Athens, Greece, stop No. 1: Amazing Honeymoon

We booked our honeymoon way in advance, and originally planned to do a tour of Greece and Egypt. It was going to be a 12-day trip. But almost immediately after I booked that trip things in Egypt got shaky. We were watching it closely in the newspapers, and about a month or so before the trip I talked to Chuck about changing it so that we omitted the Egypt part of the trip.

He was completely in agreement, and I contacted our travel agent, Kamal, and got it changed to a Greece-only trip. It was cut down to only five days in Greece, and then we had all of this extra time because our fights home were already booked from Athens.

We talked it over and decided we could add something to fill up those days in another country and decided on Venice, Italy. (This got changed slightly mid-trip, but I'll go into it later.) Because we knew we were going to Venice, and I have a couple of friends who have lived in Italy, and one who lived in Venice, I knew we needed to pack light. We decided to only take backpacks because we didn't want to be rolling luggage through the streets of Venice.

But for now I'll focus on getting to Athens, and the great time we had while we were there.

We stayed in a little hotel in Seattle the night before our flight because David and Jewel were leaving that night, and because our flight was so early in the morning. We got to the airport by about 4:30 a.m. We went from Seattle to Philadelphia, and then on to Athens. Loooong flight.

I slept a lot on the plane going from Philadelphia. Neither of us had ever been to Greece, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I had asked for 4-star hotels all the way through our Greece trip. Chuck warned me that in Europe the 4-star is not like an American 4-star. So I wasn't expecting much. It turned out to be beautiful and just exactly what we needed.

Lobby of the Hotel Parthenon

Our travel agent arranged everything, and had a taxi pick us up at the airport to take us to our hotel. He was holding a sign with my name on it as we walked out of the customs area.

Brown. It was very brown, and reminded me of California at first. We even saw an IKEA as we sped down the highway in out taxi. But as we took in the scenery we knew we were definitely in Greece. The streets are very narrow, and cars park on both sides of the street, leaving room for barely one car to drive through. Chuck and I thought we would surely scrape a car as the taxi driver traveled up the hill to our hotel. Most shops close at around 1 p.m. or so for the afternoon. It's so hot that people just want to go inside and rest. They open back up later. I loved walking around in summer clothes and feeling comfortable at night.

Here is a journal entry from our time in Athens:

Technically July 2 - sometime in the morning.

I am sitting on our balcony at  Hotel Parthanon with a fingernail moon decorating the sky behind me. It is situated between two apartments that jut up along a roofline. 

It feels like mid-day to me, but at home it is 5:30 p.m. Here it is middle of the night and I should be asleep.

My patterns are all awry. Sleep, eat and bathroom times are inconsistent.

I love it here. The sounds and sights are all so different from home. Upon our touchdown on the tarmac I noticed the scenery was much like California, however the culture here is completely different. 

We have had wonderful broken English conversations with some locals. The first was our taxi driver who met us outside of customs at the airport. He knew enough English to tell us some things, but didn't seem to understand our English very well.

He talked about the poor economy here, and lack of work for taxi drivers. He told us the population is 6 million in this city, and in all of Greece only 10 million, so everyone lives here. ( I think his numbers are a little off.)

The next local who engaged in conversation, but had very little English, was an older gentleman we met walking along the pedestrian street that leads to the Acropolis. That street was recently deemed pedestrian only. We were strolling around and had just followed a large group of people in a hurry to get some place. We wanted to see where they were going. It was a concert at the amphitheater. THE amphitheater.

We didn't have tickets, and turned around to walk back toward our hotel. We stopped in a local church and I took a few pictures there. Some people came in and out, made their donation, lit a candle and made the sign of the cross and kissed pictures of the Virgin Mary. 

There were small children playing tiny accordions as we walked out of that church, and along that street.

The older gentleman tried to talk to us after Chuck dropped a coin in the cup. He said the mother was crying and gestured to a place over across the way. I wasn't sure if he meant she was across the street crying, or if the children had been taken from her, or if she was in an institution. 

