A sculpture...Cupid's Arrow? This was in San Francisco, an unplanned detour on our way up to Sonoma. The traffic in Oakland was horrible, and we missed a turn off...which happily lead us to SF in time for lunch!
Fisherman's Wharf, and the traditional sour dough factory Boudin's. Some times they are creative with their sour dough!
Of course we HAD to share a bowl of clam chowder served in a hollowed out bread bowl, and a crab cake sandwich too. Ummmm....yum.
Seriously yum!
We drove along the waterfront, past the multicolored row houses.
The Golden Gate Bridge is always a must-do in SF.
We only recently learned that Bernie's mom roller skated across this bridge the very first day it was open for travel. She lived in SF as a child.
Laura flew in from San Diego, and she also wound up in SF, and took some beautiful shots on her own. Nice of her to share them with me...
Veronica growing along the roadside (a Laura shot...she stopped and "smelled the flowers" along the way.)
Lupin
Laura's "ride" for the weekend. Anytime it wasn't raining, the top was down.
California poppies were in bloom too.
Wild mustard and wild radish grew along the road as we headed north. It had been years since I had seen the pinkish wild radish flowers.
One hillside was filled with sheep.
Babies and moms stared at us as we stared at them.
One of the wine country chateau...I believe this was St. Jean.
Everywhere were grapevines, some old and knarled, others still rather stripling like.
Bernie and arrived at our hotel, our "wheels" for the weekend was the red RAV.
Nice lobby...
The view from our bungalow patio. The roses were blooming everywhere, and the scent was amazing.
Inside we had a fire place and lovely wine country art.
We had been asked to bring our wedding picture to the wedding, and so we did.
Bernie and I got a bite to eat at the hotel...the menu was amazing, but we stuck to a small salad, and a flight of white wines.
Walking back after dinner we passed through a walkway lined with blooming orange blossoms. Just a perfect floral note for a wedding to come.
The size and density of the roseses on the growns were amazing. In the morning a gentle rain began to fall. We headed over to the Burton's house to see what we could do to help on the day before the wedding. Debra had several houseguests and her mother, and yet was sererenly presenting all manners of noshes and treats as still more guests arrived to visit while the final details were attended to by the bride, the bridemaids, and anyone else who was able to lend a hand. Running errands in a strange winding road town in pouring rain was challenging even for those who knew the area well.
By Friday afternoon everyone who should arrive had arrived, and we all scattered to change clothes for the rehersal. Jeff surprised me by getting misty eyed just seeing Rachel practicing walking down the aisle. Her mother had made the fuchsia and navy drapes for the front of the church.
Rachel was having fun.
Practicing for the big day. Jeff's best man Mark is a friend from high school. I hadn't seen him in 12 years and didn't recognize him when I first saw him.
Practice over, we all retired to Doce Lunas for the rehersal dinner. Rachel and her parents. I loved Debra's blouse!
I also had not met Mark's wife Christen. She was adorable...and they were enjoying a first getaway from their one and two year old sons.
My mom and dad with Bernie.
"You can tell when I am possessed...my eyes turn red like this...but Jeff is OK with it...."
At last some one took a picture of the four of us.
The food was amazing, and served family style. Starting with crab cakes, then a salad, and freshly baked bread, each course had a different wine choice. When the main courses came out, I voted for the pork ribs. A slight ginger oriental flavor was in the very unique sauce.
There was also chicken, and salmon...
And a vegetable dish as well as mashed potatoes (not your ordinary kind!) and rice.
Mark gave the toast to the couple and while he was nervous, he did an excellent job! We had been warned to save room for dessert, the restaurant's signature sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. Oh my gosh...I WANT the recipe!
Early early...the wedding day arrived. The bridesmaids compared pedicures and silver sandals.
It was raining quite hard, and Laura caught the Bridal Couple strolling past the hotel fountain on the way to the limosine. The photographers were not there for this candid moment. I think this is my favorite picture of all!
Umbrellas anyone? Thankfully the rain made no difference in their joy or their attire! Rachel's dress was custom sewn, and turned out so perfect on her.
Yes...it is OK...we have PLENTY of umbrellas!
Rachel pinning the flower on her "baby" brother. I'm so glad Laura caught that moment as the photographers were not there to see it.
Rachel's bouquet
The wedding party riding to the wedding in stretch limosine.
Rachel's matron of honor Laura, holding the white flowers. They have been friends since they were born!
It was about a 30 minute ride to the church.
We went to the room to prepare abit more.
The ride over had seriously wrinkled Rachel's train. The bridesmaids feverishly tried to blow them out using the smallest hair drier ever made. With a bit of a damp towel...and time...all was well in the end.
So we wait for the guests to arrive and the wedding to begin.
The mothers and three grandmothers came down the aisle to "When Morning Fills The Sky" performed by a string quartet. Jeff escorted me down the aisle, and I whispered to him I had waited my whole life for this day.
Rachel arriving to Jesu Joy of Man's Desire. I watched Jeff tear up again...it touched me to see him with tears of joy in his eyes.
It was the most beautiful wedding service I have ever seen. The Pastor was tender, the wedding passage from Ephesian, about love and respect. The congragation sang "How Great Thou Art" the parents took vows to support the couple...and suddenly the ceremony was over...Jeff and Rachel were married!
Laura walked with Rachel's brother.
I confess I didn't shed a tear...I was just so happy and having fun!
Hugs all around.
And more hugs
Can the smiles get any brighter?
Jeff and his Grandfather compare wedding rings.
More hugs for a "new" granddaughter.
That dress...wow. The pearls and pearl and diamond earrings were Jeff's wedding gift to Rachel.
