California Part 3: The Reception!

We headed into Kameron and Erin's wedding reception on the most perfect golden California evening. The weather was perfection. The day was perfection. The reception was perfection. I cannot believe how beautifully everything turned out. I was able to feel fully present and I enjoyed every moment. 

The kids these days are doing receptions a little differently than we did them and I am loving it! For the first hour Kameron and Erin greeted guests. People milled around talking and eating. Kameron and Erin chose to have a drinks station with a specialty signature drink for both the bride and the groom.

They also requested a Baskin Robbins ice cream bar with four of their favorite ice cream flavors and a candy bar.

They had a photo booth sign in where you would get a polaroid picture taken to put in their guest book and could write a message to them. By all of that they had a table with the wedding pictures of parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents all of the "love stories that came before." I thought that was a really sweet touch.

Then after an hour Kam's best man, Jackson, requested that everyone take a seat so that the program could begin. I love that receptions are having programs now! It is so much better than going through a line...grabbing some food...and sitting down for a bit...and then heading out. I liked having something to watch/do.

First up were the speeches. The Bride and Groom sat at their special table while the Best Man, Maid of Honor, and both sets of parents got to give speeches to the newlyweds. 

Tyler did such a great job!!

Mine was all an emotional blur!! LOL

Then the kids cut the cake. They chose cheesecake for their wedding cake. I love their neon sign!!

Then there was a slide show...this was a gut punch...but a happy gut punch. Erin's aunt collected a ton of pictures of Erin and Kameron from birth to now and set them to music that the kids had picked out. I sobbed. How did Kameron grow up so fast?! The song that Kameron picked out for his growing up pictures...birth to present day... was Turning Out by AJR. Try to listen to this song and think of your kids growing up and not cry. I still cry nay sob every single time I hear it. I am just so proud of him and so honored to be his mom.

Reilly and I were bawling our eyes out!

Then it was time for the special dances. Kameron's good friend, Hayden, performed the song that Kameron and Erin danced to. He is a great musician and you can find his songs on Spotify. 

Then it was the Dad and Daughter Dance.

Erin danced with her dad for the first part of the song and then had all of the other dads and daughters join in which was such a great idea. Tyler was able to whirl Bryn and Ailey around on the dance floor.

Reilly was busy chasing Karson so sadly she missed out on her third part of the Daddy Daughter Dance. 

Kirk and Kaiya

Then was the Mother and Son Dance:

That is straight joy on my face for this amazing kid of mine!

Then the other mothers and sons joined in:

Meki and Kirin

Then it was time for everybody to dance! Kameron told us that we needed to make sure that all of us danced! No worries with this family! We aren't shy about that!

It's hard to believe that these two will be getting married soon too!

Cousins!

Kirk and Meki

Erin's cute parents.

I loved how Kameron and Erin scheduled the dancing...their song, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance and then just 5 other songs after that that they picked. It got everyone up and dancing and having a great time and then it was done!

There were magical moments at every turn. Here are a few more of them. I could post a million pictures:

Reilly and Kam all grown up with their significant others. Sob.

 

Then Kameron and Erin thanked everyone for coming. They were so sweet and appreciative of everyone and all that had been done for them. Then it was time for the walk out! They were so cute and happy! They changed into more casual clothes and wore their matching Nike Dunks. They walked out to cheers and bubbles.

Then it was time to send them off! Kam's car was decorated by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. LOL. 

Then they were off to their hotel for the night and then onto their honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas!

It was a late night that ended with two very tired but happy parents of the groom! (and the bride!) What an incredible day! Truly one of the VERY best! We are so deliriously happy for Kameron and Erin Johnson!!

Congratulations to the junior Johnsons!

Kameron and Erin...We love you dearly!!