Summer (and Autumn) Lovin'

I just want to start this off by saying that no one, absolutely no else can get engaged, married, pregnant, or give birth at least until the new year begins. In this past month I have been to three weddings, discovered two of my very good friends are pregnant, and I'm sure at least one good friend is engaged. No? Well... okay. Of course I'm thrilled as I can be for all of you, buuut I'm also emotionally drained, and there's only so much excitement Joe Moore can take. Are we good? *clears throat* alright let's move ahead!

I'm sure by now all of you know that my sister recently got married. If not you can go read about that here or all over the place here. It was beyond beautiful. I'm pretty sure no wedding will ever top it, but in the month of September there were a couple of weddings that certainly tried to do so.

Shall we begin with mid-September? Yes we shall. I was able to get rid of (most) of my shifts to head out of town, this time for my cousin's wedding. I flew into Atlanta, where my parents and Not-So-Young Ann picked me up in our Party Van, and we headed east toward Augusta to witness Claire Marie (sorry that's what I always have and always will call you) get hitched to the very fashion-forward love of her life, Pierce Drake.

Moore Drake!

We as a family used to visit Augusta all the time when we were younger, and I don't remember it being a particularly pretty city. So I will admit I was surprised when the rehearsal dinner was set at a very picturesque dining hall set up in front of a beautiful park. I wish I had pictures of it. It was beyond words. Oh, my point is I guess growing up we never visited these parts of Augusta. Okay, skipping ahead...

The ceremony took place at the same Methodist church where Claire Marie's parents were married. It was so simple yet extemely ornate at the same time. The bride looked absolutely stunning, especially as her groom pulled out his guitar and serenaded her. Very touching indeed.

Then it was reception time! Which means pictures galore of course. I only posted a few, but if you'd like to see the rest you may click on this link and browse until your little hearts are content. 

the Moore siblings with the beaming bride

Moore Weiss Moore Drake!

currently the best Moore sibling picture ever

Anyway, the reception played the best of the best (of course because the Moore family put it on) music of the olden times, plus a few recent songs to get those kids' toes tapping. I had the honor of dancing with both my aunts and my little cousin, Leah. Yes sir, good times were had by all.

To close the evening, everyone gathered out front with giant sparklers. Seriously, y'all, these things were at least 5-feet long. We waited for the getaway car, and once everything was in place, the sparklers were lit. Then I realized it was a terrific idea NOT to have alcohol at the wedding. You would have thought some of these people were drunk the way they were flailing around 5-foot flaming metal poles. Everyone was alright though. The bride and groom passed through without a scratch, and we all waved them on their way. My only regret of the evening is the DJ not having B-52s "Planet Claire". I mean, really? How perfect would that have been!

TIME FOR WEDDING NUMERO DOS! or tres if you're counting weddings in total. Seriously, folks, no one else is getting hitched any time soon.

This wedding belongs to a certain JTA Jagaloon, formerly a DAKian, Mr. Brian Knapp. He and his girl, Jo Ellen, finally tied the knot this past weekend, and the festivities could not have been more perfect. 

The weekend before the wedding all the Jedi Training Academy guys (that's what JTA stands for, for the unaware) decided to spend the bachelor party staring at boobs at Twin Peaks (which is like Hooters but the waitresses are dressed like lumberjacks) before dancing the night away at Backbooth, a club in downtown Orlando where every Friday night is 80s night thus the best night anyone could ever have anywhere. I smoked my first cigar that evening so now I addicted to cigars. NOT. But seriously it was a great time.

It really doesn't get much better than this

A week later I was able to get off work yet again (how am I making any money?) to attend probably the most fun wedding ever. I knew it wouldn't be a traditional wedding when the groomsmen walked down the aisle to the "Imperial March" from Star Wars. Wait, who am I kidding? I knew this wouldn't be a traditional wedding from the get-go. What made it even better was the wedding vows. Everyone died laughing when Knapp said, "I vow to never give you up. I'm never gonna let you down. I'm never gonna run around and desert you." It was even funnier when Jo Ellen retorted, "I vow to give you the right stuff, baby". I was crying I was laughing so hard. Rick Astley and New Kids for the win!

So many people from work attended that evening. I'm not sure how the Disney World parks were even operational that day. Once again, if anyone would like to view pictures from this epic evening please click here. Yes, I am shamelessly plugging my life and its pictures. You're all so entirely welcome!

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Knapp

Congratulations! Here's a pie in the face!

Pee-Wee Herman??

