The weekend started with the bridesmaids' luncheon at the lovely home of a dear family friend. It was a warm, sunny day with prefect Carolina blue skies, so we started off with pomegranate mimosas on the back terrace, them moved into the living room and dining room, set up with pretty tables and fresh fliers. Lunch was a crab cake with mustard sauce and roasted asparagus, and a salad of mixed greens, pickled onions, citrus, pine nuts and feta. We had lemon meringue tarts with berries for dessert. It was all so tasty, and the pastry crust was outstanding!
I was a little sleepy after my champagne kicked in, but I had to scoot over to my friend Karey's house for a fashion 911. When I unpacked on Friday night, I realized I'd left behind in NYC one of my daytime dresses! Karey's closet saved the day.
Wardrobe crisis solved ("Yikes! I had to wear my wedding brunch outfit to the bridesmaids' luncheon!" #whitegirlwoes), I did take a power nap before I dressed for the rehearsal at Christ Episcopal Church.
The rehearsal dinner was at the Charlotte City Club. We sipped cocktails as we watched the sunset and then moved into the dining room for dinner, which included both shrimp and petite filets. Dessert was pecan pie and pecan maple ice cream. At dinner, I was seated between the groom's brother Boyce and Peggy's "Spanish brother," Vicente. He stayed with her family for two months in both 1994 and 1995.
Boyce gave me a sweet shout-out during his toast and said if I hadn't introduced him to Peggy, he wouldn't have been able to introduce Peggy to Charles. The toasts were full of photo props, nicknames, memories, and all the other good stuff that mixes laughter and tears.
After dinner, we moved upstairs for more cocktails with a bigger group of friends. Leigh Ann got a gold star for making it out despite the fact she had a big morning planned at the gym to continue her marathon training.
The wedding day was picture perfect, bright and sunny...one of those days that makes October a killer month for weddings. A number of families co-hosted a fabulous brunch with a host of Southern delicacies. The brown sugar bacon-wrapped pretzels were the best part, and that's saying a lot because everything was divine!
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The wedding service was lovely...both of the officiants had known Peggy and Charles in high school, and the homily was very meaningful and funny. This line really touched me: "The Gospel in a nutshell is this: We are fully known -- all of our warts, wounds, and wonders -- and yet we are fully loved. That is the Gospel of marriage as well."
I managed to get in and out of the lectern to read the Gospel without twisting an ankle in my impractical-yet-totally-fabulous silver heels. The passage I read (John 15) says God is the vine and we are the branches, and we must remain connected to Him in order to thrive. Peggy gave me a perfect keepsake gift, a beautiful pewter box engraved with leaves and branches. Inside, it says "friendship is a sheltering tree." Charles designed monogrammed cuff links and studs for the groomsmen, inspired by an antique Art Deco plate that belonged to his grandfather.
The reception was a huge party at Charlotte Country Club. Food highlights were fried oysters, goat cheese tartlets and melt-in-your-mouth beef tenderloin sandwiches. In addition to the regular bars, they had a room set up with some of their favorite California wines. I had a blast catching up with friends from church and book club, and Peggy's Spanish exchange student Vicente was a great dance partner in his Air Force dress blues. I even got to shake my booty with Peggy's sweet daddy, Dick.
Cheers to the happy couple!
1 comment:
Looks like a killer wedding and I love all the wine touches! So clever!! You look quite saucy in your blue dress too :)
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