Today dawns sunny and bright, perfect weather for a spring wedding, the first of our sojourn. Although the day may get warm, trending towards hot before it ends, this morning is absolutely beautiful. We arise, cleanse the bodies and head to the breakfast room. Still full of track and field athletes strutting their perfect bodies (and all so uncommonly tall to my short eyes!) There were also some folks that we met at last night’s rehearsal after party, although most didn’t recognize us in our civilian attire.
After our eggs, sausage gravy over biscuits and sausage links, we piled into our chariot and headed back to the wedding venue. The wedding party was staying at the old, large home, converted to a B & B for the final two nights of the festivities. The place was a huge old antebellum home, fireplaces in every room, wide plank southern pine flooring, and enough bedrooms for the entire entourage.
The joint was hopping this morning. All the bridesmaids were flitting about, waiting their turn with the imported make-up artist, as were the mothers. Dads and groomsmen were milling about, trying to stay out of the way of the important people (the females) or fetching morning coffee or champagne from the kitchen.
We spent an hour on the front porch, visiting with Glenda and Jeff, admiring the setting and the home, and generally lending moral support representing 50% of the Nebraska non-wedding party guest list. When it was time for Glenda to enter the makeup chamber, we took our leave and drove back to the hotel. We toyed with the thought of going back into town for a bit, but then realized we wouldn’t have time before needing to be back by 3:00 PM to change our clothes. So, we made an executive decision to visit the Charlottesville Trader Joe’s mart. TJ’s is one of our standard store visits back home; this one is slightly larger with a different layout. After multiple visits, one gains familiarity with the neighborhood stores. Here, though the products were the same, the location within the store was different, the crowd on a Saturday morning was huge and we felt like strangers in a foreign land.
We managed to score some water crackers, Brie, cheeses sticks and a bottle of wine - our lunch for the day. We went back to the hotel, lunched, read for a while and relaxed. Then promptly at three o’clock we costumed up and left for the Guildford Farm event of the day. The parking area was filling up, the sun was beating down on the lawn where the white folding chairs were set, and guests were milling about under the covered porch, sipping ice water and getting to meet new friends with whom they were about to share this wondrous event.
Beginning at 3:55 the guests moved en masse to the seating area, following the arrival and seclusion of the wedding party. The groomsman had all marched from the big house, neatly attired in their matching
The ceremony was quick, this was not a religious ceremony but rather an understated but eloquent pledge of love between two supremely happy young people. It was very well done and the handkerchiefs were out, either to wipe a brow or dab at an eye! Following the ceremony the Bride and Groom went inside for some quick photos together - Ryan had been adamant about not seeing Isabelle’s gown prior to her walk down the lawn, so this was the first chance for the photographer to capture them together in their attire, wearing ear to ear grins, and interrupted by a quick kiss every few minutes.
While this was happening, we guests were flowing in and out to the bar for much needed refreshments, and also partaking of the hors’deouvres provided under the patio canopy. At six, we filed into to our assigned tables, listened to a few speechs from the Maid of Honor (sister Ivy) and Best Man (buddy Austin) both were appropriate and humorous. Dinner was then served by sending tables to the service line. We dined on roasted chicken breast with rosemary, a glazed salmon filet, a chickpea patty glazed in a sauce, broccoli and macaroni and cheese casserole. All was marvellously prepared by the caterer and went off without a hitch.
Eventually the cake was cut and shared with the guests; the obligatory first dances were completed, and then the youngsters took to the floor in their native rituals, which in our day was a little more organized and called dancing! The only possible incident of the entire evening was when Deb realized that her Oura (a type of fitbit) ring was missing. In theory its bright shiny titanium finish should be easily recognisable, but searches were launched and turned up empty handed. Resigned to the fact that at least it was easily replaceable and not some heirloom gift, we folded up our tent and headed back to the hotel, arriving around 9:30. On the bathroom counter sat the missing silver ring- left behind following our early quick departure. All ended well and it was a beautiful ceremony. Only another week and one more ceremony to go. The next one will see a bit more involvement on our part, and Glenda and Jeff, who are also coming to California for Meg and Ed’s event, will be able to sit back and provide the support for Deb. We look forward to it.
