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Friday, October 8, 2010

Air Force Ball at the Bellagio

When I was a little girl, I loved reading historical fiction books--particularly those about the Revolutionary War. I had an oft-revisited fantasy in which I was a Loyalist's daughter in Boston who attended all of the fancy balls with British officers, yet was secretly a "rebel" in love with an American soldier. To this day, I still think it sounds awfully romantic! I'm not sure why that childhood fantasy never equated to modern-day time for me, but I never once even thought about dating a service member until Matt came along. Then suddenly, I was going to Air Force Academy balls with my would-be officer and laughing at the blatant foreshadowing I had missed in my own life. Needless to say, I now feel like these fancy affairs are a major perk of being a military spouse.

Every September, airmen around the world celebrate the Air Force's birthday with a formal military ball. Imagine my disappointment, then, when I learned that our base only hosts a ball every few years and this was not our year. Thankfully, our good friends Talon and Carolyn came to the rescue by inviting us to the Nellis - Creech Ball with them. It was held at the Bellagio and really, you'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful place to commemorate the Air Force's birthday. We had such a wonderful time!
Before I go any further in this post, you must be informed that all of the credit for my gown goes to my incredible Mom. I flew home to Utah, we designed it, and then she sewed it and made it even more beautiful than I imagined. I am sort of in love with it. (Thanks again, Mom! I love you!) That said, let's continue on with our story, shall we?
The four of us stayed at the Bellagio that night and were thus able to get ready in our 24th-floor room and then just head downstairs for the big event. We found that the elevator's mirror came in handy for some last-minute touch-ups before our pre-ball pictures.
The word "ball" is perhaps misleading, as the event is much more than just dancing. It begins with a fancy dinner and a program steeped in military traditions. The National Anthem is first on the agenda, followed by an invocation and then the toasts: to the President, each branch of the Armed Forces, our brothers and sisters deployed overseas, our families, and--most poignantly--to those who have gone before us. The typical response with each toast (aside from the President's, who which we respond "To the Commander in Chief!") is saying "Here, here!" with glasses raised and then taking a sip. For those who have gone before, however, there is a moment of silence with glasses of water raised.

This ball took that toast even further with a touching video tribute to the airmen stationed at Nellis or Creech who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. The video was set to patriotic music and featured pictures of the heroes in and out of uniform, being airmen and just doing things they loved, alone and with their families. You know, we live in a nation that forgets it's at war; that tunes out a war report but turns up celebrity news; that forgets there are actual people with actual families still sacrificing their very lives for our freedom. I wish everyone could be in that room, celebrating our Armed Forces, giving thanks for those men and women who made and still make us free. Hearing a ten-second report about an airmen killed in action is one thing. Seeing pictures of that airman with his wife and his children, in a room full of people who knew and loved him, is entirely different and so incredibly humbling. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as we all stood there humbled, grateful and proud of their sacrifice.

The program continued with dinner and an address from General (ret) Gregory S. Martin, the cake cutting ceremony, and benediction. Then Terry Fator, a ventriliquist who won America's Got Talent and now has his own hit show in Vegas, performed. He's good at the ventriloquism thing but had far too many innuendos in his jokes for us to enjoy it. We were happy when his act ended early and was replaced by a cover band for dancing.

During the dancing portion, we slipped out of the ballroom to take a break along with a few pictures with the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle, for those of you who don't know). We were very impressed they were able to get it inside the hotel.
Then it was almost midnight, so we rushed outside to try to get a picture with the fountains. We got there halfway through the last song of the night and quickly handed our camera to the most sober-looking man we saw on Vegas Boulevard. This is what he delivered:
Thanks, dude. Luckily for us, the Bellagio looks lovely even without the fountains going so we were still able to get a few pictures once Talon and Carolyn arrived.

By the way, did I mention that Carolyn is pregnant? As in, third trimester pregnant? Yes, she is still so skinny and as stunning as ever. Their little girl is going to be so pretty.
Before heading back inside, we went on a little search for fountains of our own.


And then we lived happily ever after.


Of course, there's more to the story, though :-) I wouldn't stay at a 5-diamond hotel without sharing some of that goodness, now would I? Be sure to stay tuned for more!

27 comments:

  1. Such beautiful photos! I am so jealous you got to go to a ball! I've been waiting and waiting only to find out our base did one like 2 weeks after Mr. deployed. Your gown is gorgeous!

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  2. You all make such a beautiful couple! Your mom did an a-mazing job with your dress! We had no AF Ball at our current station because there are only a handful of us here...but we're looking forward to the Marine Corps Ball this month! (Even though most of the people that will be there aren't even in the military...it will still be big fun!) Thanks for sharing such beautiful photos!

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  3. I LOVE your dress! Your mom is very talented!!! And the last photo you have in front of the fountain is such an incredible picture! Looks like you had a great night!!

