First of Four

Yesterday was the first day of the four day wedding weekend for Lowell and Emily.

Evey and I started the day by driving two suitcases and four boxes of hotel goody bags out to the Hilton Garden Inn in Frederick.  Then we picked Eric up at Amtrak, went out to lunch in Glen Burnie, packed the rest of the luggage into the car, and drove to Frederick to check in to the hotel.  As we were driving out there, Evey noticed that there was a massive power outage in downtown Frederick that included the dinner venue and the courthouse.  The courthouse closed down for the day, which was tricky since Lowell and Emily had planned to pick up their marriage license in the afternoon.  Oops.  Luckily the dinner restaurant reopened in time as the power began to be restored.  The courts should be open today, and Lowell plans to go get the license. 

Other than that the whole day was great, even the massive rain storm just as the wedding rehearsal was ending.  Their venue, The Morningside Inn, is beautiful.  The rehearsal dinner was at Brewer's Alley in a private room upstairs.  It was lovely and the food was delicious.  The highlight for me was Rabbi Saul Oresky and Rev. Carol Oak giving Lowell and Emily some words and blessings.  It was lovely, and I admit to tearing up a bit.

It was also great to see all of Lowell's friends. Except for Emily's brother, Dan, Lowell's groomsmen are his college friends.  He met them all at the University of Maryland as a freshman in 1997, and they have all remained fast friends ever since.  That's so nice.  He has served as a groomsman in several of their weddings, so now it is their time to return the favor.

Today the ladies are all going to lunch together followed by mani/pedis at a nearby salon.  Lowell is going out all day with his groomsmen, and even HE didn't know what they had in mind for that. 

Tonight, Mark and I will be having dinner at a vegetarian-friendly restaurant with good friends Ron and Barb K while the bride and groom and wedding party go out to dinner at a classy restaurant in Frederick called The Volt.  Then tomorrow IS THE BIG DAY!

Here are a few pictures to enjoy from yesterday.

Evey and Eric at The Olive Tree restaurant in Glen Burnie.

Mark and me at the restaurant.

The hotel goody bags waiting for people to check in.

Me and Barb in the lobby waiting to go to the rehearsal.

Beautiful wedding venue in the rolling hills of Frederick, MD.

Emily looked spectacular.  Her maid of honor brought her a practice bouquet.  She is wearing an unbelievably beautiful necklace sent to her by a Great Aunt (I think) who could not attend and the pretty navy blue dress I bought her on our shopping day a few weeks ago.

Me and Pat Stackhouse

Lowell and his buddies.

Wedding planner Shannon giving the guys their instructions.

The Best Man and groomsmen.

Pat and the bridesmaids are watching Emily practice walking in.

Phil is practicing giving Emily away.

The Maid of Honor is discussing which way to drape the train of the bridal dress.

Evey, sister of the groom, and Dan, brother of the bride, practice exiting.

Lowell and friends relaxing in the groom's dressing room.

Entrance to the bride's dressing room.

Emily and three of the bridesmaids enjoyed it when the dog just randomly ran in and joined them!

At the dinner, Evey and Lowell enjoyed sharing stories and catching up.  They had not seen each other since Thanksgiving of 2012.

Our great friend, Rabbi Saul Oresky, gave the couple some beautiful words and a blessing.

Reverend Carol Oak did the same.

These blessings were the highlight of the night for me.

I think Dan has Lowell a little worried about what he might or might not include in  his Best Man's toast!