My best friend's wedding - better than any movie

This is obviously long overdue, but I've been incredibly busy. But that's for another post. This one is all about Mike's wedding.

So you may remember from the Mike's bachelor party recap, that I had arrived to JFK at something like 7am on Friday and gone to the bachelor party that night. Saturday was a day of rest and relaxation reserved for me and the family. My mom, sister and I did our best to cram two birthdays in (my sister's b-day was Friday and mine would be Monday, the day I flew back to Cali).

Sunday morning I woke up bright and early. Well, my version of bright and early - around 10, 10:30am. My mom had pancakes and bacon waiting, because she is just as good as I tell people she is and there was a Revive Vitamin Water in the fridge. Whether it's placebo or that bottle actually contains magic in it, I don't know or care, but it's how I start big days like this or recover from really great nights. I jumped in the shower and got myself ready like it was 9pm and me and the gang were getting ready for a night of legendary partying. In essence that's what I was getting ready for, just with the eternal love and commitment part crammed in the middle there. Oh, and there would be more people than we have ever rolled with. So out of the shower I had the music blasting as I dressed, slowly and methodically. I checked myself after adding each layer to make sure it was just right. After all, I was going to my best friend's wedding, no time for wrinkles, creases, static or anything like that. After finally applying the ceremonial brass buttons to the tux shirt and buttoning up the vest I was out the door, jacket in hand to Mike's to meet up with the rest of the groomsmen for pictures and to catch our ride.

Upon arriving at Mike's I discovered that our tuxes did in fact come with those little pocket squares. I thought it was odd that we weren't getting them. After questioning everyone where they got there's I ran back home and checked a small, inconspicuous bag that hung from the hanger. The pocket square was obstructed by a business card type thing that made me believe it was nothing to concern myself with. So back I raced to have someone fold the square for me. After a few attempts we had it. Well, sort of. The newly declared Mrs. Sergiano was kind enough to refold for me just before the ceremony. It was still early in the morning at this point, noon at the latest so even though we should probably have been throwing back drinks before getting in the limo we couldn't. Instead we snapped a few pics.