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  4. Ash! You look gorgeous! I am so impressed your mom made your dress. She did an amazing job. Looks like you guys had fun!

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  5. You looked gorgeous! Funny story: Mom asked me about our future Army Birthday Ball plans and we don't plan on attending many -- haven't the past 2 years. Anyway, mom asked what I'd wear to the formal events and I said my dress uniform. She wasn't very flattered. Battalion Christmas Dinners are the norm here in Virginia, and we went in dress uniform to that so why break tradition? ;)

    Seriously though, that dress with Matt's Mess Uniform. . . you both looked great together! I loved your hair too. More pictures of your latest adventures please. Love you!

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  6. beautiful post, beautiful photos, beautiful dress!!

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  7. Mom is seriously the most amazing person I have ever met!! She deserves all the credit and more. You look stunning Ashley. I'm glad you went with the simple jewelry and the side chignon... you really tied the whole look together, and so elegantly too. Lest we forget, Matt always looks spiffy in his uniform :) I am also glad you made sure to point out that fairy tales have their sacrifices too. I think it is incredibly too easy to forget the willingness of so many service men and women who protect our nation and freedoms, at the cost of their own lives (you know the whole out of site out of mind bit). Your perspective is honest and heartfelt; it's good to be reminded of what's important. Looks like the night was an enchanting success... I'd say the fantasy lived up to reality ;)

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  8. Your dress is AMAZING!!! Your mom rocks and that color is exquisite! What a fabulous time!

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  9. it definitely sounds like a fairy tale! what an amazing experience. you look gorgeous by the way!! your dress is so elegant. seriously you are so beautiful! so happy the two of you get to enjoy these incredible experiences together!

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  10. That's an awesome dress! I like all of that ruffle action!

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  11. Ok, first....you MUST know that this is SOOOOO ironic....because Jayme and I are having a girls weekend (since the boys went to have a fun boys weekend of fishing) ...and .....Jayme and I.....just got finished....SERIOUSLY!....JUST GOT FINISHED.......... watching....the cartoon movie.....CINDERELLA!!!! hahahahahahahaha, then....I turned on the computer to catch up on some blogs and clicked on to your blog first....hahahaha! I LOVE it!!!! You and Matt are really truly a real life cinderella story!!!....Prince...Princess...and all!!! I LOVE it!!!! p.s. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your dress!!! It's even prettier than cinderella's!! Where are your glass slippers??????? YOU MUST!...ok, next time!!!

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  12. SUCH a fun post! Further evidence that your life is like a fairytale. It makes me happy. And your dress is FABULOUS!

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  13. At least the drunk guy's photo of you captured the amazing ruffles on the neck of your dress! You both looked great. Your post even made me think of Vegas as pretty and that is a rare thing.

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  14. That dress is STUNNING. STUNNING! You look amazing - and with the side bun in the hair... SO classy! You two are HOT!

    The Bellagio = one of my secret ambitions is to stay there when I get married and we can just watch the fountains ALL night!
    Love it! *muah*

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  15. Your dress is absolutely stunning! I love the design and the color! Hope you and Matt are doing well, it sure sounds like it. Let me know when you're in town again and hopefully we can do lunch or something.

    P.S. How do you make the blog headers so darn cute??

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  16. The Air Force always does things with such panache. How do I get an invitation to an Air Force Ball?

    I love your dress. Tell your Mom that she is extremely talented. She should open her own Modest Dress Shop.

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  17. I just have to say you look stunning! Love the dress.
    Anyways, still love reading your blog and about your adventures!

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  18. I just have to say, I'm dying over your dress... it IS gorgeous!

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  19. How fun! Your dress was so pretty! The bellagio is may favorite hotel in Vegas! And I too loved reading historical fiction when I was younger!

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  20. Barbara is a Rock Star, she should go into the gown making business! What a glamorous evening and beautiful fairy tale.
    So grateful for our military and their incredible sacrifice for all of us!

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  21. you looked gorgeous! what a fun time!

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  22. Wow! What a great night! I absolutely love you dress!! I'm so glad you were able to attend!

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  23. AHHH! Your dress was breathtaking :) LOVE LOVE. Where did you find such a beautiful AND modest dress? haha

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  24. Oh, thank you so much everyone!!! You're all so sweet. I love the dress as well and think my mom rocks for making it :-)

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  25. you dresses are always so beautiful. does your mom take orders outside of your family? :)

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  26. Hi! I'm a new reader/follower. That ball sounds so fantastic and I have to go some day! Not to mention, that dress is gorgeous on you!

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  27. new follower http://untilyoucomehome.blogspot.com/
    it looks like you had fun at your ball! being stationed in socal you can go to cool places for your ball. we were in hawaii... not many places to go there haha. (boo hoo right?) and the atmosphere is so different! everyone wears short dresses and it's so much less... dressy. its very strange.

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