Doug and Kristin's Wedding Day Celebration!

 My brother Doug wed his fiancee, Kristin in a beautiful backyard ceremony the first weekend in September.  

(L to R: Rob, Doug, Kristin, Tom) 

We couldn't be happier for my brother Doug and Kristin. They've been together 8 years and the time was right to make it official over Labor Day weekend. Together they planned the entire day and it was amazing.

They wanted the ceremony in their backyard, and they wanted it casual- which included shorts, and a button down shirt. There was a DJ who played all of their favorite songs.

A sign greeted everyone at the gate to the backyard. There was a beautiful floral trellis where they took their vows, a "flower bar" with a nice display of flowers, a special Sand Ceremony box where members of both families add colored sand into a glass framed box to symbolize the families coming together- What a cool concept!  - There was a giant tent in the back of the yard with tables nicely decorated for the meal. 

Another thing that was really cool were memorial candles for those in our hearts who had passed. Each candle had a matching photo. Included were my mom and dad, Kristin's dad, and her son JJ's friend.

 HERE COMES THE BRIDE!  Kristin made her entrance to the backyard from the back door of the house and she came down the stairs to Tom Petty's song "Here Comes my Girl."  CLICK LINK TO SEE 1 MIN VIDEO: https://youtube.com/shorts/dlR6iNQ6UQg?si=b7IradeZ-BXW85sr

SAND CEREMONY and MEMORIAL CANDLES -  These two events came after the welcome, opening words and hearing about Doug and Kristin's story of how they met.  Kristin's mom lit a candle for Kristin's dad, JJ lit a candle for his friend, Dawn, my sister in law, lit a candle for my dad, and I lit a candle for my mom. 

VOWS- Both Doug and Kristin gave their vows and it was very emotional not only for them, but for everyone witnessing it. I got pretty choked up! 

RING BEARER'S "MISSION" - There were three ring bearers at Doug and Kristin's wedding - Kristin's brother, brother-in-law and her nephews, all dressed up in suits to bring the rings to the altar as the Mission Impossible theme played. You can see the short video here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t246zQtssJ0

(Photos: Standing at the altar, the first dance  

FIRST DANCE  - Their first dance was to the song "A Better Place" by Rachel Platten. Kristin told a funny story of how Doug looked at it as a "nice song," while Kristin took it to be a sweet sentiment about how they were in better place since they met... and then Doug got to see it that way. :)  

I had never heard of the song, but when I heard it, it made me tear up! 

 LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvI9PuGorwI

(The groom and bride under the trellis) 

WEATHER- The weather could not have been more perfect. A brief early morning shower gave way to bright sunshine and blue skies with temperatures in the low 70s (Farenheit), and a nice breeze.

  (Photo: Doug's brother Steve, and sister-in-law, Dawn - who lit one of the candles during that part of the ceremony) 

SPEECHES!   - Kristin's brother and sister and Doug's sons, Brian and Scott gave speeches to the newlyweds that brought a lot of laughs and smiles. 

(Photo: Doug's sons, Scott and Brian. Doug, Kristin, and Kristin's son, JJ) 

(Kristin's brother, Doug, Kristin, Kristin's mom and sister, Kerry)

ALL IN ALL - A perfect wedding, a perfect day for a perfect couple!  Congratulations!!

Wedding Day: Darold and Kevin

getting ready for the service

Our friends Darold and Kevin have been together over  2 years and live in east Tennessee where marriage equality isn't a reality, so they came to Washington, D.C. to get married on Friday,June 6th. 

Darold and Kevin getting instructions from the officiant

Kevin's dad doing a reading

Kevin - "do you take Darold..."

 





CASUAL CEREMONY -  They had a brief and very casual ceremony at the Church of the Holy City in Washington, D.C. and decided to be very casual with matching polo shirts - so the officiant joked about 5 times during the ceremony that someone needs to teach them some fashion sense! 