After we were all dressed up in our monkey suits (none of us were really excited about it. I mean, we looked nice but those jackets made it really hot) we went outside for what we thought was getting into the limo and heading over to the wedding. No, of course not that'd be too obvious. So instead there were more photos to be taken, this time thought with the whole group, including the groom, who really took his sweet ass time getting dressed. I suppose we could/should have cut him so slack. We didn't.
Anyway, after that was finally over with it was into the limo for the completely non-climactic drive to the reception hall. It was a tad surreal riding in a limo now, dressed in a monkey suit down the same streets I'd been driving on in a t-shirt and shorts since I was 17. Those times it had been to grab some food, or pick up friends or head to the bars. This time, I was going to watch my best friend get married. It was odd to say the least. One thing I will say though, is that it was completely Mike. We're a lot alike and we're very different, and this, this was him. Something simple like this - local and with relatively little production. I'm the over-the-top major blockbuster production type. This stark contrast in our personalities hit me during the ride over and I was glad that we were going where we were going.
We got to the hall and me and the other "lesser groomsmen" were just sort of hanging around by the bar area (which was not open) in front of the room where the ceremony was going to be held. The families were off taking pictures and doing whatever inner circle stuff they do. As guests started to arrive I had an early crack to see who had made it. Jay and Walter, who I hadn't seen in some years (well, I saw Walt at the bachelor party but still), Mike's friend Bobby who I've known for years, his family, our group of friends, and of course my mom and sister. When it was finally time to get the show on the road we groomsmen sprung into action, handing out wedding programs (I'm sure there's a fancier word for it) and yarmulkes (Gentile's pronounce Ya-Ma-Ka) as guests entered. After we had ushered everyone in I got a chance to meet Laurie-Jean, the bridesmaid I would be escorting throughout the course of the evening. See, the rehersal dinner had happened a day or two before I flew in so we had never met. Fortunately, she was really cool and our personalities clicked immediately. Also, I had met her husband during the bachelor party so there was no awkwardness about "man i don't want to look foolish and blow my chances with this girl." By the way, that thought in my head, mixed with some alcohol will always equal a good time. So after deciding to start on the right foot, we had our entrance all worked out and did a couple of trust fall exercises in case one of us tripped and was going down. The plan was for the other to detach their arm from the falling tree and move on as if we had never met. We were the first bridesmaid/groomsmen couple in so we had to set the tone - this wedding will stop for no one.
We made our entrance successfully and the others followed suit, although with the exception of the flower girl and ring bearers, none did it with as much pinash as we did. Then the bride made her entrance and the ceremony was underway. It was a lovely ceremony, because I don't really know how or why you would try to critique something like that. Take my word for it, it was nice. Some of the Hebrew parts I didn't understand and some of the English parts Mike obviously didn't get because his first act as a married man was to head towards the rabbi to thank her rather than to kiss his wife. I think that's another difference between us. At least I hope so, or my first marriage is going to be even shorter than I thought. I rejoined my escort for the evening and we headed out where we got to stand in line and receive thanks from everyone. Now people who know me, know that I hate getting praise or recognition for most things, but especially minor things. I just don't know how to respond to compliments. I mean if you want to thank me for curing cancer I'll find a way to handle it, but thanking me for walking and not falling - eh, it's going to make me uncomfortable to the point of laughter. Fortunately many of the bridesmaid's felt the same way so we were able to share some laughs in between receiving our congratulations and thanks for the wedding guests. After the line that would not end eventually ended we got to follow a photographer guy upstairs and out onto the balcony for more pictures. At this point it was brutal, pretty humid and I was hungry. And knowing that my mom and sister were enjoying a cocktail hour full of food wasn't helping. Eventually a waiter came up and asked for our drink orders while we were posing like the Mod Squad or a very dressed up version of the cast of 21 Jump Street. I asked the kid if they had Mountain Dew, he kinda laughed and I told him to try it with Vodka. He reluctantly told me they didn't but said he'd give it a shot. When he does it'll change his life. It was a shot in the dark that a fancy catering hall would have the single greatest carbonated beverage in the world, so I settled for a Grey Goose and Sprite. When the pictures were finally done we got our crack at the hours d'oeuvres waiting in the bridal suite. My drink came at the same time so I was able to satisfy my need for both food and drink. While we were eating and chatting Mike finally seemed relaxed. I guess he should be, the hard part of the day was over. After a relaxing 15 minutes or so we were informed that we had to leave and get ready to line up for our entrance to the reception.
None of the bridesmaids/groomsmen had anything planned, again because I wasn't at the rehearsal dinner, but Laurie-Jean was game to do something. I really lucked out there. Since we were going first again we had very little time. I shotgunned the rest of my Goose and Sprite as we were getting ready. A little pre-game bouncing (just like before a big beer pong match) and we were ready. We entered doing the presidential wave until we reached the dancefloor. From there we broke into the Temptation sway as we crossed to where we thought we were supposed to go. The spotter had to come grab us and redirect us to where we should have actually landed. As the remaining couples entered Laurie-Jean and I greeted them with the running man as they passed us and took their positions in the ever growing line awaiting the arrival of the bride and groom. Every bride and groom does something different for their intro. Scott and Kristen came out of the floor on a rising platform (awesome), and I was interested/worried about what Mike's entrance would be. Like I said, he's not the theatrical type and honestly I was more concerned about what music he'd be entering with. I'm protective of my best friend and I was deeply worried that he'd be dragged in there in front of friends and family to some stupid pop-song of the week, or cliched wedding or just something not fitting of him. The doors closed and it was time for he and Kelly to make their entrance. The lights went out and the music cut through the silience like a chainsaw. None of us knew, but within a nanosecond we were all happy for him. Enter Sandman pumped through the DJ's system and Mike got to make his entrance like Mariano Rivera coming in, in 9th, in a big game at Yankee Stadium (the old one). It was perfect. I may have shed a tear I was so happy for him.
