Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Dancing With Our Moms

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After all the tears had started to subside, it was time for the Mother-Son dance. I know Mr. Meerkat had a rough time choosing music for this because he really loves rock. So I was happy to see him find a classic that he loved: Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

As the music started Mr. Meerkat led Mama-In-Law Meerkat out onto the dance floor.

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I was loving watching them dance together.

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I started crying again when I saw Mama-In-Law Meerkat crying onto Mr. Meerkat's shoulder.

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The dance was simple, sweet and perfect for them.

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After Mama-In-Law Meerkat and Mr. Meerkat had finished their dance and we had all wiped our tears away I pulled Mama Meerkat out onto the floor.

Remember back when I asked you for help on what music to play for the surprise mother-daughter dance I was planning? As always, you came through with awesome ideas.  I ended up doing a mash up of three songs:  Chubby Checker's The Twist (my moms favorite), Cupids's Cupid Shuffle and Cotton Eyed Joe by The Rednex.

And thankfully the AMAZING Mr. Panther was able to put together a mp3 for me that faded from one song to the next.



As soon as my mom heard the twist, she knew exactly what to do. Dance her butt off!

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And this is the point where my plan went a bit south. The one thing I didn't count on was Mama Meerkat having blisters all over her feet. A week of walking all over the Riviera Maya really took a toll on her feet. By the time the first 35 seconds of the song was finished her blisters were hurting so bad she had to sit down.

Lucky for me Sister-In-Law Meerkat and Stacey the Makeup Fairy had my back. They got up there with me and did the cupid shuffle.

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And I give them credit, they even attempted to learn the dance steps to Cotton Eyed Joe on the fly. If you have ever seen this dance you know its fast and you move A LOT! I even yanked my dress up so they could see my feet but alas I am a terrible dance teacher. :P

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Mostly we just ended up laughing a lot but it was still fun. 

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It didn't take long after that song ended for the party to get into full swing. I never knew our family and friends could rock a party like they did! Wait until you see them.

Up Next: Whose A Sexy Bitch?

Days Before Wedding

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner

Getting Ready

• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready
• The Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue I Didn't Plan
• Just A Few Pictures With My Girls

Ceremony

• Get Me To The Beach
• A Gift For Mr. Meerkat
• A Beach Processional
• Our Love Story Ceremony
• Our Sand Ceremony
• Vows, Rings and Hands
• Ceremony Conclusion

Cocktail Hour and Portraits

• Hugs, Kisses and Congratulations
• Mix and Mingle - Our Cocktail Hour
• "Tell Us A Story" Guestbook
• Family and Bridal Party Portraits
• Bride and Groom Portraits Part 1 & Part 2

The Reception

• Our Grand Entrance
• Dinner and Toasts Part 1 & Part 2
• Let's Smash Some Cake!
• Our Unchoreographed First Dance
• Mr. Meerkat Made Me Cry (Father-Daughter Dance)

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Mr. Meerkat Made Me Cry

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As the last few notes of our first dance faded away, I started to turn and make my way off the dance floor for the Mother-Son dance but Mr. Meerkat stopped me. Then I heard the the beginning of a song my dad use to play for me as a little girl.

The song is called Daddy's Girl and it was our song. The one where when you hear it playing, you look at each other and smile.

So for a minute I just stood there staring at Mr. Meerkat. I didn't understand what was going on. Then it slowly came to me. Mr. Meerkat was giving me the Father-Daughter dance I never thought I would be able to have.

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After losing my dad to cancer, being able to have a Father-Daughter dance to our song wasn't an option. It was one of the hardest things to come to terms with while we were planning.

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I can remember Mr. Meerkat pulling me into his arms and whispering in my ear:

I would give anything for your dad to be here but since he can't I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I filled in for him.

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I held on so very tightly to Mr. Meerkat as we danced. And I cried - a lot. So did our family and friend. But it was the good kind of cry that reminds us of how much we are loved.

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Even though I was crying, I was still pretty much holding it together until I heard this part of the song:

I recall the day that your young man come to call.

Seems like only yesterday, you swam and played football.

But I know the time has come, that I must set you free.

But no matter where you are, you know what you are to me.

Once I heard that I couldn't dance anymore. It was just too hard. I told Mr. Meerkat how much it meant to me to have my Father-Daughter dance but that I wanted to get back to the celebrating.

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He simply smiled and nodded at me in this way that said he understood. So he took my hand and escorted me off the dance floor.

Even though it was hard at the time, I am so glad that I got to have my Father-Daughter dance.