Darold and Kevin laughed and cried during the event

 

Darold's aunt doing a reading

holding the marriage certificate

  Members of Kevin and Darold's families were there -all from out of state, to see the marriage become legal. We enjoyed talking to their cousin Ruthie and her husband Kevin who live in Virginia (others live in the southern U.S.) and Reggie who came up from Tennessee.

L: Tom (front), Kevin, Darold  R: Kevin, Ruthie, cousin and aunt

Walking out a legally married couple!

A LUNCH RECEPTION -  After the service, we all had lunch at the Bali Thai restaurant in D.C. - and Tom and I had not really tasted Thai food before.  There were a total of 18 of us, including the two grooms, and it was a really fun time.
  Darold and Kevin spent the next day touring their families around Washington, D.C. (we couldn't go because Rob had two book related events to attend). 
  Enjoy the pictures!

Grey and Peter's Wedding Reception - Part 2

Rob, Steve,Tom and Jane

After the vows, Grey and Peter opened up the big tent with food and great music!
  Peter and Grey had their first dance under the tent, as everyone watched. The dance floor filled up pretty quickly.
   The food was wonderful and they had gourmet cupcakes for a wedding cake... and they were amazing! :)

Peter prepping for the reception

Steve and Jane dancing

A FORECASTING CHALLENGE  -
  When we arrived around 4:30pm our friends Steve and Jane asked me when it was going to start raining because there was a "30% chance of showers" in the forecast for the overnight period. I told them that I would guess around 8 p.m. EDT. Ats7:35 p.m. as we were all under the tent enjoying the food and the music, the rain started! Not too bad to be within 30 minutes of the onset of the rain without a computer or radar screen, eh? :)

Rob and Tom enjoying the evening

Jane glances at the wacko with the camera

SHORT VIDEO - I did manage to get a short, 30 second video of Peter and Grey dancing to their song.

 VIDEO: http://youtu.be/OvaWJVe0OEE


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Grey and Peter's Wedding Reception - Part 1

Peter and Grey mingling

David North, Peter and Grey

David leading the ceremony

Our friends Grey and Peter got married legally last November in Maryland, but hosted their reception in late April (last weekend) at their home. They went all out for it and must've planned it for a year. The backyard was set up nicely, they had bartenders outside, hors d'ouveres, a tent and dance floor under it, a great band featuring David North and Julia Nixon, great food, and fun. 

Enjoyed meeting Grey's childhood friends!

   We met lots of other friends there including Steve and Jane, Jason and Kevin and others that we hung out with. 

Peter and Grey

   

Rob, Steve, Tom and Jane

After an opening reception we all gathered around an outside platform with a view of the Chesapeake Bay. It was there where Reverend David North (who has a great singing voice we learned)  presided over Grey and Peter as the re-made their vows before everyone. The showers held out and the sun was shining, so it was perfect! 

 VIDEO LINK: http://youtu.be/Ce6lmg-DVwA





  

Mary and Casey's Wedding

August 30th, 2010 was our friends Mary and Casey's Wedding Day.
Mary manages the doggy day care where we've been taking Dolly and Franklin for about 6 years. She's the most kind-hearted, caring, wonderful person you'd ever meet. She gives everyone a smile every day (even on the challenging days) and treats all of the dogs as if they were her own.
On Monday afternoon, August 30, a smart man named Casey took her for his wife at the court house in historic Annapolis. I(Rob) was fortunate enough to be there (taking a couple hours off of work). Mary looked stunning in her wedding gown and I got to play "usher" -kind of, while we were waiting for the groom and his family to get situated. I escorted Mary and her dad to the back door of the courthouse's chapel and watched them walk up the short aisle to the altar. There were about 30 people packed in that little chapel, and it was a short and sweet ceremony that brought some moist eyes in the crowd. When Casey was asked if he took Mary to be his bride he said loudly "Absolutely!" That's love! Congratulations Mary and Casey, and we wish you a lifetime of happiness! It was a wonderful ceremony. Here are the pictures: