Friday, June 03, 2016

Wedding Weekend So Far



We are in hazy, rural Pennsylvania for Giles and Tia's wedding. It took a lot of work to get here--a cross between getting ready for the prom and packing for camping.


We pulled in in the late afternoon of our second day of driving. Our first order of business was to walk to the spot in the meadow where the ceremony will be. Clara stands in for the preacher. 

Then dinner together, bride's and groom's family, at a friend's house. I believe she knows Giles fairly well--she prepared four chickens.


We left Thursday open for rehearsal dinner preparations. The rehearsal dinner was our project, and the girls and I had laid our plans. We brought along all the serving things we thought we would need, then planned to go thrift store shopping to fill in the style gaps. We headed out in the van with the Jamaican cousins to a fantastic store, where we got all the vases, baskets, and extra bits that we needed. Afterwards, we decided this was our Bridesmaids Luncheon event.


Meanwhile, the Composer continued working on a video for the dinner--interviews with both sets of parents, baby pictures of Giles and Tia, you know. Sweet stuff.


We lettered the signs for the family seating.


Felix laid down in the grass to recover from yet one more midnight run to the airport.


Then today it was Friday.


Wedding rehearsal,


which we did indoors even though the actual wedding will be outside.


This is for real! Giles will be getting married tomorrow!


Then off to our dinner. We had a beautiful light-filled space, with round tables covered with the vintage cloths I had brought from home, and all the tablecloths my cousin Sal had brought over from Philadelphia (hers were even cuter).


Drinks were homemade limeade, and plenty of infused water: pineapple, strawberry-watermelon, and cucumber-mint. Beautiful in the jars.


My mother nobly made eight pecan pies through the course of the day--I had trucked in the Karo syrup in the back of the van, as well as all those pie plates. Yes, they went down easy.


Thrift store baskets held the silverware rolls (squares of gingham fabric, cheap and tossable afterwards) and the sage green paper plates.


A beautiful omen--I didn't bring any of the little bird figures I so love to use on my party tables, but I found one for pennies at the thrift store, and snagged it for the central table.



Clara has been an absolute rock. She even did most of the driving up here. We call her the Universal Assistant.


Here's Jonathan--you've seen him at our home! So fun to see all the loved people in our lives come together for this occasion.



The bride headed out on the early side--lots to do tonight--while the guys went to complete the beautiful arbor Felix has been building here. As of dusk, it's up and ready for the wedding.



As of dawn, we will be too.

19 comments:

Rose said...

Oh Anna, thank you so much for taking the time out to share the excitement with all of us. Giles and Tia, Anna and The Composer, I am sending my best wishes across the miles. I hope you are all sleeping well as I type this. Roll on tomorrow.

Julie said...

So exciting for you all. Look forward to hearing and seeing all about the big day. All the best to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to you all, Anna.

kath said...

Congratulations to all and may God Bless the bride and groom as they begin their new life together!

Erin said...

Hope everything is beautiful for the event. Can't wait to see pictures. Congratulations to all of you!

Unknown said...

Yes,thankyou so much for taking the time to share with us. Oh how lovely! Everything is so perfect! And i will certainly be thinking of you and your beautiful family on this special day!

~katie~ said...

Blessings to Giles & Tia, and to you, Anna, & family! CONGRATULATIONS to the blessed bride and groom! May God bless abundantly!! 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Blessings,
Katie

maureen said...

I have been a reader for many years, though I rarely comment. I am so excited for your sweet family!! I have so enjoyed watching the unfolding romance of Giles and Tia! Blessings for a beautiful day and wonderful marriage for them! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Unknown said...

How wonderful to share in this event acter al the years of seeing Giles grow up on your blog. Maybe the thrift shop bird can go to the happy couple's new home, to keep the tradition going! Happiness to you all!

Unknown said...

Anna, thank you! I was so excited to see an update from you and am looking forward to another. I've been following your blog for a decade or more and am honored for this glimpse into the big day. Sending my prayers for Giles and Tia and for both families as well.

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Thank you for including us, I can't wait to hear about the wedding. Both of our children had (for the most part) what we called DIY weddings and both were beautiful. That was five grandchildren ago for our oldest and one "baby due next month" for our younger child.

Lisa said...

Well, they must be man and wife by now - a thrilling day for all your family. May the Lord bless them both, abundantly.

Lisateresa

Sarah said...

I started reading your blog when Giles was about 13 or so--it's surreal to see him about to get married! Congratulations, and I hope today is beautiful and perfect in every way!!

K. Anne said...

So exciting to hear you are in "my" state! I love it!

Enjoy every minute....it looks like everyone is, for sure.

Polly said...

Wow. I am only now seeing this and I bet the wedding festivities are on as I type! I am happy for all of you. Best wishes to Giles and Tia.

jenny_o said...

All the best to all of you, especially the bride and groom! Everything looks wonderful; no surprise there. Looking forward to more!

Judy said...

It's so kind of you to share this with your readers.

What a beautiful spot - surrounded by green hills. I'm praying every blessing will be theirs.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to the happy couple! Thank you for sharing this. I am looking forward to more pictures. I rarely comment, but I have been reading here at the schoolhouse since my daughter and Daisy were 1. Hard to believe that time has gone so quickly. My son is to be married out of state this fall and I need all the help I can get in planning a rehearsal dinner. I am a little overwhelmed at the idea of hosting in a place I do not know. Any additional advice is greatly appreciated ;-D

Instagram.com/melissasnotes said...

Thank you so much for sharing these posts.

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