The Wedding, Redux

I'll dispense with the drama: it was a pretty good wedding, all things considered. Everyone said "I do" at the correct intervals, no one died and the chapel didn't burn to the ground: I consider that a success.

There were moments of suspense though...

kent4str and I were ushers. I had a fun time escorting little old ladies to their seats, schmoozing with the families & friends, etc.. We were getting a little nervous when the 10am wedding time came & went with no sign of activity from the bride's ready room. We learned later that at 10am sharp, the bride was OK but the bridesmaids themselves hadn't even started changing into their dresses. (Twits.)

As the ceremony began, kent4str and I escorted two of the family matriarchs to the front of the chapel where each was to light a candle. Later in the wedding, the bride & groom would use these individual candles to light the larger unity candle in the center of the display. The ladies were dutifully brought forward and we collectively discovered the lighters which were to be used weren't there. Oops.

In a quick shuffle, the minister tossed me a Bic lighter emblazoned with the NASCAR logo which he obtained from the groom --classy stuff-- which I then gave to one of the ladies who started the candle lighting. Crisis averted.

The bride & groom were great but I now understand the old adage among television & movie directors about working with animals and small children: it is to be avoided. The bridesmaids were accompanied by four very young girls --perhaps the oldest was nine but the youngest wasn't yet two years of age. Kids being kids, they didn't get the solemnity of the affair and the parents of the kids, having not bothered to instill any sort of discipline thus far, couldn't control them: the young one just wandered the stage at will, walking across the bridal train, pulling at the pantlegs of the misc groomsmen, and generally misbehaving.

One of the older kids --maybe five years of age-- broke ranks to try to restrain her younger sister but the younger one resisted and the older one just added to the chaos.

To his credit, the minister pushed ahead unfazed, not bothered or distacted in the slightest. In 30 minutes, all was complete but a handful of photographs in the chapel itself before we departed for the reception hall down the block.

The reception itself was pretty good too. We had perhaps 50+ guests in a quaint hall of a historic building. The caterers were prompt and the food was plentiful & delicious. The DJ played a good mix of music at appropriate volumes. Much mingling ensued.

All nearly ended perfectly except for an administrative hang-up: the caterer, while previously indicating the soft drinks bar & bartender's wages were included in the total, changed his tune. There was an unexpected bill of $366 for the bar and $84 for the bartender. Oops. Fortunately, we had brought the checkbook with us and we were well under budget from our estimates from the initial plans in the spring so all was rescued.

Per usual, we ended our day of family fun with ice cream. I had the cinnabun ice cream this time: highly recommended!

The Wedding, Redux

I'll dispense with the drama: it was a pretty good wedding, all things considered. Everyone said "I do" at the correct intervals, no one died and the chapel didn't burn to the ground: I consider that a success.

There were moments of suspense though...

kent4str and I were ushers. I had a fun time escorting little old ladies to their seats, schmoozing with the families & friends, etc.. We were getting a little nervous when the 10am wedding time came & went with no sign of activity from the bride's ready room. We learned later that at 10am sharp, the bride was OK but the bridesmaids themselves hadn't even started changing into their dresses. (Twits.)

As the ceremony began, kent4str and I escorted two of the family matriarchs to the front of the chapel where each was to light a candle. Later in the wedding, the bride & groom would use these individual candles to light the larger unity candle in the center of the display. The ladies were dutifully brought forward and we collectively discovered the lighters which were to be used weren't there. Oops.

In a quick shuffle, the minister tossed me a Bic lighter emblazoned with the NASCAR logo which he obtained from the groom --classy stuff-- which I then gave to one of the ladies who started the candle lighting. Crisis averted.

The bride & groom were great but I now understand the old adage among television & movie directors about working with animals and small children: it is to be avoided. The bridesmaids were accompanied by four very young girls --perhaps the oldest was nine but the youngest wasn't yet two years of age. Kids being kids, they didn't get the solemnity of the affair and the parents of the kids, having not bothered to instill any sort of discipline thus far, couldn't control them: the young one just wandered the stage at will, walking across the bridal train, pulling at the pantlegs of the misc groomsmen, and generally misbehaving.

One of the older kids --maybe five years of age-- broke ranks to try to restrain her younger sister but the younger one resisted and the older one just added to the chaos.

To his credit, the minister pushed ahead unfazed, not bothered or distacted in the slightest. In 30 minutes, all was complete but a handful of photographs in the chapel itself before we departed for the reception hall down the block.

The reception itself was pretty good too. We had perhaps 50+ guests in a quaint hall of a historic building. The caterers were prompt and the food was plentiful & delicious. The DJ played a good mix of music at appropriate volumes. Much mingling ensued.

All nearly ended perfectly except for an administrative hang-up: the caterer, while previously indicating the soft drinks bar & bartender's wages were included in the total, changed his tune. There was an unexpected bill of $366 for the bar and $84 for the bartender. Oops. Fortunately, we had brought the checkbook with us and we were well under budget from our estimates from the initial plans in the spring so all was rescued.

Per usual, we ended our day of family fun with ice cream. I had the cinnabun ice cream this time: highly recommended!

Post-Wedding Weekend Wrap-up

Compared to the past few days, today has been light & leisure-filled.

We met up with the newlyweds, the groom's sister and her beau for breakfast at 8am, then saw the sister & beau off as they hit the road back to Williamsburg, VA.

We returned to Casa Vannello and napped.

At lunchtime, we visited the groom's other sister and her husband at their place east of Cleveland. Pizzas were ordered and NASCAR was watched. Why do I suddenly feel like putting a car up on blocks and living in a trailer?

We returned to Casa Vannello and napped again.

This evening, we met up with Dr. Mark and Brian K for dinner. Our first choice of restaurant wasn't open. Neither was the second. Or the third.

We did ultimately landed at a tiny hole-in-the-wall thai restaurant. Really tiny. I think they could have seated 10 people, tops. The food was slow out of the kitchen but it was very, very good... I'd definitely eat there again.

For dessert, we visited Malley's, a local ice cream institution. I'm now 50lbs heavier but I regret nothing.

Much additional chocolate shopping was also done to supplement a prize basket we'll be raffling off at the upcoming Harvest Festival Hoedown square dance weekend.

We are now back at Casa Vannello once again, this time to pack. We hope to be on the road by 8am tomorrow back to DC.

Post-Wedding Weekend Wrap-up

Compared to the past few days, today has been light & leisure-filled.

We met up with the newlyweds, the groom's sister and her beau for breakfast at 8am, then saw the sister & beau off as they hit the road back to Williamsburg, VA.

We returned to Casa Vannello and napped.

At lunchtime, we visited the groom's other sister and her husband at their place east of Cleveland. Pizzas were ordered and NASCAR was watched. Why do I suddenly feel like putting a car up on blocks and living in a trailer?

We returned to Casa Vannello and napped again.

This evening, we met up with Dr. Mark and Brian K for dinner. Our first choice of restaurant wasn't open. Neither was the second. Or the third.

We did ultimately landed at a tiny hole-in-the-wall thai restaurant. Really tiny. I think they could have seated 10 people, tops. The food was slow out of the kitchen but it was very, very good... I'd definitely eat there again.

For dessert, we visited Malley's, a local ice cream institution. I'm now 50lbs heavier but I regret nothing.

Much additional chocolate shopping was also done to supplement a prize basket we'll be raffling off at the upcoming Harvest Festival Hoedown square dance weekend.

We are now back at Casa Vannello once again, this time to pack. We hope to be on the road by 8am tomorrow back to DC.