On Thursday night we kicked it off with a joint Bachelor/Bachelorette party thrown at the Sunset Bowl in Ballard by my Best Woman, Jenn. We had a really awesome time NOT concentrating on bowling. I still bowled a 111, which for me is pretty darn good. It must have been the t-shirts that Vivek brought for us that gave me extra bowling power (Borat shirts that say "Very Nice!").
The next day we rehearsed in the park. Gillia (the Mayor who oversaw the festivities and the setting up) and I had much to confer about ...
... and Official Watergun Sheriff Megan Anshutz had to test out her weapon.
The next morning, while others slaved away preparing the wedding site at the park (every picture of Gillia from the wedding is of her On The Move) ...
... we hung out and ate bagels, and Suzie did my makeup. Ha ha ha. Being the bride does have its advantages! Suzie did a really amazing job and I definitely have her to thank that I don't look like a lifeless hag in all the pictures.
Chance's face here is one of frustration with the stupid tie they gave him with his tux, not pre-wedding jitters. Well, not many pre-wedding jitters anyway.
Meanwhile, back at the park, our good friend Mary was busy photographing all the guests for our guest book. We've really enjoyed looking at it - it's going to be so great in ten or twenty years to look back and see what everyone was wearing!
We arrived surreptitiously and hung out in another corner of the park til it was time to start the ceremony.
Chance got teased. He deserved it.
Finally, it was time. We traipsed across the field (through a family playing baseball - the dad was very cute and said "Hope you'll be as happy as I am!") and down the aisle ...
The most touching part of the ceremony was seeing our family and friends all turned and smiling at us! It was amazing to see everyone together in one place. We were reminded over and over again throughout the day how lucky we are to have such an amazing community.
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Our friend Kristin's dad, James, married us.
We marched in to Schubert and out to Led Zeppelin. I thought it was a good combo.
This is the only picture I have (so far) of our three talented musicians - from before the ceremony. Michael played the guitar, Susan sang and Sharon played the piano. It was gorgeous! And speaking of not having pictures, if you are hoarding pictures of the ceremony, I'd love to have them ...
My mom Bizzie, my dad Jon, and Chance's mom Kris -
Our good friend Paula made our cake (she's the tall one that I'm about to hug in this picture). It was not only aesthetically pleasing, but tasted fantastic as well.
My cousin Erin made little crows for the top ...
And Paula made an extra chocolate cake, decorated with the phrase "I love Berlin" in German. (This is what Chance said to me the first night we met.) (It's still true, too.)
Apparently the placement of the hands on the knife is very important when one is cutting the cake. Whoever has his/her hand on top will supposedly control the relationship. There was quite the tussle, but we ended up with hands on the side.
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Old = my ring (from my grandma)
New = dress from David's Bridal, the Freakiest Place in the World
Borrowed = comb for the veil (from Gillia)
Blue = my shoes (bought in Berlin, pictured here)
The Cousins.
And of course ...
Frisbee!
And just because it's your wedding day doesn't mean you can't tease your spouse.
What fun!
