reunion crashers

i came up to the beautiful lake st. louis this week to visit my family for christmas. i also came because my best friend leslie's (is the miley cyrus song in your head?) sister was getting married on the 20th. i had to be there for two reasons:

1. i have known leslie and her family for 11 years. we grew up down the street from each other. i wouldn't miss it for the world.
2. the setchfield family knows how to throw a good wedding. seriously. i know from leslie's wedding last year.

laura had her wedding reception in downtown st. louis at an art gallery. the first half was the cocktail hour complete with a jazz band. loooovely.

being an art gallery, there were plenty of weird, artsy things. like this boars head. (i think it's a boar. who really knows).
then after heading upstairs for dinner, we came back downstairs to a different band and an open dance floor. yes!
leslie's daughter and her uncle moose were bustin' the moves.

leslie's husband and i. i think he hates me.


....or he hates all of leslie's friends. ;)


leslie's mom and i groovin.



so. the wedding was wonderful. it ended at 11pm...well...leslie, katie, krissy, amy, and i were not ready to call it a night. leslie's family and all of us had rooms at the omni hotel and a shuttle back and forth from the art gallery. the omni hotel is fancy shmancy, so leslie and her husband graciously allowed all of us girls to sleep over in their room. ha! poor bryan.
we caught the shuttle to the hotel. mr and mrs setchfield were with us and we headed down to the hotel bar. there was some sort of event happening in there so we asked about it at the door. the doorman told us it was a reunion party for everyone who graduated in the st. louis area. ummm, ok? so are we allowed to come in? the doorman told leslie it would cost us each $15. well, forget that. we told him "thanks but no thanks" and turned to leave. the doorman then said we could come in for free.

we walk in. there is a DJ and a buffet of some sort. this party was...predominantly african american. ok, we were the only white people there. i loved it.
while the setchfields took advantage of the buffet, us girls decided to go dance. why not?! after requesting some beyonce, we had the party going. this was seriously the funniest thing in life. i mean what kind of situation were we in?!
we were actually the youngest people there. most of the people there had graduated high school in like 1998. leslie said she saw one that graduated in 87. are you getting how awesomely funny this was?
mr. setchfield decided to head over to the dance floor. we got in a circle and danced to "whatever you like" by TI and mr. setchfield was impressed we knew all of the words. i told him i was impressed by his awesome dance moves. who knew the "grocery cart" was still cool and hip?
oh, and the best part...there was a king and queen crowned. the queen was pregnant. i kid you not. the king got a ridiculously huge crown and a crystallized bottle of absolut vodka. seriously..they couldn't splurge for some grey goose?! i mean, this is the reunion for all of those who graduted in the st. louis area!!!! COME ON!

really though. i didn't understand the concept behind this party. but it was fun nonetheless.


today there is a marathon of "what not to wear" and "say yes to the dress" on TLC. so, you can find me on my grandma's couch...doing nothing all day.