He was so friendly and eager to communicate with us. What I got from the conversation, which was in Greek, was that he loves America. He has been to America, New York and Washington, D.C. and has traveled around the world at least 10 times. He worked as a tailor years ago, but met a girl with money, so they traveled. He spoke in Greek, but was good with hand gestures and I figured out the bit about being a tailor because he was using Chuck as a model and looked like he was measuring his arms and pointed to the buttons on his shirt.

July 2, 

We went to the Acropolis today. It was part of our tour. First stop was many hotels to pick up others on our tour. Along the way the tour guide pointed out many of the landmarks, etc. We got off the bus at the colosseum and took some pictures. Chuck bought a book and the man gave him a small book of pictures for free. We stopped at Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We took photos with the guards there dressed in traditional Greek clothing.

Then we went to the Museum of the Acropolis. We had our bus tour guide as our tour guide there, and we had a very fast bite to eat at the museum cafe before heading over the the Acropolis. 

It was VERY hot today. The sun was intense, and by the time we got to the top of the Acropolis I was feeling a bit queazy. I was able to find a bit of shade to sit down, and then made my way to the bathroom, and splashed water on my face to cool off. It worked wonders. I believe I made it just in time before being overwhelmed by the heat.

There were so many people that the tour wasn't really very enjoyable for me. It was amazing to see, but I spent most of my time looking down so as not to fall. The rocks are slippery limestone and marble, rubbed smooth from thousands of years of wear, and they are very difficult to walk upon.

The men were working on the restoration of the Parthenon, and it was interesting to see them in action.

We didn't stay long. We were both so hot and so tired, and we rested several times on the way down. At the bottom was a trap of frozen lemonade, orange juice and strawberry for sale. Of course we bought two, but I would have preferred water. And the price was too much. And the people behind the counter were pushy and trying to get people to make their orders fast and not stand to decide.

We made our way back to the hotel and I stood in the shower for a couple of minutes to cool off, and then Chuck did the same. We both fell asleep right away, and slept for at least 2-3 hours. 

It was so hot outside we didn't feel as if we were missing anything.

Upon waking, we ventured out to find some food, and then strolled through another part of Athens we didn't see yesterday.

We found some neat little tourist shops, but tried to pick through to get authentic items. I found a few things. One bracelet for Lilly, some hand lotion that I LOVE, and want to get more of but I'm afraid the airline won't allow it.

We found some postcards yesterday as well.

Today we found a neat antique shop full of Greek items. Greek typewriters, old telephones, irons, jewelry, all kinds of things. We bought a Greek eye that is to be hung in the entry of the home to gather evil energy. And we bought a wall hook that I will use for the new lamp shade I got for the living room. Chuck got some old drachmas and realized he had gotten a great deal from the shop owner we found last night. That old guy basically gave them to him, saying they are totally worthless. And they are, except they are interesting to have. 

Our tour guide explained how when the euro took over it was difficult for everyone. She also explained the economic situation, so basically everyone's salary has been cut. The average Greek takes home about E500-E700 a month. Everyone is suffering, but we didn't see a lot of angst and bitterness where we were. Maybe it is bad in other places.

There were so many things there I would like to have, but it is difficult to carry it in the bags. Plus, we are only 2 days into this trip and will have lots more to see.

Tomorrow we are off to Santorini by plane and will be there for a couple of days.

Wedding Day

Chuck and Marsha West
June 29, 2013

It's kind of a blur, but our wedding day was absolutely beautiful. Everything that really mattered was exactly as we hoped it would be, and those little things that weren't quite what I had planned worked out anyway. They really did, and we have some beautiful memories of our wedding day, and the reception. We were so happy that so many of our friends and family shared the day with us!

Just for those who are preparing for a wedding, and are detail people like myself, I'll get those pesky little flub ups out of the way first. If you are one of those detail people, you need to know that these things do happen, and at the end of that wonderful day you are married. And that's what the day is really about.

