Southern Sweethearts: Toasts & Tosses

Right after we danced with our moms, it was time for some special toasts from our two closest friends.

I just broke out these flutes in anticipation of our first anniversary!

My best friend of over a decade and MOH Amanda went first. One year later, I admittedly can't remember her exact speech, but I do remember feeling all warm and fuzzy while listening to it. Thankfully, we had a videographer. We'll be receiving our full wedding video soon so I'll be able to relive those moments that photos alone simply can't capture.

Amanda spoke of the "old times", way back to some of our embarrassing middle school antics. Then she seamlessly transitioned into when I met Mr. Lab and how she watched our relationship grow and how Mr. Lab became her friend, too.

Amanda finished her speech and raised her glass to toast. Then Best Man Don walked up to the mic. He went off-script and settled into his funny-man status with some hilarious stories about Mr. Lab.

At times I reconsidered my choice to marry Mr. Lab....(I kid I kid!). But then Don got serious and I remember him saying that I made Mr. Lab a better man. That made me :D big time!

He finished by giving Mr. Lab his simple yet brilliant secret to a successful marriage: "Happy Wife, Happy Life!"

After the toasts, it was time for the tosses!

Like my super simple single button booty bustle? Say THAT 10x fast!

I told my girls to get ready and as Beyonce's "Single Ladies" began playing, I picked a target and turned around.

The girls actually dove and fought a little for the bouquet but one of my adorable nieces won out.

Then it was time for Mr. Lab to go fishing for his garter. The DJ started playing M.C. Hammer's "Can't Touch This" and he dove in!

Close-up of the special Georgia garter I got for him.

Just like the bouquets, I had two garters: one to keep and one to toss. I bought the special UGA-themed garter as a little surprise for Mr. Lab. Judging by the photos, me thinks he likey!

Mr. Lab is a trooper. I think he thought it would be all sexy to take the garter off with his teeth, but...

...I had some legit Britney Spears barefoot in a gas station bathroom-feet going on! I did spend most of the day shoe-less because of my missing Louboutins!

He breathed a sigh of relief when he finally got the garter off.

He checked to see who was waiting to catch the garter and got ready to snap it.

But it hit the floor and slid to my brother's girlfriend's son. There may have been some blatant avoidance by some of the guys along the way. I wish I had made time to attach some lottery tickets or a ten-dollar bill to the garter to encourage more participation!

Although the tosses were fun, I never considered the kids taking part. I wish I had designated the tosses as adults only. I had a couple friends who really wanted to catch the bouquet but weren't willing to completely plow over my niece to get to it. ;)

Will you have a videographer to capture things photos can't like the toasts? As for the tosses, will you have an age limit on those?

Previously on Southern Sweethearts:

• Southern Belles Do Tea
• A Rude Vendor Interrupts Our Rehearsal
• We Have Dinner on the Savannah River
• A Spooky Ghost Tour and My Last Fling
• Our Wedding Trailer
• Becoming a Blushing Bride
• I Slip Into My eBay Wedding Dress
• The Fellas Get “Sessay”
• He Got Boudoir, I Got Bling
• An Unplanned First Look
• Our Wedding Party…and Paparazzi
• Details Tell the Story
• Years of Waiting for This Moment (Ceremony Part: 1)
• We Tie the Knot with Faith, Hope, & Love (Ceremony Part: 2)
• My Wedding Party Poses for Mug Shots While We Take Formals
• We Shared a Private Dinner for Two During Cocktail Hour
• Our Wedding Party Lines Up for Introductions
• We Nom on Publix and Sanford Stadium Cakes
• Dancing with Our "Stars"

Next Up: We "Thrill" Our Guests

*All professional photos by Lindsi Jones Photography. Some images may have been slightly altered by moi.

Must Have Music

Source

Since becoming engaged, I've kept my ears open to possible "must have" songs for our wedding. I'm still unsure whether to hire a ceremony musician/reception D.J. or be an iPod bride all the way, but in any case I'll want to have a say on a few music selections for the day. I'm doing things a bit nontraditional, especially when it comes to the ceremony music.

I've compiled a list of songs for different parts of the ceremony and reception. There are a few gaps where I'm not sure what song(s) to use, so feel free to suggest something that will flow with the choices I've made so far! Without further ado, I present my wedding day "playlist":

Prelude: Beautiful Day by U2

Processional:

Seating of Parents: ?
Minister & Groom: ?

Groomsmen & bridesmaids: ?
Flower Girls, Ring Bearer, and Jr. BMs: Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole

Bride (ME!): Kingdom Come by Coldplay

Interlude: ?
(Not even sure if we'll have music in the middle of the ceremony at all.)

Recessional: Clocks (instrumental) by Coldplay

Cocktail Hour: Classical Music

Dinner: Laid back lovey-dovey songs

First Dance: Better Together by Jack Johnson

Cake Cutting: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz & a special song for Mr. Lab's groom's cake cutting

Bouquet Toss: Single Ladies by Beyonce ("All the single ladies put your hands up!" Classic.)

Garter Removal: ? (We definitely are thinking Mission Impossible or something along those lines!)
Mother/Son: Mr. Lab hasn't picked this out yet.
Mother/Daughter (because I don't have a dad to dance with): Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison (We both have brown eyes and picked this song out to dance to together when I was just a kid!)

Reception dancing: On our wedding website we've included a page for our guests to suggest songs to play during the reception. We figure that if they help pick them out, they'll be more likely to get on the dance floor. I'm a BIG dancer, so I want the dance floor packed all night! I think that by allowing song requests, having an open bar, and picking a wedding party that loves to get down, my wish will be fulfilled. :D We'll be sure to inlcude some songs everyone knows (YMCA, Baby Got Back, etc.), too. And as the night goes on, we'll move from the radio/clean versions to the "dirty filthy wanna make me shake my ass" music. Cause that's how I roll. ;)

Our website's music suggestion page.

Last Dance: Constellations by Jack Johnson

Etc. Music:

In addition to these songs, we're also allowing our entire wedding party to pick out individual songs tailored to their personalities to be introduced to at the wedding reception. For example, my MOH plays poker a couple times a week with her hubby and their friends, so she's chosen Lady Gaga's Poker Face! As for Mr. Lab and I's entrance song...we'll that's a HUGE surprise that will have to wait until AFTER the wedding to be revealed. ;)

Photo slideshow:

1. Mr. Lab growing up (I Go Back by Kenny Chesney)
   
2. Me growing up (Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison)
   
3. Our “courtship” (Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg)
   
4. Our engagement from the proposal all the way up to the wedding! (Better Together by Jack Johnson)

I'm including a homemade CD full of our wedding day music for the OOT bags (practically all the guests) so they'll have some songs to remind them of our day on the ride back home. They'll be more on that later, I promise!