Wedding In Kentucky

Connor and I were in Kentucky earlier this month for a wedding. I'm not a big fan of weddings (I find them overwhelming), but there is a short list of ones that I am committed to go to. Luckily that list got shorter now that Joe has gotten hitched. We last saw Joe earlier in the year when he came out and saw Sequoia, the Alabama Hills, and Death Valley with us. At the time he hadn't proposed just yet, but he told us a good story about he and his now wife, Emily. When we learned the wedding date, I felt that our wedding gift needed to be inspired by that story. Although I was a little nervous about going a slightly less traditional route for a wedding gift, the reaction they had when they opened it made it all worth while.

And the gift? Well, early in their relationship, Emily agreed to play Joe's all time favorite video game series: Mass Effect. In the first one, there is a vehicle called the Mako that you drive around for parts of the story. Using that vehicle can best be described as trying to drive a drunken rhino. It just isn't easy. Joe told us about how Emily would drive the Mako as if it was invincible; driving into lava (instant death), driving into oncoming fire (near instant death), without a second thought. He said it was like she was a member of the Cult of the V8 from Mad Max Fury Road. She might as well have been screaming "Witness Me" while facing down hundreds of space pirates. The thought was irresistible, so I drew this for them. 

This picture wouldn't have been completed without Connor's help. He kept encouraging me even after the third and fourth drafts of this picture didn't work out. 

Two days after giving the gift, the love birds were married. It was a beautiful wedding with neat touches. Each table had a book theme. I got to sit at the Lord of the Rings table with Connor's family. Joe sat us there on purpose since Connor and I had an accidental Lord of the Rings themed wedding. Connor delivered his best man speech, explaining how he and Joe were soul mates. He went on to let everyone know that they were so close that the two of them got to the point where they would finish each others..... sandwiches. Things like that.  It was a great speech. As the reception was winding down, Joe and Connor got a last moment to themselves. Then Joe was off with his lady love.

Soul mates to the end

The Wedding

I know that I had said earlier that I had finished my shawl in time for the wedding. Here's the proof!

First I have to thank everyone who came and celebrated with us for making the wedding really fun. Just about every photo has someone laughing in it. We were lucky to have a wonderful photographer, Gabriel Harber, join us to capture all the laughter. (All photos in this post are by him.) Thanks again to Lorraine Helf, who put together all the flowers and table decorations. Thank-you Christopher (my brother) who played the guitar for the ceremony. Thanks, Mum, for keeping us all going and for bringing along Aragorn. And a big thanks to my Dad, who kept everyone functional and funded. (There were many, many other contributors. I appreciate everyone for helping.)

There were vague Lord of the Ring references throughout the wedding. It started as a joke after I used the Hobbit Door picture for our wedding invitations. But everyone ended up contributing. For example, our cake had a hobbit door on it. I had nothing to do with the cake.... 

Also, all the tables got named after places in the Lord of the Rings. (The parents were put at "Grey Havens." Haha. The wedding party was at "Rivendell" since that is where the Fellowship was forged. The cake could be found on "The Shire" table.)

I still kind of can't believe that such a lovely wedding was planned and executed in two months.

But I know it happened. We have a jumping photo to prove it!

On a slight aside, it was really hard finding green ties. I told Connor that the next time we get married, we'll do blue ties instead.

To My Husband

Dearest Connor, today we are getting married. I am sneaky and setting this to post right about when we say "I do", so you will probably see this when we get back. I was reflecting on how last February when my birthday rolled around, I thought to myself how I had no idea what the next year would hold. I was right. I didn't see this one coming.

I am simultaneously excited and terrified of what lies ahead, but I know you are the one for me.
Reasons I'm marrying you:
1. You asked.
2. You are not only willing, but enthusiastic about riding the Giant Dipper over and over and over.
3. We make a terrific team.


I consider this a bonus, but you are fantastically photogenic, which is quite convenient since I often need a knitwear model.

You are the luckiest man alive. (And not because you are marrying me.) I don't know anyone else who could go on a business trip only to get stuck in New York, then end up in a swanky hotel because everything else was booked up and be able to see all the sights because they are in walking distance. I'm hoping your luck rubs off on me. Although I think it already has. Who else goes to a different country only to be proposed to and brought back home?

Central Park Selfie

I'm looking forward to all the adventures we have ahead of us. Thank-you for brightening up my life.