Last night Ryan and I got all gussied up for the 2011 Excellence Awards, a black tie awards ceremony honoring top performers within his company.
The awards were held at the elegant Gaylord Palms resort, located about 30 minutes from downtown Orlando. Ryan and I have been to the hotel numerous times before for ICE!, our favorite holiday event where people can explore a 9-degree land made completely of ice.
When we arrived, we followed the stream of guests to a waiting area outside the Sun Ballroom where we enjoyed passed appetizers and drinks.
While I sipped on a glass of chardonnay (they didn’t have my preferred Reisling), we headed over to the picture station.
At the end of the night, we collected our picture and Ryan and I laughed pretty hard at our photo. Let’s just say we’re considering submitting it to AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.
When the doors to the Sun Ballroom opened, we found our table and our assigned seats and settled in for the night.
More wine was consumed while we chatted with the other guests at our table and the first speaker of the night welcomed everyone and thanked the employees for their contributions to the company.
I had a good time looking though the program for the evening and reading about everyone’s accomplishments.
Look who it is!
I was so proud. 
The menu for the event sounded delicious, so I was happy once the salad course was delivered and we could begin enjoying the fantastic food.
The salad included Bibb lettuce with fire-roasted peppers, goat cheese, tomatoes and an herb vinaigrette that a waitress poured on top of my salad after I snapped my picture.
After the salad course, most of the employees in attendance received awards and I made sure to clap extra loud for Ryan.
Eventually the main course was served and I literally ate every last bite on my plate and some of the veggies on Ryan’s. I was hungry!
The entrée included teriyaki glazed beef filet with grilled pineapple and blue crab crusted halibut with lobster tarragon sauce, mashed potatoes, red peppers and asparagus. It was fantastic.
The remainder of the evening was spent watching the presentation of more awards. Eventually the awards concluded and entertainment in the form of several off-broadway musical numbers ensued, including numbers from Hairspray and Wicked!
Since Ryan and I had recently seen Wicked, I was lovin’ that part of the show!
Last night was a really fun night and I felt honored to be able to attend to support my husband and get a closer glimpse into his company.
Now it’s time for breakfast! Pancakes, perhaps?
P.S. The Fashion page was updated this morning!
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Congrats to Ryan! Ya’ll look STUNNING and deserve an award itself for that 😉
I’d say Sunday pancakes are always a go!
Sounds like a great evening!! I love that they had professional photos…reminds me of prom. You looked beautiful!
what a fun night!!! AHAHA i have go to check out awkfamphotos.org… ive never heard of that! you look so so so truly gorgeous!
What a beautiful couple & love the dress, very classy! Congrats to your hubby too 🙂
That sounds so fun! I got to get dressed up for a company awards thing last week for my Dad’s job, and it’s always so great to get really gussied up, drink expensive wine, and enjoy the company of peers and colleagues 🙂
You guys look great! Glad you had fun.
You looked beautiful, Julie! Looks like a fun (and delicious!) evening!
what a fun night I love your dress and the food looks amazing!
awww fun! congrats to ryan 🙂 my husband’s company does something similar. we’ve only gone once (the other time we could have we were on our honeymoon…uh no we’re not leaving early for that!) but it was fun!
What a beautiful couple 🙂 Can’t believe you’re not having a smoothie for breakfast!
I’m a little shocked myself!
oh congrats to Ryan that’s a wonderful accomplishment!
you two look wonderful 🙂
Awww fun you looks great girl!
You two are such a good looking couple! Love that dress! 🙂
such a pretty dress! y’all looked gorgeous last night. congrats to Ryan, that’s sooo great!
Ah I miss dressing up! Since I’ve graduated from high school, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve gotten to dress up fancy for something. Maybe I’ll start a fancy-dress-dinner-party tradition with my friends
You should definetly post the head-shot portrait! I love pictures like that!
Loved the dress!
You look beautiful Julie!
That must be really rewarding for him! I didn’t know ceremonies like that existed! And my Gosh you look so beautiful! Your dress is a dream!
Julie! That dress looks stunning on you!
Congratulations to Ryan!! Looks like a wonderful evening. Love your dress 🙂
Your dress looked awesome on you! And I can’t believe you abandoned the smoothie… :O Although pancakes do sound delicious!
What a fun event!
Love the dress, gorgeous!! What does Ryan do?
He works in finance for a large defense company.
Great event, it’s fun to attend events like that to get a glimpse of his professional life.
My fiance is going to be a speaker for a work conference, I’m so proud of him and wish I can be in the crowd when he speaks. But, it’s for marine biologists only and I can’t attend.
Geez! That’s so awesome! 😀
Ryan’s work must me schmancy! What did he get an award for?
PS Your dress looks lovely! It’s kind of 1920s/1930s vintage-y with the drop waist and the beading!
LOVE that dress! Congrats to Ryan. Looks like a fun night.
Congrats to Ryan! You two looked great! Glad y’all had a fun time 🙂
Your dress is beautiful!! My bf and I just stayed at the GL Palms a few weeks ago when we were in Orlando on vacation!
You both look great! What a gorgeous dress 🙂
I’m new to following your blog, so I just wanted to tell you how much I love it! Peanut butter on its own = FAB. More importantly, you look gorgeous and y’all make such a cute couple! Congrats to your hubby and to you for being such a great wife 🙂 xo
OH.Em.Gee!!! Your dress is GORGEOUS!! I can’t wait to check out the fashion page to see where you got. That looks like a really amazing event y’all attended… Congrats to Ryan on his award!!
I love your dress.. looks like a fun night!
Your dress is awesome! It looked like a really great night and it is nice when company’s have nice parties like that to honor their employees
I know many of us would really love to see this awkward photo! lol
Looks like a great night and you looked absolutely beautiful!
i love your dress!
Love Gaylord Palms! My boyfriend and I went there for his school’s banquet/prom. So pretty!
And you look gorgeous girl! Beautiful dress!
Congrats to Ryan! He deserves it from the way he has been working non-stop! You really looked beautiful Julie!
Barbara
Ryan is lucky to have such a great job, but even luckier to have such a great buddie to share all this stuff.
I mean, you’re a fun wife to have around and I hope he doesn’t take you for granted !
As for the dress, makes you look like…Tinkerbell! It’s fairy style, sparkling but still gracefull!
You two are looking sharp all decked out! I LOVE Awkward Family Photos! It’s my new addiction, SO FUNNY 🙂
Beautiful couple! Congrats to Ryan on his award 🙂
Love your dress! You and Ryan both look fantastic 🙂
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