I little disclaimer before I begin: We were blessed to have so many friends and family members who were willing to help us with the preparation and set up of the reception. They did a great job, and we couldn't have pulled it off without them!
But I wish I had stuck with my original plan of paying for a wedding day coordinator, or as I like to refer to the position-- Stage Manager. That person could have been the one directing, and taking care of any crisis or questions and helping all of those family members. That person could have helped us get organized ahead of time, and I think it would have made everyone's job easier. But it still worked out. However, if YOU are thinking of hiring someone to do this job, it really needs to be someone who is not family or friend, because they need to be someone who won't care if they are attending the wedding. They need to be a person who can stay focused on the many details, be assertive in carrying out your vision for your big day, and insulate you from the stress of it. But those people don't come for free.

So, here it goes~
We had some snaffoos with transporting the flowers to the church. We needed them by 10 a.m. because our photographer was shooting the pics at that time. In hindsight I should have paid the $100 + to have them delivered, but by the time I was paying for the flowers I was ready to start cutting back wherever we could. Delivery was one place we cut. Our plan A for flowers became problematic, and we had to go to a plan B, with Chuck driving to Tacoma to pick them up. The flowers arrived slightly late, but it was still OK.

OK, except that the color of the orchids for the boutonnieres and the cake was wrong. I was tempted to put that sentence in all caps. (That is how I felt at the time, but I've calmed down.) It was very pretty as long as you didn't know that the color was off. I don't know if anyone else noticed. But I did.

Also, there were chairs at the reception venue that I didn't want to use, and so we rented white chairs to be used there. We had Robert, Chuck's nephew, drive to pick them up and deliver them to the reception venue. But as Chuck and I arrived for the reception, I spotted our white chairs in the back of our truck in the parking lot, and when we walked in I saw those ugly chairs I didn't want to use at every table. It was no one's fault. They didn't know what to do, because there were those ugly brown chairs already in the room when the set up the tables, and there was confusion about whether the white chairs were coming, etc. (Again--I should have paid a stage manager who could have cleared up the confusion about the chairs.) I'm still trying to get over that one, folks. I know that in the big scheme of things it doesn't matter, but it really sort of does, to me.

And I'll tell you why. And then I'll stop with the Negative Nancy bit. It still sort of matters to me because I worked for so long on planning, and searching for the best deals so we wouldn't have a $30,000+++ wedding and reception, and because in my mind I had visions of what our photos would look like with all of these little details in place. And we didn't spend a fortune on the chairs, but they weren't cheap either. And it made me frustrated that they sat in the back of a truck.

So there. All of you detail people will understand, and now I'll say once again that at the end of that wonderful day what matters is that you are married to the person you know is the right one.
And, if you're as lucky as we are, you have wonderful people all around you who are eager to help you, and you get to share that day with all of those AMAZING people.

Now I'll get back to how incredible the day was for us.

I had wonderful friends and daughters who helped prepare food for the reception the day before. We convened in the kitchen and got to work cutting and balling melons, and slicing cheeses. Gwen, Jewel and Lilly were on melon duty, and Shane was working with her food processor slicing cheeses while Karen was bagging those slices into gallon-sized ziplock bags. I was the runner, going to the extra frig to retrieve melons and digging through my drawers for whatever gadgets were needed.

We worked for a couple of hours here, and then the girls (Jewel and Lilly), Karen and I went to get our nails done.
(That's another story. But I will save it for another day.)

The day of the wedding we had family members working hard to help us get everything where it needed to be, and making sure that we pulled off a beautiful event.
I loved my dress, my hair, which Jewel did for me, and my makeup, which was done by a local Mary Kay rep. And I was very pleased with my veils. I was wishing for a full length mirror while I got ready, but there wasn't one at the church and I didn't think of that detail ahead of time.

Our photographer, Don West, was great. He worked so hard to get as many shots as possible before the wedding, and then during the wedding and the reception as well. We appreciated his time, as well as his wife, Shannon's. (P.S. He is a professional photographer, but he doesn't do weddings anymore. It was a favor for us because we are family.) He was patient as Sean had a meltdown and didn't want to have his picture taken. We took a lengthy break to wait for him to come back around, which he did. We just allowed him to skip some of the photos.

