I did the kindest thing yesterday by posting one single picture of the bride and groom… and you may let it go at that…BUT…if you want to know what went on, and see some of the work, fun and love that went into the moment…read on…
On Friday the flowers were duly cut and transported (thank you Sharon):
and Friday evening we gathered at the restaurant Wafu (DELICIOUS…3113 SE Division in Portland for a real treat) for good food and a few toasts which included heartfelt and loving remarks from all assembled and then the energetic Seamans’ family toast, “…WAY UP…WAY DOWN…” (and down means on the floor and rolling over while holding drink steady…phew)
there was a photo review of the photos you saw last week, wittily narrated by the groom…
And then the wedding day finally arrived. Many friends and family converged on the North Star Ballroom (site of the reception)…
to help transform an empty room into something lovely….
…and as every former caterer (that would be me) knows, it begins with the arranging and draping of tables…
My job was flowers…cutting and arranging with Donna, Gail and D’Anne …we each had a job, so my photos of the next two hours are sparse…but then EVERYBODY had a job…including the bride who had worn her heavy gloves to put colored gels in the can spot lights and arrange them…(best man Rob holds the ladder)
and just before the stroke of noon we were done…
At 5:30 (and with the temperature 102) we arrived at the beautiful Peninsula Park, Portland’s first rose garden built and planted in 1910…
Patrick called us together…
the wedding party processed up the “aisle”
followed by proud mother Cheryl and the bride…
Words were spoken…
poems were read…
vows exchanged and then…the kiss…
and at that EXACT moment the signal was given by Patrick to the Last Regiment Syncopated Drum Corps who charged from the bushes with their drums and electrified the wedding, the park and the whole neighborhood…it was fantastic…
and off they all went…
to the waiting limo…
and off to the North Star Ballroom…
…and a few more toasts…
…including Rob’s “WAY UP”…
“WAY DOWN…”
then Emma did some Irish dancing…
everybody else did some rock and roll…
…there were many photo ops with nieces and nephews…
the cake was duly cut…and off they went into the dark…
and the light of a new life ahead…
On The Way 
Wonderful…wonderful…
Knowing neither bride nor groom still I am grinning & teary, simply from the joy and colors seen here, the music imagined from your lovely photos. Thank you & Congratulations!!!
Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing this wonderful life event, through your eyes and Mothers love and yes, former caterer. How can we not love this post of a wonderful beginning of a committed life together celebrated by both families and friends……lovely!
a truly personal wedding such as this must be rare. the flower arrangements with green blackberries and queen anne’s lace, the sprig of rosemary on the linens, the ‘WAY UP/WAY DOWN’ funny silliness, the beautiful, old rose garden, the drummer surprise, and that gorgeous photo of the bride and groom escorted to their limo with the syncopated, uniformed drum corps, priceless. loved it.
What a wonderful wedding! I got tears in my eyes on seeing the newly weds drummed out of the park.
Me too!
I nearly swooned while going through this wonderful event with you all! Thank you for such sharing!
Everything looks beautiful Bonnie! Congratulations to the happy couple and to you and R! 🙂