. I’m amazed that I even knew where my phone was!!! Thank you so much Sandy!!! XOXOXOXOX
The joy just rolls off the page (somehow even through the computer) and I thank you for sharing the entire adventure in all its glory! Getting to accompany you through this wonderful crisis rite has been such a pleasure. I am still smiling . . .
Marsha thank you so very much for being a part of this!! XOXOXOXO
Congratulations to all! What a beautiful wedding, from the dresses to the flowers, to the food and everyone’s smiles. It’s great to see how the hard work and planning paid off so well, it all came together absolutely wonderfully. Thank you for sharing this lovely event with us, and best wishes to your daughter, her new husband and your entire family!
Thank you Magaret! It was a truly wonderful time! I’n so proud of Oona and Sam for putting this together and proud that they were able to!! XOXOXOXO
Thanks for taking us along, Cathy! I had such fun reading this post (and the one before). Actually I always have fun reading your posts, whether I leave a comment or not.
You all really had a lovely time, being able to reconnect with family, attending a baseball match and hanging out together. The highlight being the wedding, of course.
Everything looks delish, the bride with the lovely wedding gown, I love her bustier btw, the food – got some good shots, there 😉 and all the smiling faces of the guests.
I have one question though. The wedding was officiated by a Pastor, but not in church. How does the admin side of weddings work in the US? In France you need to go to town hall (Mairie) first and if you want a religious wedding you can go to church afterwards. It can’t be the other way around, first church and then town hall. I know that in the UK you can do either as church weddings are recognised by the state. In France church and state are separated.
When we got married we had our town hall ceremony at 11am and the church wedding at 4pm; reception was afterward with dinner and dancing late into the night.
Please send the newlyweds my best wishes and all the best for their new adventure.
Hey B. It’s different here. Originally, they were thinking of a Catholic Mass ceremony. Then they realized to get from church to venue could be problematic and since so many of the guests were from out of town. In fact, MOST of the guests were from out of town. Anyway, Sam is Methodist where Oona was raised Roman Catholic. She did ask me if I would be upset if they didn’t get married in a Catholic Mass. I didn’t pay for the wedding so it was no sweat off my back. As long as any person of the cloth officiated, I was fine with it. The Pastor was great! All they needed to do was acquire a marriage licence from their local court and all was well. It’s very different here
Thank you for your great wishes. They really are a wonderful couple and I couldn’t be happier for them!! XOXOXOXO
Lovely article… 👍👍
Thank you!! XOXOXO
I really had a good time at Oona’s wedding! The food was more than delish and oh, the dancing…But seriously I felt as if I really had been there, your photos and narrative were THAT inclusive and convincing. You all looked wonderful and I thought Oona’s dress was simply stunning. Now time to reinhabit the planet Earth and get back to life as we know it – sigh…
Hey Liz! Thank you for coming along! Ohhhhhhhhh I’m still getting back to life as we know it. It’s tough!! XOXOXOXOXO
Congratulations to you all! Your daughter looked stunning and the make up for all of you a real glam natural!! Perfect. I have only been following your blog for about a year and thoroughly enjoy it. x
Congratulations on your daughter’s wedding. Everyone looks like they’re having a great time. Wishing Oona and Sam every happiness.
You now have two more weddings to look forward to as Mother of the Groom!
Thanks for sharing all this, your daughter looks so naturally elegant! I must tell you that I think you look wonderful in the make up look you had at the wedding, it really enhanced your natural beauty -truly lovely – make up, hair and smile!
Thank you Vivella! I was thrilled with the makeup! It was perfect and not overdone. Moxxie Makeup did a fantastic job! XOXOXOXO