Orcas Island - The Wedding!

I couldn't wait to share this post, but obviously the professional photos aren't available yet. That just means I'll get to write a follow-up later on to share more pics!

On July 14, Matt and I arrived for the ferry to Orcas Island bright and early. We pulled into the line and immediately saw that Robby's rental car was right behind us! We had some time to kill before boarding, so everyone popped out of the cars. It turned out quite a few attendants and guests (and Scott!) were taking the same ferry over, so we all kind of mingled while we waited to board.

The 1.5-hour trip over to Orcas was smooth sailing. We didn't see any whales but we got to enjoy the views.

Driving onto the ferry

That skyline though...

Pretty much our first view from Orcas. Beautiful!

We drove straight from the ferry landing to the resort. The boys got married at the Rosario Resort and Spa, which was absolutely picture-perfect and really forced us to enjoy the festivities without distractions because there was no cell service at all. (We had spotty wifi at the actual resort but the surrounding parks were dead zones.)

We ran through rehearsal first. Scott and Robby had three aisles to walk into the wedding, and had to time our walks and make sure we all knew where to stand. I loved this set up - they each walked down the outside aisles with both parents, then met together in the middle. When they walked out, they walked up the center aisle together. Two equal men coming together and leaving as one. The symbolism was beautiful.

Rehearsal

After practicing, we had some time to hang out. Matt and I didn't have a room ready for us yet, so we hung out with his dad until it was time for the rehearsal barbecue at Moran State Park. Because this was a destination wedding, everyone was invited!

I wasn't planning to get in the water because it was so cold, but I had bought a new bathing suit just for the lake day, so finally Matt convinced me to hang out on a float. It was a fun way to relax and meeting everyone before the big day.

Matt and his dad testing the water. Verdict: It was COLD

Robby and his dad tending the grill

They kill me

We ended the night with a late dinner in town with Matt's cousin Dylan and his wife Christine.

Wedding day arrived bright and early. Robby's best woman and I were the first two to get our makeup and hair done, so we had to be at the guys' suite between 8am and 8:30. I had been concerned that my hair would be too short for a cute updo, but the stylist did a great job! (I am so forgetful - I didn't get a picture of the back!)

Finished look

I was also nervous the makeup wouldn't last all day, and that the false eyelashes would irritate me. But of course, everything went smoothly! By 10am I was completely wedding-ready above the shoulders.

Robby kept us stocked in mimosas

Dylan and Matt

Copying their vows into little journals for the ceremony

I passed the time reviewing my speech. The guys had asked me to write something about love and acceptance, but I struggled to keep it light. I ended up writing a poem for them. Their friend Paloma was officiating the wedding; she and I had been texting and emailing for awhile to make sure everything ran smoothly. We took some time after hair and makeup to walk up to the wedding site to run through the entire ceremony.

I love this photo

Afterward, I felt super emotional but also very calm. I knew we'd be fine.

Finally, after getting some pre-wedding family pictures, it was time for the ceremony. Everything went so smoothly, and it was just beautiful. I was choked up the entire time. I had to avoid eye contact with the grooms during my reading, and I nearly lost it during their vows. They have just been so good for each other and their love and commitment is so genuine.

To see them so confident and unapologetically together was just...the best thing in the world.

I believe this was caught at the moment Paloma quoted Britney Spears.

With Paloma, feeling relieved and ready to party after a job well done

After the ceremony, we took photos with the wedding party and then walked to the reception site, which was a building on the resort called the Beach House. From there, what can I say? The decorations were sophisticated, the DJ was awesome, the mother-son dances were touching, the food (served family-style) was delicious and all gluten free, the toasts were tear-inducing, and the father-son dance (to YMCA) was hilarious.

They changed into hanboks for part of the reception.

Robby and Scott each had two attendants give toasts. Leighanne, Scott's best woman, delivered the first funny, poignant speech to get the ball rolling.

I pretty much managed to stay dry-eyed until Matt's toast.

They had a Jenga set for us to write memories on to help them "build memories"; so cute! 

We found this photo in one of their displayed scrapbooks and recreated it in their photo booth.

Matt and Dylan gave into temptation and spent some time skipping rocks.

We had a fantastic night. I hope it was everything Scott and Robby were dreaming of. I know it will certainly be an experience they won't ever forget, and it was a beautiful start to a long and happy life together.

