Saturday, November 11, 2000

So, I Think I've Got Cold Feet

November 11, 2000 - Our Wedding Day.

The day dawned crisp and clear, and surprisingly cold! When I left our house on Benvenue with my Two Best Men, John & Dan (who was driving my truck), it was 7am and 38 degrees. Brrr. We had to go so early so that we could get all the wedding party & family pictures done before the ceremony. Dawn spent the night at a hotel nearer to the Lark Creek with Elisabeth and Tani, and was having her hair done in the little shopping complex adjacent to the Lark Creek, so they didn't have to get going quite as early. Since they were expected to need longer to get ready, we also were going to start the pictures first.

It was a fantastic day. Before the photographer showed up, Dan and John and I actually walked around a little. As we were walking back toward the inn, I noticed someone in one of the shops. "That's odd. She's getting her hair done. Oh wait. That's Dawn!" I didn't say anything to Dan or John, and I don't think I've ever even told Dawn, but I ducked around the side of the building and pretended I hadn't seen her.

I took pictures for a while with Dan, John & most of my family. Then it was Dawn's turn, so I was sequestered in the courtyard. It was still cold, and I was starting to feel it even in my wool suit. Some of the time I hung out with John, Dan, and Peter, but they abandoned me for a while to watch the picture taking. I was actually getting a little annoyed, but then it was time for Dawn & me to see each other for the first time. We did it in the little sitting area right in front of the restaurant. I think Dawn was already standing there, but they led me out with my eyes closed and then positioned us as the photographer wanted, with our backs to each other.

After the pictures were finished, there was more miscellaneous prep. I did kick everyone out of the prep room (the upstairs banquet room) for a few minutes so Dawn and I could be alone. That's when I told her I had cold feet. I couldn't resist, though obviously I was speaking strictly literally - it was cold outside and my thin wool socks were no longer doing me much good. Dawn was the one who was wearing a dress originally bought when we were planning on getting married in September - three spaghetti straps on each side. She was just freezing. You can't tell from the pictures, but between smiling for so many pictures and the cold, I think it was about three days before we stopped smiling. Or maybe it was just that we were very happy? Who knew?

The ceremony went well; Dave P filmed it for us. Dawn had her brother & her friend Tani standing with her, while I had John, Dan, and Elisabeth. We spent a bunch of time creating the ceremony, including our vows, all the wording for the minister, and selecting most of the readings. We picked a couple of Jewish traditions to include in the ceremony: the 7 blessings and the breaking of the glass; in a traditional Jewish wedding, the 7 blessings are 7 readings from the Torah, read by friends, family, and the rabbi. We didn't particularly want the readings from the Torah, but we liked the idea of having friends and family read things for us. For the glass breaking, we chose to break it together, and chose the interpretation that the marriage should last as long as it takes us to put the glass back together.

The man who married us is a local lawyer my mother knew of, who happens also to be a minister of the Universal Life Church. His name is Wendell, and he was great. He was very flexible and helpful; he showed us some of the stuff from other weddings he's done, which was a great resource. We also used a couple of books we found.

Almost everyone we invited was able to come. The seat arragements were interesting to do. A lot of the information out there suggests that this is one of the hardest parts of planning a wedding. I suppose I can see how it could be considering how touchy families can be, but for one thing our families are pretty easy going. When we were working on it, it seemed as if it was going to be hard, but after messing around for about an hour, suddenly we had some sort of epiphany - I think it all started to fall together when we put our entire baseball group (Alex, Holly, Jill, Carol, Johnathon, Tonya, Gene, and Marilu) at one table and put my Brandeis & SF State friends at another. I think from the moment of putting the baseball group at one table it took us about 20 minutes to finish the seating plan.

The Song List

Ceremony ProcessionalJ.S. BachWhat God Hath Done is Rightly Done
HandelTempo di Minuett
Ceremony RecessionalHandelAlla Hornpipe (Water Music)
Cocktails & Hors d'OuervesTony BennettSteppin' Out With My Baby
Dean MartinYou're Nobody Til Someone Loves You
Bobby DarinMore
Louis ArmstrongA Kiss to Build a Dream On
Frank SinatraSummer Wind
Natalie ColeStraighten Up & Fly Right
Nat King ColeL-O-V-E
Jimmy DuranteThe Glory of Love
Sarah VaughanBaubles, Bangles & Beads
Vic DamoneLittle Girl
Louis PrimaJump, Jive, & Wail
Sarah VaughanMoonglow
Ella FitzgeraldDon't Be That Way
Bobby DarinCharade
Billie HolidayWhat a Little Moonlight Can Do
Harry Connick, Jr.It's Alright with Me
Natalie ColeAs Time Goes By
Jimmy DuranteYoung at Heart
Vic DamoneI Could Write a Book
Ella FitzgeraldGoody Goody
Nat King ColeWalkin' My Baby Back Home
Natalie ColeAll About Love
Bobby DarinCall Me Irresponsible
Harry Connick, Jr.A Wink & A Smile
Eydie GormeFrenesi
Tom JonesIt's Not Unusual
First DancesBob CarlisleButterfly Kisses
Frank SinataIt Had to be You
DancesDave Matthews BandCrush
Sister HazelAll For You
EurythmicsSisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
Vonda ShephardSearchin' My Soul
James BrownI Got You (I Feel Good)
The CommitmentsMustang Sally
Eric ClaptonLay Down Sally
QueenCrazy Little Thing Called Love
Gloria GaynorI Will Survive
EmotionsBest of My Love
Cheryl LynnGot To Be Real
The FixxOne Thing Leads To Another
EurhythmicsSweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
B-52sLove Shack
Etta JamesAt Last
Louis ArmstrongWhat A Wonderful World