Up Next: Dancing With Our Moms

Days Before Wedding

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner

Getting Ready

• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready
• The Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue I Didn't Plan
• Just A Few Pictures With My Girls

Ceremony

• Get Me To The Beach
• A Gift For Mr. Meerkat
• A Beach Processional
• Our Love Story Ceremony
• Our Sand Ceremony
• Vows, Rings and Hands
• Ceremony Conclusion

Cocktail Hour and Portraits

• Hugs, Kisses and Congratulations
• Mix and Mingle - Our Cocktail Hour
• "Tell Us A Story" Guestbook
• Family and Bridal Party Portraits
• Bride and Groom Portraits Part 1 & Part 2

The Reception

• Our Grand Entrance
• Dinner and Toasts Part 1 & Part 2
• Let's Smash Some Cake!
• Our Unchoreographed First Dance

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Our Unchoreographed First Dance

Del Sol Photography

Throughout our planning Mr. Meerkat and I debated back and forth on choreographing our first dance vs taking the lets just wing it approach. I moaned and whined to you about wanting a up beat, get the crowd cheering dance but in the end we totally went for the wing it option. And you know what? Our first dance turned out even better than I had imagined it choreographed.

I think one of the reasons was the song we chose - All or Nothing by Theory of a Deadman.

So many of the things said in the song reminded me of how Mr. Meerkat and I meet and fell in love. It was so perfectly us I don't know how I didn't see it from the beginning.

I guess I should let the photos and song speak for themselves.

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When I first saw you standing there

You know it was a little hard not to stare

So nervous when I drove you home

I know being apart is a little hard to bare.

Send some flowers to your work in hopes

That I'd have you in my arms again

We kissed that night before I left

Still now that's something

I could never forget

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You've got all that I need

Looking at all or nothing

Babe it's you and I

With you I know that

I am good for something

So lets go give it a try

We got our backs against the ocean

It's just us against the world

Looking at all or nothing

Babe it's you and I

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Lets take a chance go far away today
And never look back again
Since I said I loved you in Las Vegas
It's never been the same since then

You've got all that I need
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I

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With you I know

I am good for something

So lets go give it a try

We got our backs against the ocean

It's just us against the world

Looking at all or nothing

Babe it's you and I

Looking at all or nothing

Babe it's you and I

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This is it nothing to hide

One more kiss never say goodbye

This is it babe your all mine

Looking at all or nothing

Babe it's you and I

I know that I am good for something

So lets go give it a try

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Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
With you I know that
I am good for something
So lets go give it a try

We got our backs against the ocean
It's just us against the world
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I

As the last notes of our first dance faded away, something happened that I never thought would have happened in a million years....

Up Next: Mr. Meerkat Made Me Cry

Days Before Wedding

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner

Getting Ready

• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready
• The Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue I Didn't Plan
• Just A Few Pictures With My Girls

Ceremony

• Get Me To The Beach
• A Gift For Mr. Meerkat
• A Beach Processional
• Our Love Story Ceremony
• Our Sand Ceremony
• Vows, Rings and Hands
• Ceremony Conclusion

Cocktail Hour and Portraits

• Hugs, Kisses and Congratulations
• Mix and Mingle - Our Cocktail Hour
• "Tell Us A Story" Guestbook
• Family and Bridal Party Portraits
• Bride and Groom Portraits Part 1 & Part 2

The Reception

• Our Grand Entrance
• Dinner and Toasts Part 1 & Part 2
• Let's Smash Some Cake!

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Let's Smash Some Cake!

Del Sol Photography

Ahhh, yes the cake cutting. The time honored traditional of feeding each other wedding cake and/or smashing it into your spouses face. Now wait before you judge Mr. Meerkat to harshly, I have to confess that I am the one who started the spontaneous smashing. Yes, me. Little ole Mrs. Meerkat.

All throughout our wedding planning I said how much I hated when couples smashed cake into each others faces. The meaning of this tradition is for the new husband and wife to perform their first task together and show how they will support each other. Even Mr. Meerkat agreed with me that we wanted something that followed through with the tradition and that didn't involve seeing who could smash the most cake into the other persons face.

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Dinner and Toasts (Part II)

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The first part of dinner flew by. It seemed like I blinked twice and the waitstaff was already bring out the orange sorbet. While we were all cleansing our pallets with the sorbet, Bridesmaid K was putting a couple finishing touches on her toast. 

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Dinner and Toasts (Part 1)

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Once we had made our grand entrance it was time to start our dinner and toasts. 

During each course of the meal, a member of our bridal party gave a toast (ala Mrs. Pug). I really loved how the speeches were spaced out. Not only did it help to break up each course, it gave us some time to really take in what had been said before the next speech started.