ABK

A Mighty Fine Engagement

After my 15k last weekend, I hopped into my car and drove down to Sarasota, where I showered and napped at my parents' house and then made my way to Matt's dad's for Scott and Robby's engagement party! (I have to say, it's sometimes convenient that our parents all live near each other!)

Robby is currently living in Ohio and learning to renovate and flip houses while Scott finishes his residencies for PA school, so this was just a small gathering for family and a few of Scott's local friends. They'll be moving to Seattle once they've both finished their respective trainings; having them here together for a mini engagement party was a treat!

Here are some photos of the evening's festivities!

Their engagement photos are SO cute!

We played some yard games and just hung out while the sun was still up.

Matt with the grooms. They're so handsome!

Matt and Robby playing ladder golf. 

Enrique, Katie, Scott, and Leighanne playing some cornhole.

Then, Matt decided we all needed to learn to ride the OneWheel.

Here's a little video of everyone testing it out. It's my third time on the OneWheel and I must say, I'm pretty good now!

Of course, no party is complete without cake! This one was especially festive.

I'm so glad I was able to make it! I was worried I'd be late because of Gasparilla, but everything ended up working out. By the end of the night, I was absolutely exhausted, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything!

Did you have an engagement party? Matt and I never did! We only did bachelor/bachelorette parties.
Did you do pre-wedding traditions? We took engagement photos but they were cheap and lame; we got married before Pinterest existed!
Have you ever ridden a OneWheel?

ABK

Cleveland Bound!

My grandparents are the best. They met in the Navy, where Grandma was a nurse and Grandpa was a dentist; Grandma says she saw Grandpa on base and told a girlfriend, "I'm going to get that guy." And then she did.

Can you find my mom in these pictures? Hint: she's the one who looks like me! Bonus: Find my dad in the last picture.

Grandpa was our dentist growing up, and Grandma was his assistant. They lived about 30 minutes away from us and have been in the same apartment for as long as I can remember. My grandpa's favorite memory of me is that one night, I was having a sleepover at their house and they promised they'd drive me home if I got homesick.

That night, I puked in my bed and got it all in my hair. (I have no idea why this is my grandpa's favorite memory of me but he tells it literally every time I call.) Even though they gave me a bath, I still wanted to go home.

So they drove me home, and when we got there, I had fallen back asleep; the next morning, I woke up and had no idea why I wasn't at their house.

My grandparents had six kids, and my mom is special because she's the oldest. She was apparently a great big sister. When her brothers were little, she'd crawl into their cribs and give them their bottles before going to school - or so the story goes. Obviously, my grandparents have a lot of grandkids (and now some great-grandkids, too), but I know we're their favorites.

I'm pretty sure this center photo is the first time they met Matt.

My grandparents always send us really thoughtful gifts. When we got engaged, they sent me a silver ring-stand. They send flowers every year for Passover so we have a beautiful centerpiece for our seder.

When Matt's Nana passed, Grandma wrote him a card and sent a gift for his ceramics studio so he could make something in her memory. She somehow always remembers to send birthday and holiday cards on time, and even though my grandparents are Catholic (we used to celebrate Christmas at their house), they always remember to send cards on Jewish holidays, too.

Grandma is also the best cook ever. The last time we visited, she made her special lemon meringue pie, which has a meringue crust, lemon filling, and homemade whipped cream topping.

When I visit, we eat this for breakfast every day, and Matt is always horrified by it...but in a loving way!

Don't let that sweet side fool you; Grandma loves to have her fun. She's the one who taught me to play cards and she loves to gamble!

My grandma has been having some health issues of the past year; she and my family are all very practically-minded about aging, but it sucks. Of course it does.

This summer, I overheard my mom on the phone with my sister as they discussed plans to visit Cleveland. Apparently Mom's high school reunion is coming up and she still goes to these things, and Steph saw an opportunity to jump on board and visit my grandparents.

Of course I wanted in.

And then, of course, Matt wanted in.

So we're on our way to Cleveland this weekend to visit my grandparents! I can't wait. With the tropical storm out there in the Gulf, there's a chance we'll have a delayed or canceled flight. There are supposed to be tornados Friday night, too. So keep your fingers crossed for us, because if this trip falls through, I'm going to be very disappointed!

Tell me something about your grandparents!
When did you last travel "home"?

ABK