Interlude in the States (part 3)

MASON & MELISSA'S WEDDING

In addition to Sean's play, a major reason we swung through California was to be present at the marriage of our dear friends. Mason and Melissa, in addition to being superlative people that we adore, put in some critical effort and assistance in making our San Francisco Wedding Party a success. I couldn't have done it without them. LITERALLY. It was a sadness for me not to have been available to help them prepare for their party, but flying back from Spain I think let them know how much we back their plans.

We rented a car and drove from San Francisco up to Oakhurst and checked into our hotel and then found the gang at the Paradise Springs Hotel for an evening BBQ and karaoke party.

It was wonderful to see so many of our friends gathered for such a happy occasion...and one where we weren't the center of attention. There is nothing so lovely as someone else's wedding after you've survived your own. :-] Sean was looking particularly space-pirate hot on Friday, too.

Unfortunately, the hotel we were staying at was FILLED with dust and cat hair and Sean woke up Saturday in rough shape. I was on my meds and nasal spray and was doing OK. Despite being handicapped by the Zyrtec Rage and various allergy miseries, it was a perfectly beautiful day for the wedding and everyone looked AMAZING. Noona lent me a dress that looked much better under my corset than my worn black travel dress (yay! thanks!), and the tux pants and tails Sean had found at a resale shop were a very comfy 'late night' outfit, too. The ceremony was beautiful, Melissa's train was...a cardboard train!, and the meal under the stars was perfection. It was a magical night.



Sean with the Newlyweds
Groomsmen toasting & roasting
Amazing centerpieces by Lora Martens, and beautiful company!

We had to skip the Sunday brunch lakeside (tempting as that sounded) to skedaddle back to the City in order to get organized for our Monday morning flight to...PUERTO VALLARTA! Mexico, here we come!

SAN FRANCISCO PARTAAAAYYY!

** September 26, 7:30pm **

While this celebration is going to be short on ceremony and long on party, we would still like our community to be gathered up at the start for the short bit we'd like to do with you. So if you wander in at 10pm you'll still have a good time, but you will totally have MISSED OUT on some goodness. We have invited you because we want you there - As part of our deeply treasured San Francisco Family.

Some of you received little stars with requests to bring goodies for the potluck.
HERE'S THE DEALIO!

The Verdi Club is providing dish washers for your serving beeswax, so either bring your goodies in/on something recyclable, or something washable. There will be tables on which to display your culinary talent, and service (plates and forks, etc) but if your dish requires toothpicks, or a big serving item, you should bring that with you. The idea is to have you be able to walk in, place your dish on the table, unveil it, and then walk away and enjoy the party! When you are ready to go, you will stop by the Clean Dish table, pick up your bowl and roll home. Easy Peasy!

(There will be a special table for the Champagne, and another for the cupcakes.)
(If you weren't asked to bring anything, you still can, but you probably live far away and will be doing enough to just get yourself to the party. Seriously.)

IS CHEZ SWELLY REGISTERED?
The best gift you can give us is your participation in this celebration, and your continued support of us as a team. If you are prone to gifting, check here for such things.

WILL THERE BE BOOZE?


Yes, my friend, so PLEASE PLAN YOUR TRANSPORTATION ACCORDINGLY.
No tragedies on our wedding night, mmmkay?

Slide Show!

Our wedding photographer sent us the link to a slideshow preview of some of her favorite images from the day - we'll post more as we get them, but for now, you can watch the slide show on her website

Eloped in Place!

Why run away to elope when you live in San Francisco? Sean and I went to city hall for a civil ceremony with a small cabal of friends on June 3, 2009. The date for the actual 'deed' was very significant for us - Anneke's birthday is March 3, and Sean's is September 3, making June 3 a literally and symbolic meeting in the middle. This will also make it impossible for either of us to forget our anniversary, and spread the parties evenly throughout the year! YAY! We cannot wait to celebrate, and repeat our vows, with our families in July.