The evening finished off with a great variety of music but mostly 80s rock. At one point the DJ announced that he would be playing the latest Youtube hit "The Fox" and that everyone should head to the dance floor. Once everyone assembled we didn't hear the Norwegian version of The Lonely Island but instead were Rick Rolled! So you know this guy ran to put on his purple shades and headed back on the dance floor to make an utter fool of himself because that's how awesome he is. Duh.

Yes, this past month has been quite a literal roller coaster of a ride. Weddings haven't been the only thing on my plate. I did celebrate my 27th birthday in there somewhere. I've been working nonstop, and I've been feeding my latest World's End obsession. Very unhealthily I might add. Yay!

So here's to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce Drake and Mr. and Mrs. Brian Knapp. May your lives together as one be just as awesome as it was together as two. And may you be happy to know you almost beat Mr. and Mrs. Freddie Weiss for having the best wedding of 2013. Almost.

Moore Weiss Moore Fun

So much for keeping up with this blog... sheesh.

This update is about a month late, but that's okay because today is the day after a very special anniversary indeed. That's right, folks. September 24th was the day Disney finally re-released Oliver & Company all the way back in 1996... ah such good times. Oh what was that? It's also the one-month anniversary of a certain Sistah Gurl and freddiefriend?! Erm... aren't I such a great brother/brother-in-law for remembering that!

I cannot believe Emily and Freddie have been married for a month! It feels like just yesterday I was lying in bed slowly drifting off to dreamland when I heard my phone blow up at least ten thousand times. When I grumpily sat up to check my phone all I could see was a blurry picture of someone's face behind some ring. When I rubbed my eyes and turned on the light, I still saw a blurry picture of someone's face behind some ring. It took my tired brain a few minutes to process what I had just seen, but when I realized what it was, I FREAKED OUT!! Emily was engaged!!

A few months and a visit to Charleston later, it was time for me to head home for the big weekend. I won't bore you with all the in between details though I will share the link to my Sistah Gurl's blog. If you so desire, go peruse about pre/post-wedding details here. Emily's writing is absolutely hilarious which is kinda irritating because amongst the Moore siblings I'm supposed to be the writer. I mean, I love you MLE C Moore Butts! (Seriously, go read her blog now.)

Where was I? Oh that's right it was time to head back home for the most amazing weekend EVER!! Family and friends galore gathered from all over the country to see the best couple of the year get hitched (No offense to the best cousin ever. Claire and Pierce, your wedding was beautiful!). I was really excited to be reunited with all of the Georgia Youth Ballet Homedawgs. It was fantastic to see Carefeeline, Wi, Hannah Michael, and our ballet teachers Maggie and Jonsie. Even the wedding photographer, Randy Olive, danced with us at The Studio for a hot minute.

Who would've thought that my sister who grew up hating 1) the outdoors and 2) animals, would 1) get married outside under a giant oak tree in the middle of August and 2) have a reception in a barn. Renovated but still a barn. Not this Broseph. 

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. After my couple of laps escorting my grandmother and mother down the aisle, I was able to join the other groomsmen just in time to watch my father walk Emily down the aisle. I'm not gonna lie. There were definitely tears shedding from these eyes even before Dad handed Emily off to Freddie. She just looked so radiant and happy. How could I resist?! I was thrilled when our officiant called for us to bow in prayer. I quickly wiped the tears off my face. The only ones who would have noticed were the atheists in the crowd. Not that we had any... maybe one or two.

That's really all I remember from the actual wedding. It's amazing how everything flew by so fast. I wasn't even the one getting married! The reception was loads of fun though. Poignant toasts from the best man/maids of honor, toe-tapping tunes selected by the bride and groom (hint: NO "Electric Slide" or "Cupid Shuffle" here), and a surprise flash mob just for the groom all equals a fantastic time had by all. It wasn't long before it was time to send the happy couple away in their getaway car. There were just too many shenanigans to put into words so here's some of my favorite pics from the wedding weekend:

Oh hey rehearsal time. Thanks for soaking us all in sweat!

Most of the wedding party at the rehearsal dinner

Day of with the maids of honor!

A wonderful shot of the bride and groom remembering those who have passed on. I'm sure they enjoyed the wedding from those VIP seats in heaven :)

Flash mob time! Emily thinks she wants to marry freddiefriend.

GYB Homedawgs/Moore sibz with the one and only Mr. Diddy!

the beautiful beaming couple

So here's to Freddie and Emily Weiss! May your new life together be just as fantastic as the past three years have been. I know you've already had a great honeymoon and are really living it up in Chucktown. I can't wait to get together again in a couple of months for Thanksgiving. Until next time, peace!