The new Mrs. Z presents . . . her wedding day!
I don't generally care to be quite so personal and self-revealing on the internet . . . however, I know that there are lots of people (ahem, mother, ahem) who dearly wish to see all of these photos! So here you are. For mom, for everyone!
All of these photos were taken by my sister Caitlin, and John. Oh, and Lyndsay took the one of the wedding certificate. Emily, Rob's sister, shot up some film, but I haven't scanned it in.
I must quote this passage from Little Women. I was thinking of it all that day, and every time I tried to repeat it to someone, I thought I was going to cry, because it was exactly how I felt. So here it is.
"You do look just like our own dear Meg, only so very sweet and lovely that I should hug you if it wouldn't crumple your dress," cried Amy, surveying her with delight when all was done.
"Then I am satisfied. But please hug and kiss me, everyone, and don't mind my dress. I want a great many crumples of this sort put into it today . . . "
There were to be no ceremonious performances, everything was to be as natural and homelike as possible, so when Aunt March arrived, she was scandalized to see the bride come running to welcome and lead her in, to find the bridegroom fastening up a garland that had fallen down, and to catch a glimpse of the paternal minister marching upstairs with a grave countenance and a wine bottle under each arm.
"Upon my word, here's a state of things!" cried the old lady, taking the seat of honor prepared for her, and settling the folds of her lavender moire with a great rustle. "You oughtn't to be seen till the last minute, child."
"I'm not a show, Aunty, and no one is coming to stare at me, to criticize my dress, or count the cost of my luncheon. I'm too happy to care what anyone says or thinks, and I'm going to have my little wedding just as I like it. John, dear, here's your hammer." And away went Meg to help `that man' in his highly improper employment.
Rob and I had a Great Harvest Decorations Debate. He loved the idea of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and scarecrows everywhere- I balked. The compromise? He could have as many harvest decorations as he liked outside. I could have as few as I liked inside. Result? Eleven scarecrows, holding eleven direction signs, pointing the way to our wedding. We got comments on these for days after- total strangers knocking on my parents' door to gush about the scarecrows and offer congratulations! Here are a few of my favorites.
Greeting our guests as they arrived was the best wedding decision we made. I loved having that much more time with everyone.
Various family and couple portraits. Rob is wearing Carharrts and a Filson vest; I am obviously not wearing anything conventional . . . although I am wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a lucky sixpence in my shoe!
When it came time for the ceremony, we sent our guests down to sit first, then we followed after. Both of Rob's parents walked him down, and then both of mine walked me down. Our friend Bronwen played music on the fiddle for us.
When I got to Rob standing there waiting for me, I couldn't contain myself and I gave him a hug instead of sitting sedately. Everyone laughed, naturally. Apparently I can't be dignified even (or especially?) on my wedding day. This was such a happy moment. I'm so happy John got this picture.
So, it was a Quaker wedding, which among other things means we didn't take a lot of pictures at the ceremony. It was such a sweet ceremony, though. I felt like everyone was crying except for me. I wanted to cry except I was smiling too much. I couldn't seem to make up my mind.
I did ask for pictures of us signing the Quaker marriage certificate . . .
This is the signed certificate. Rob made the frame. His sister did the calligraphy. And I did the watercolor leaves around the edge.
Us right after the ceremony!
Bronwen, our ceremony fiddler, was amazing and is also a close friend. We met because I also am a fiddler. I love her expression here! I also love the basket of afghans on the ground- it was chilly that day, so we dragged all the heirloom afghans out of storage and put them out for folks to wrap up in.
We also had a bagpiper! He's Bronwen's boyfriend, and also amazing. These were just small 'parlor pipes'- not nearly as overwhelming as the larger versions.
And here is the musical duo together.
I can't remember the name of Amber's dog (Suki?) but she was a lovely guest to have.
This is just pretty.
Onto the reception. Guests drifted out of the ceremony fields . . . and drove down to the lake.
I walked into the reception hall, and all I could think was, 'What? This is really happening? What? This is AMAZING! I can't believe it's this perfect!"
The cake was spectacular. It was lavender-flavored, and made by my dad's guitar teacher's wife (who is one of the few professionals involved in this crazy affair!).
The typewriter-as-guestbook was lots of fun.
I hated the thought of putting guests at sequentially numbered tables. It seemed so mean- 'Well, THIS friend is at table ONE, but YOU'RE at table NINE!'
Oh, the tasty, tasty food.
Dad toasted us.
First dance- we waltzed. Just like the very first evening we spent together. Crazy romantic, but true. There are also pictures on film of Rob dancing with his mom and me dancing with my dad, but we just got them back today, and I don't want to wait and scan them.
After we danced, we slipped outside and went for a row on the lake. It had rained the night before, so Rob had to bail us out before we could be underway! A friend of my family stuck her head out the window and sang (bellowed, really) 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore' at us. I was laughing like a loon.
We went back inside and cut the cake . . .
This is about half of the Marlboro contingent. Maria is missing. Julia and Allison and Trevor and Adam and Bob had already left. And where is Louisa? Still on stage? Still, this is a great photo.
And there was a contra dance! Louisa and Quena and Zack were all there, and it was amazingly perfect.
This last picture was like my day- a happy blur! Also I like that here you can see my bare feet. I realized at the last moment that I'd forgotten my dancing shoes!
