Friends

The "adventure" of planning a wedding began shortly after the engagement (at Easter), & I was honored to have such a "big" part in it (since I live in the city where the wedding would take place and the bride & groom do not nor does her mom or god-mother).  It was fun, at times challenging, & so sweet to be that involved as the mom of the groom.  But I never could have done it all without the help of many friends.

All of them were "behind the scenes" serving unselfishly and they were such a blessing to me.

Some were "new" friends (I just met this friend a few months ago & as soon as she heard we were doing the rehearsal party at our house she wanted to help.)  She made two fabulous cheese cakes & came in the afternoon to help prepare the food, then served AND cleaned up.

This friend I've known for years but her hubby has been my hubby's golf pal for the last few years, especially since both men retired.  She too came in the afternoon to help with the preparation, served, AND helped with the clean up.

They worked tirelessly...

And my "best" girlfriend was there to help, after making some of the food at her house... while her hubby watched the "cooker" all day with the pig on it.

This friend left her 3 young children to help with the prep (we're making shrimp & grits..), serving, AND clean up.  She also made food for the Sunday brunch we had for the out of town guests (next door at G's. house)

There were the "really behind the scenes" friends who made food at home for the rehearsal AND the brunch) & delivered it, who dropped off mirror tiles on my front porch (for the reception), who loaned trays, who did ALL the floral arrangements for the wedding and reception, who set up the ENTIRE reception while we were at the wedding, who CLEANED up after the reception (led by my dear son-in-love!), all of whom did THE most important thing: PRAYED!

There was also the friend who took candid shots for us....

and the bride's friend who did all of the photography over the entire weekend!

and the bride's former roommate who came from Michigan to be her personal hair stylist.

and there were friends who had WAY to much fun doing their "job"...

Dinner Disguised

Since my hubby was gone for a couple of days, I wanted to make a special meal when he came home.  We are still sticking to our "healthy-eating-weight-loss" plan, so I needed to get creative (he recently told me he'd had chicken two nights in a row & he was ready for a change.)
  So I picked up 2 small Yukon gold potatoes at the grocery, added a small onion, & chopped those with fresh rosemary, oregano, & basil from the garden.  I put them in a ziploc bag with a little olive oil & sea salt & tossed it all together.  Then put it on the grill (on a foil lined pan) until they were starting to get tender, added a few mushrooms (tossed in the same bag), & continued grilling.

About 5 minutes before the veggies were done, I put a lobster tail & a tuna medallion (cut in small pieces) on another foil-lined pan, squeezed a fresh lime over everything & finished the grilling.

Then.... VOILA!

Dinner!!  Amazing what "presentation" can do to a simple dinner!  Total cost, probably about $7 or less (tail = $2.99, tuna = $1.54) for a yummy, healthy, pretty meal.
Hubby's favorite part: no clean up!

On a totally different note: this is what we used for an alcohol-free "champagne" toast at the wedding (From World Market).

Bon appetite!

Sunday Reflections

Jesus said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Mark 6:31

Night Before: The People

The people are what really make an event... & many of these people travelled a long way!  Like aunts, uncles, mother-of-the-bride... from Michigan.

                                         

and the bride's cheerleading coach (when she was in high school, & later coaching together), also from Michigan.

                                                 

a groomsman from San Diego...

                                        

a maid of honor from San Diego...

                                             

and the "photographer" (dear friend) from San Diego...

                                               

friends from Indianapolis...

                                          

long-time friends (sis's college best friend who became a second sis to the groom when she lived with us for 6 months after college)...

                                          

who've known us for a long time....

and long time friends of the bride...

                                                 
family (who also happened to be our "master chef" of the grill, working all day to roast a pig & cook the chicken)...

new friends (who became really good buddies over the weekend!)

a baby who stole the show (mom was a bridesmaid, just 2 1/2 months after he was born!)

But everyone had a great time....

the boys....

and the girls....

the parents...

and the bride & groom!

Up Next: Friends

Night Before: The Place

An outdoor party in August in NC is a risk...

But that's what the groom requested...

Sparkling lemonade, soft drinks, & bottled water kept everyone hydrated...

"Keep it really casual," he said, "and make some of those recipes I like."

A flag at the driveway let the guests know they were at the right place...

Well, I guess it was pretty obvious...

The welcome "mat" was out (the bags were lime green with a white palm tree on them.  I found them 2 months before on sale at Wally-world for $1 for 20 of them.  I truly thought they were luminary bags... & didn't realize until I was cleaning them up the next day that they were party gift bags...  Oh well, they served the purpose!)

So the colorful theme began with a new badly needed umbrella!

Enhanced by some decorative wire balls with tea light candles (provided by the groom who loves candlelight...)

and a new rug...

or two...

It was fun picking up bargains along the way, & I "waited out" the season, hoping they wouldn't be gone, to pick up 2 cushions that matched the umbrella.

As the evening wore on & darkness began to fall, everything took on a different look...

She must have been reading my mind when my decorator daughter laid out the candles on the diving board.  I had planned to do this, but ran short on time when she came along & asked what she could do.  "Just put out some candles & light them for me, please," I asked.

A full moon added to the ambiance...

And the "luminaries" really did illuminate the walkway.

Up next-
 Night Before: The People

Dancing the Night Away

Honoring the bridal party is a major part of a wedding reception...
And visiting with friends and family is so special...
And then the dancing begins...

I guess you could easily say, "A good time was had by all!"