What they all said. Great Pictures!

Thank you everyone! I just wish I would have lost some more weight.

Mrs Thumper! You and thumper are perfect (although it took me a moment to figure out who on earth this "mnpayne" person whose photos I was looking at might be). And your family -- especially your Papa -- are just as I've always pictured them.

Heh. It isn't set in stone yet, but it appears my maiden name will become my middle name and I'll take his last name.

My father is so very much the archetypical Italian.

And such gorgeous details -- the bouquets, your sparkly little tiara! Also, exceptionally cute DH!

I agonized for 2 months over the centerpieces. Then I agonized over agonizing over them. I may have guilt issues, but I'm glad someone noticed.

He is cute, ain't he?

I am awed by your MIL's cake decorating skills. Wow.

So were we. There was no way I could have imagined the cake turning out like that. She went above and beyond, and it was so very yummy to boot.

awesome pictures! Thanks for linking!

Maria, you're so pretty.

Then I agonized over agonizing over them.

And now? Agonizing done. (Instead of worrying about centerpieces, you can tell us in long and gory detail about THE MENU.)

Fantastic pics, Maria! It looks like a wonderful day with lots of family and friends around you.

Maria, you're so pretty.

Lie to me some more, ND. Thank you.

Instead of worrying about centerpieces, you can tell us in long and gory detail about THE MENU.

There was a ton of food. A list would probably be easiest.

Appetizers
Raw bar--shrimp, oysters, clams, crab legs (station)
Scallops wrapped in bacon (butlered)
Coconut chicken (butlered)
Asparagus tips and Gouda in a pastry cup (butlered)
Fresh fruit and yogurt dip (station)
Fresh vegetables and dip (station)
Cheese and crackers (station)

Soup
Italian Wedding Soup (natch)

Salad
Mixed greens with artichokes and hearts of palm drizzled with a vinaigrette dressing

Entree
Petite filet mignon paired with a jumbo lump crab cake
Artfully arranged seasonal mixed vegetables
Twice-baked potato

Dessert
Wedding cake
Italian cookies
Coffee

A bottle of Pinot Grigio and a bottle of Chianti were on each table, and the bar was open (premium stuff!) all evening.

I didn't finish any of the courses, but I was stuffed anyway.

Edit: Stoopid formatting.

Maria, you look so beautiful! And I love the cake - your MiL did such a great job.

I guess I am very lucky in that I love the holidays. I may change my tune after traveling with a baby this year. Neither of our families do the big guilt thing, so that's nice. The hardest part is that I have very set-in-stone ideas of what makes it a holiday and Joe's family does differnet stuff (obviously). I'm trying to realize that Christmas is Christmas, even without my family traditions and I'm getting better at it. Hopefully, in the next few years, we will be able to start our own traditions.

You had me at "scallops wrapped in bacon". That sounds like a FEAST!!!

I'll be the first to admit I have huge family issues on the holidays but I can usually work past them long enough to enjoy the family I like and ignore the family I don't.

I actually feel like I *more* power rather than less with having a baby. A lot of our scheduling is on Owen's time and I refuse to deal with a group of people that won't make concessions for a toddler.

Maria, you look so beautiful! Now I want to see more!

My sister down in LA writes that my 13 year old nephew has a badly fractured ankle. He got this injury when the class bully picked him up and slammed him down during gym class. Earlier in the day, Kyle had asked a teacher to move a fan (the bully had placed right in front of himself and set not to move) so that it would oscilate and create a breeze for the whole class. The bully got mad and announced to the class and the teacher, "I'm going to tackle you later!" The teacher shook her head at the bully, but said nothing. A couple of class periods later, when the gym teacher was late and there was no one watching, he tossed my nephew. Apparently, it's not the first time the Bully has done this particular move to the smaller kids in the class.

I am angry enough that I would really like to go down to LA and kick the shit out of a little boy, a teacher who did nothing, and a late gym teacher. I have issues, which I'll deal with on my own. From the Bitches, I'd like some healing ~ma for Kyle, for his ankle and his psyche.

Gorgeous wedding pictures, Maria!

You ignore that there's a price to be paid. It may be that there are one or more sick relatives whom it's the Last Chance To See. There may be healthy relatives whom you can only see in one place at the holidays. You may have relatives who can successfully make your life a living hell if you "let them down". (And don't tell me "that's your choice", because it isn't. If Aunt Sarah spends the next year telling all your family what a bitch you are, that has fallout.) You may love some of the relatives enough that it's important to you to make them happy.

Yes, this. I figure the price Dylan and I pay for getting to live in Seattle is having to endure those long flights back to Birmingham and Tulsa, and doing it at Christmas. If we went any other time, particularly with my very scattered family, we wouldn't be able to see all my brothers, nieces and nephews, etc., because that's when everyone gathers. It's stressful, but it's worth it. It'd be different if my family's dynamics were toxic or something, but I figure part of being an adult is sucking it up and making an effort to be a good daughter and DIL, letting Annabel get some time with her extended family, etc.