And that was it! We snuck out just after the third dance to go to our honeymoon at Saranac Lake.
All of these photos were taken by my sister Caitlin, and John. Oh, and Lyndsay took the one of the wedding certificate. Emily, Rob's sister, shot up some film, but I haven't scanned it in.
I must quote this passage from Little Women. I was thinking of it all that day, and every time I tried to repeat it to someone, I thought I was going to cry, because it was exactly how I felt. So here it is.
"You do look just like our own dear Meg, only so very sweet and lovely that I should hug you if it wouldn't crumple your dress," cried Amy, surveying her with delight when all was done.
"Then I am satisfied. But please hug and kiss me, everyone, and don't mind my dress. I want a great many crumples of this sort put into it today . . . "
There were to be no ceremonious performances, everything was to be as natural and homelike as possible, so when Aunt March arrived, she was scandalized to see the bride come running to welcome and lead her in, to find the bridegroom fastening up a garland that had fallen down, and to catch a glimpse of the paternal minister marching upstairs with a grave countenance and a wine bottle under each arm.
"Upon my word, here's a state of things!" cried the old lady, taking the seat of honor prepared for her, and settling the folds of her lavender moire with a great rustle. "You oughtn't to be seen till the last minute, child."
"I'm not a show, Aunty, and no one is coming to stare at me, to criticize my dress, or count the cost of my luncheon. I'm too happy to care what anyone says or thinks, and I'm going to have my little wedding just as I like it. John, dear, here's your hammer." And away went Meg to help `that man' in his highly improper employment.
Rob and I had a Great Harvest Decorations Debate. He loved the idea of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and scarecrows everywhere- I balked. The compromise? He could have as many harvest decorations as he liked outside. I could have as few as I liked inside. Result? Eleven scarecrows, holding eleven direction signs, pointing the way to our wedding. We got comments on these for days after- total strangers knocking on my parents' door to gush about the scarecrows and offer congratulations! Here are a few of my favorites.
Greeting our guests as they arrived was the best wedding decision we made. I loved having that much more time with everyone.
Various family and couple portraits. Rob is wearing Carharrts and a Filson vest; I am obviously not wearing anything conventional . . . although I am wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a lucky sixpence in my shoe!
When it came time for the ceremony, we sent our guests down to sit first, then we followed after. Both of Rob's parents walked him down, and then both of mine walked me down. Our friend Bronwen played music on the fiddle for us.
When I got to Rob standing there waiting for me, I couldn't contain myself and I gave him a hug instead of sitting sedately. Everyone laughed, naturally. Apparently I can't be dignified even (or especially?) on my wedding day. This was such a happy moment. I'm so happy John got this picture.
So, it was a Quaker wedding, which among other things means we didn't take a lot of pictures at the ceremony. It was such a sweet ceremony, though. I felt like everyone was crying except for me. I wanted to cry except I was smiling too much. I couldn't seem to make up my mind.
I did ask for pictures of us signing the Quaker marriage certificate . . .
This is the signed certificate. Rob made the frame. His sister did the calligraphy. And I did the watercolor leaves around the edge.
Us right after the ceremony!
Bronwen, our ceremony fiddler, was amazing and is also a close friend. We met because I also am a fiddler. I love her expression here! I also love the basket of afghans on the ground- it was chilly that day, so we dragged all the heirloom afghans out of storage and put them out for folks to wrap up in.
We also had a bagpiper! He's Bronwen's boyfriend, and also amazing. These were just small 'parlor pipes'- not nearly as overwhelming as the larger versions.
And here is the musical duo together.
I can't remember the name of Amber's dog (Suki?) but she was a lovely guest to have.
This is just pretty.
Onto the reception. Guests drifted out of the ceremony fields . . . and drove down to the lake.
I walked into the reception hall, and all I could think was, 'What? This is really happening? What? This is AMAZING! I can't believe it's this perfect!"
The cake was spectacular. It was lavender-flavored, and made by my dad's guitar teacher's wife (who is one of the few professionals involved in this crazy affair!).
The typewriter-as-guestbook was lots of fun.
I hated the thought of putting guests at sequentially numbered tables. It seemed so mean- 'Well, THIS friend is at table ONE, but YOU'RE at table NINE!'
Oh, the tasty, tasty food.
Dad toasted us.
First dance- we waltzed. Just like the very first evening we spent together. Crazy romantic, but true. There are also pictures on film of Rob dancing with his mom and me dancing with my dad, but we just got them back today, and I don't want to wait and scan them.
After we danced, we slipped outside and went for a row on the lake. It had rained the night before, so Rob had to bail us out before we could be underway! A friend of my family stuck her head out the window and sang (bellowed, really) 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore' at us. I was laughing like a loon.
We went back inside and cut the cake . . .
This is about half of the Marlboro contingent. Maria is missing. Julia and Allison and Trevor and Adam and Bob had already left. And where is Louisa? Still on stage? Still, this is a great photo.
And there was a contra dance! Louisa and Quena and Zack were all there, and it was amazingly perfect.
This last picture was like my day- a happy blur! Also I like that here you can see my bare feet. I realized at the last moment that I'd forgotten my dancing shoes!
And that was it! We snuck out just after the third dance to go to our honeymoon at Saranac Lake.