From there the wedding progressed like they do. A traditional first dance between the bride and groom. As people were able to take their seats I grabbed my mom and sister and we made our way to bar, as a family. It was one of the happiest moments of the night for me. I bought my mom a drink and we sipped while listening to the trio of maid's of honor give their speeches, each requiring us to drink a little bit more than the last. Then we paused as Richie took the Mike. He's the little brother I never needed but have always had. I knew he was a bit worried about what to say so I wanted to be ready in case he needed me or something. His toast was everything it should be - a tad sentimental, a bit funny, no bull and concise. After that it was time for the real fun to start.
Early on, before I had even made it to my third drink, I got my second wish fulfilled. Just like I had at Scott and Kristen's wedding, I picked up on the first few notes of Earth, Wind and Fire's "September" and bolted from my seat to my mom's table. I took her hand and we headed out to the dance floor. It was one of the, if not the first dance of the night and she didn't know it yet, but her son was on his way to become the talk of the town - like he predicted. But none of that matters. I was so excited that this moment was happening. I had first thought of it back in June while starring at my mom through the glass in ICU and at the time it was the only thing I wanted in the world, to share that dance with her. At the time I what I was praying for as getting to do it at my own wedding, but given the indefinite time frame of that occurrence, I was perfectly happy that my mom was up, happy and healthy and with me out on the dance floor. Even if the old bat couldn't stay out there past the song. ;-)
I went back to my table to refresh myself with some vodka-y goodness when the DJ announced that it was Salsa time. Another big moment for me during this wedding. I had found a very helpful instructional salsa video on YouTube and emailed it to all of my gringo friends a couple of weeks before the wedding, declaring that the Caucasian Invasion would take over the dance floor. As menioned, I was consuming more alcohol when the DJ made his announcement and I looked over towards the tables where my friends were sitted, and noticed there was very little stirring taking place. I then inspired them, by proclaiming loundly, "Gringos! Vamanos!" completely with hand gestures. This got them on their feet and soon the flood I had hoped for had hit the floor. Most of us weren't very good, some people had watched the video and learned a little but we didn't care, we had a great time. That's a theme that would continue throughout the night. As the night grew longer, and the alcohol flowed like well the way alcohol usually flows when my friends are involved, the event turned into one of our nights out, just with a lot more friends to share it with. There was me cutting it up on the dancefloor - http://video.ak.facebook.com/video-ak-sf2p/v6808/247/115/554045421589_23047.mp4, and then subsequently teaching Jay how to do the same.
In one of the odder, yet more memorable moments of the wedding, I was talking to my mom near my table, cooling myself down from a recent dancecapade with another Goose and Sprite when the DJ began playing "It's raining men" and knowing that Scott, Jay and the rest of the gang were about to go crazy, I put down my drink, looked my mother in the eyes and said, "mom, I'm sorry but I have to go. They expect this." as I ran off. Well I didn't so much as run off, as I did run directly into the middle of the dance floor and start dancing around like I was flaming all over. I'm not going to lie, it was fun as hell. I may have to check out the Castro some night. Anyway, the gang loved it as we were bouncing around, hands in the air and me and boys (Scott and Jay, no I didn't name my buttocks "the boys" - I'm flat assed) shook it down. From there it only got better or worse, depending on whether or not your my mother. Shortly after that I believe I was again heading off to replenish fluids when I was prevented by another familiar beat. This time the king of pop. And just as I had done at Scott and Kristen's wedding, Billie Jean became my time. This time my mom was around to watch it (she had missed the earlier dance sequence that was caught on video). Unfortunately, the rental tux shoes weren't very smooth and my normally high 70s % moonwalk was reduced to something around a mid 60s. I realized this quickly though and all but abandoned the move, opting for more spins. Plus this time Jay jumped in and that helped to keep it from looking and feeling like a bad copy of Scott and Kristen's wedding.
We ate, and danced and continued drinking. Eventually it was dessert time and we were treated to a Viennese Hour that was so good, that Mike no longer has to apologize to me about my date to the senior prom (his gf at the time's, best friend). It had cookies, cakes, chocolate covered strawberries, zeppoles (fried dough), these little oreo like shooter things but you couldn't shoot them because they were so thick and delicious, fruit for the health conscious (whoever they are) and ice cream. It was literally a culinary explosion of the greatest kind, the kind that after you eat it all you feel bad and want to cry yourself to sleep while eating more of it. Then to top it off there was a dessert beverage station. I wasn't sure what this was and was nervous when Matt rounded up the rest of the bridal party to go over there. Turns out my fears were in my head. This was shots of after dinner liquors - Irish Creame, Amaretto, etc. in small chocolate shot glasses. Or to shorten the name, the greatest idea ever. We toasted, downed our shots and returned to our tables. I then informed my group of friends as to what lie beydond the main table and we returned to do our own round of shots. Fantastic.
After dessert was cleared away we knew it was only a matter of time before the night ended so we made sure to put everything we had into our kick (runner's term). We worked off calories and probably worked in blisters as we kept on dancing the night away. Just near the end of the night, I got my other wish for Mike, when the DJ started playing "Don't Stop Believing". Just about each one of my friends has a signature song or two. This is Mike's and we all know it. He and Kelly had just happened to be near the middle of the dance floor at the time and it worked out perfectly for us, as the whole group, 15-20 strong circled around them to sing and dance with them to Journey's classic. To the parents in attendance, distant relatives, Kelly's side of the wedding, we probably looked pretty odd, but this is how we are. 20 people, in a circle serenading the bride, who's just a small town girl, living in a lonely world, and her husband, a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit. To cap the evening off, we got back together to sign "I had the time of my life" completely with Bobby doing the Dirty Dancing leap into Matt's arms. We party hard, we have great times, and we make memories.

Congratulations again Mike and Kelly, it was pretty spectacular night.