Bernie's parents looked so happy.
My dad and me.
Oh yes... I did wear those very high heeled shoes!
The fresias smelled so nice.
Chatting while we wait to take family pictures.
Rachel's rings.
The ladies...
in several
shades of blue.
The grandmother's flowers.
The flowers in front of the church.
Jeff and his grandfathers.
Best Man signs as witness to the wedding.
The rain never stopped. The overhang outside provided a little shelter for outside pictures.
Freezing cold...but happy.
Emil, a friend from Salt Lake was a most helpful groomsman.
The ladies look lovely.
As do the couple
And the groomsmen. The dark haired guy on the right was Jeff's friend from college.
Only two of these men are taken....
Rachel's shoes had just a touch of rhinestones, a perfect tie in with the circle of rhinestones on the bow on the back of her dress.
Another outside shot...in the rain this time!
Jeff chose the cake, a white cake with a light lemon filling, and wedding colored berries as decoration.
The reception room. The guests arrive and were served wine and assorted tidbits, and by the guest book was a slideshow playing of Jeff and Rachel, beginning when they were babies, and ending at their engagement. They are but six weeks apart in age, and it was astonishing to see how many activities they had mutually participated in over the years, he in Southern California and she in Northern California.
Dear friend.
Paul is quite the lady's man, as you might suspect.
Big smile...everyone had whitened their teeth to blinding level!
All the men had matching suits. Jeff had found a "buy one, get one free" suit offer, and all the men were able to buy suits for less than the cost of renting a tuxedo. Jeff provided the shirts and ties, and monogrammed cuff links as well.
Bernie's brother Mark and his wife got lost on the way up to the wedding, and missed the ceremony, but Bernie was so happy to see his brother arrive for the reception.
Kisses...
And squeals
The first dance "At Last Love."
I love the back details of Rachel's dress.
They both dance quite well.
And a dip was received with great applause.
Rachel and her father Bruce danced to "Unforgettable"
They danced well together
What a special moment!
I did the best I could to follow Jeff's lead as we danced to the unexpected "Fly Me to the Moon." We had a great time chatting.
The table decoration.
Cutting the cake...
Thankfully the lovebirds were gentle while serving each other.
Laura managed to steal her grandpa away from grandma for a dance.
They are both excellent dancers...EVERYONE in my family can dance but me!
Barbara
"Talk to the hand!" Hal doesn't like to have his picture taken.
Even as a bridesmaid, a girl gets to dance with her dad.
And take a bit of a dip.
Getting a bit tired...
But only for a second. This gentleman was one of Jeff's early friend's in Salt Lake.
Got to ham it up a bit too.
And maybe show a little of the legs that first caught Jeffrey's eye.
The matron of honor's husband. She saw him in church when she was 12 and he was 17, and told Rachel that he was the man she was going to marry. Rachel pointed out their age difference, and said "good luck!" He is now an oncology doctor in Boston. He and our Laura both worked at the same hospital in San Diego a few years ago...small world!
Tullio.
Christen asked my advice on which dress to wear to the wedding. When she said she had brought a yellow dress, I told her that would be perfect!
Grandmother and Granddaughter.
Seated at table 1.
A man and his mother. A hug is always welcomed from your son.
Cute couple. I really enjoyed getting to know her. Jeff had been their best man as well.
Girl and her dad
Girl and her mom
One of the few pictures with both Bernie and I together.
Rachel's mom was radiant. She had broken out with an itchy rash all over right after the rehersal dinner...yet was the perfect hostess, and after the wedding was over, she and Bruce went home and cooked brunch for the next morning for all the guests!
Brother and sister.
A limbo game broke out at the end of the reception. Rachel did well
As did Jeff, even with a glass in his hand.
The reception is almost over.
Rachel has a special moment with her maternal grandmother, a lively interesting woman from Maryland.
Much later that night...the party continued at one of the hotels where most of the guests were staying. Laura is hugging one of my favorite "gal pals" of Jeff.
I'm hoping Michelle with soon be a bride as well. The bride and groom managed to come to this late evening party, well after nine o'clock. They didn't stay long...and Rachel fell asleep while they were there!
At the brunch the next morning at the bride's parents house, Debra and Bruce had not only cooked but managed to decorate with the wedding flowers as well.
Their front yard was in beautiful bloom even without the bridal flowers.
Bruce managed a lot of the behind the scenes work,, and had his camera at the ready at this event as well.
Rachel and Jeff...man and wife for one day!
Toasts to the couple were proposed
The rain had finally stopped, and everyone enjoyed the garden outside. Debra was an inspirational "hostess with the mostess", visiting and serving all her guest.
Hard to believe the weekend is almost over.
Rachel's family dog got to enjoy the post wedding celebrations as well.
Rachel spotted this succulent in the garden, with a drop of water cradled between the pinkish leaves.
Debra's favorite iris was in bloom.
The grape vines on the fence had just the tiniest beginnings of future fruit. Almost symbolic of the beginning of Rachel's and Jeff's life together.
Inside more wedding flowers added fragrance and color.
I love this particular arrangement.
A ladybug with freckles, just like my daughter and daughter-in-law.
Freckles are a very charming thing!
No one remembered to tie shoes and write messages on the couple's car. A quick message was scrawled with lipstick moments before they left to begin their drive back to Salt Lake City.
Later they will fly to Maui for a long relaxing honeymoon. They both deserve the rest...I can hardly believe they planned this full blown wedding in just three and a half months! I can't imagine more time would have improved this beautiful wedding. And if it is lucky to have rain on your wedding day, I would say they are going to be a VERY lucky couple. And blessed in many ways as well.
