The Difference Between a Great Ball and a GREAT Ball

I vividly remember my first formal Ball (Marine Corps, in Fort Worth, TX) - I was so nervous! I was in Graduate School at the time and accompanied a very good friend who was also a student. We had so much fun (!), but I was wide-eyed the whole time...just absorbing it all. The soldiers, their dates, those dresses, the traditions - everything! It was also my first experience with a Reception Line...and my date & I totally dodged it. Ouch. Rookie mistake.

Then I attended my first Army formal in June, 2011. My Mister & I were dating at the time and everything was so new and exciting. I felt beautiful in my dress and hovered close by his side as he introduced me to all his friends. And then...there was the dreaded Reception Line, as confusing as ever (I'd even attempted to brush up & learn about it beforehand). My mister introduced us "Major R & my future wife Miss M," which definitely perplexed the adjutant:

"Your wife?"...

"No, my future wife."...

...and, even though we were not engaged, we made it down the entire Line introduced as "Major R & his fiancée."

AWKWARD :)

Our very first Ball together - June, 2011

This past Thursday night, we attended another formal...which was, by far, my FAVORITE. What made this Ball a standout? Maybe was because of the fabulous new venue...and/or the wonderful addition of a photo booth this year...and it also didn't hurt that we were seated at the VIP table {!!!}....

Posing with our table stand from our VIP table.

...but MOST OF ALL, aside from all those things, the thing that meant the very most to me about that night was that it felt like a night spent with FRIENDS. I didn't spend much time by my husband's side being introduced to all his buddies...I was engaged, instead, in conversation with my own friends {and actually got to introduce my husband to a few of them!}...and when we got to that Receiving Line, I knew (personally knew!) 4 of the 5 members of the Host Party.

It was deeply satisfying.