Friday, June 26, 2009

The Big Event

What follows is an account of the day of the big wedding. There are 32 pictures, I think, so you can "just look at the pictures" if you don't want to read my account.

Some folks were really chomping at the bit and raring to go first thing last Saturday morning. Not! They were relaxing with their bowls of cereal and cups of coffee and checking the Internet and generally puttering around.


Amanda arrived to start working on hair. Working on hair is a big part of wedding preparations. I must have worked on mine for at least 30 seconds, and that includes both hairs.

The bride is waited upon by her almost sister-in-law. Charlotte supervised and provided encouraging words.




Wow! Nice results!

At the wedding location, the flowers arrived. Tables were decorated with flowers and were named after restaurants that Jess or Mike had worked at over the years.



Pete arrived early to start setting up his awesome DJ equipment. He decided to rent lights for the dance floor, which proved to be a big hit.

Travis posed for me with the Herky figure that was in the lounge area of the golf shop. You have to take pictures like this.

Most of the formal picture taking occurred prior to the actual wedding.

Can't help but think of that Stevie Wonder song, "Isn't she lovely?"

The queen and her court. Four pretty women.

Mike and his parents watched as his bride was being photographed.

Don't you wonder what they were saying to each other? None of our business!

Here's a good looking group. I think the lady in the blue dress is especially attractive.

Here is Ron, the official officiant, and the happy couple. Wish you could all have heard the wonderful message to the couple that he incorporated into the wedding ceremony.


I got to spend time with my wonderful sister, who may have had something to do with helping Ron prepare for the ceremony. She's the best sister ever. It even looks like we color-coordinated so that this shot would look great.

Cutting the cake, which we all enjoyed later. This was followed by a number of very sweet toasts to the newlyweds.

There was a slide show with lots of pictures of Jess and Mike in their very early years and as a couple.

Then dinner was served.

Some folks may have made a few extra trips to the bar?

Then the dancing began. Pete provided a great selection of music and fun.

I got to dance with the grandmother of the bride, the mother of the bride, and the bride! What a lucky guy.

Travis danced with his mom.

Everybody danced with everybody at times. I think my children and their spouses never left the dance floor.

Ron and Paula got in a few licks as well.

Will filmed the entire wedding ceremony. Then he filmed over two hours of dancing. So, I have proof of the fun and craziness in case anyone tries to deny anything.

It was all fun and then more fun.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Some of the Festivities

Those who regularly follow this blog will know what these pictures are all about. These pictures are all from events leading up to Jessica's wedding, which occurred yesterday afternoon. Pictures from the big event itself will appear elsewhere and, perhaps also, here at another time.

After Jess and Mike arrived from Tennessee, they chose to "relax" in our back yard. Travis and Nicole arrived a short time later and joined in the fun. Each of their dogs came along, so there was also some settling in time for them.





Oliver and Travis are quite the pair. Here is Oliver doing a high five of sorts and then showing off his best sunny day look.


Everyone helped us prepare for the family cookout.


Mom brought along her wedding dress. So there were some fun times showing that off and giving Jess a chance to try out an older style.



All the immediate family members on both sides joined us for a cookout. This was our first serious chance to fully utilize our new sunporch.

Ron and Paula were here too, of course. Ron was the "official officiant" for the wedding.

The soon-to-be newlyweds posed for us.

Good friends of Mike's arrived a bit later in the day.


Mike's folks hosted a delightful post-rehearsal dinner.