My brother, Marty, saved the day by answering his cell phone when I rang with a request to stop by the house to pick up a special bracelet. Sean had made a blue yarn bracelet for me to wear for the wedding. I had forgotten to pack it in my bag, and Marty happened to be near the house and was able to get it and deliver it to the church in time before the ceremony started. I have sweet pictures of Sean tying it to my wrist.

We had a very beautiful ceremony filled with God, love, family, and some laughter. Our vows were so beautiful, and I plan to get them printed and framed. Our guests were all people who are important to us, and we appreciated each and every one of them sharing that day with us.

The car that transported us to the reception was so much fun, and Chuck's friend, Mike, was so generous to give up his Saturday to attend the wedding and to drive us. Our car was a LeMay collection car. It was a 1937 Packard Touring Limousine, and we loved it!!

The silver trays I purchased for the food for the reception looked great, and I loved the way the food was displayed.
I loved, loved, loved my lace bunting flags. They looked beautiful, and I was so thankful to have my soon-to-be husband willing to hang them and spend time at the reception venue to be sure it was all coming together.
I loved all of the flowers in the vintage vases and bottles that Chuck and I chose to use. (I'm still trying to track down all of those jars and bottles. They are here somewhere) The cake was beautiful, and exactly as we wanted it to be with lovely details. And it was DELICIOUS. A local baker, Tortes and Tarts, made the cake.

I was really happy that I took the time to do some of the detail work ahead of time. For instance, I had a borrowed wooden box with a hinged lid on it that was perfect for cards. I printed the word "cards" on some card stock and cut it as bunting flags and hand sewed the letters onto a ribbon to hang on the open lid of the box.

Our chalkboards turned out great! I was so happy with the results. Wendy, the artist, did an amazing job. That room was fun, and we had some vintage props for people to use and a little space created in front of the chalkboard for a photo booth.

We were so happy to have so many great people around us that day. I felt so lucky to have a connection to a makeup artist at the last minute. Karen and Jewel helped to keep me calm and they took care of all of the little details~ Things you don't think of until the final moments. I was so happy they were able to be here to help make the day that much more special.

Karen took tons of pictures, and I so appreciated that! I'm currently still trying to organize photos on Shutterfly and I'm trying to create a site for our wedding photos.

It was a spur of the moment request when I asked that Jewel and Robert do the speeches for our toast. I was on the verge of tears as they each spoke.

Behind the scenes, Chuck's sister Cindy was in the kitchen making sure the food was replenished on the table, and my brother Marty was back there making sure the champagne and wine were being uncorked. Robert and Jewel were pouring, and taking orders for the sparkling cider for the kids and folks who don't drink alcoholic beverages. Our vintage, glass beverage dispensers worked out perfectly for that event, filled with organic lemonade. (It was a hot day, and that lemonade was a hit.)

Once people started leaving and things were winding down, we all headed out. We rushed home, grabbled our backpacks and David and Jewel grabbed their luggage and we all headed for Seattle. They were both catching flights that night back to Tennessee, and Chuck and I stayed at a hotel in Seattle so we could be at the airport the next morning at about 4:30 a.m. for our flight to Athens, Greece.

Look for posts about our amazing honeymoon coming soon...

Sean at 10

I wrote this post months ago.

I don't write very much about my children. Most of the posts have been about outings, or birthdays, and I tend to want to protect their privacy.

But there are some things that I know I will forget about if I don't write them down. All of my kids are amazing, and I love each of them so much, and enjoy their wonderful personalities.

Sean is the youngest. He is very unique. From an early age I could tell he was going to teach me things about myself, and challenge me in ways I hadn't been challenged before.
He is 10 now. He loves what most 10-year-old boys love. Legos, and more Legos. Video games, which I don't really like, but I've decided to stop fighting it. Airsoft guns, and really any kind of gun. I used to fight that, too, and then decided maybe it was a phase and if I gave in and let him have a toy gun or pistol it would wear off. It never wore off. He has an arsenal.
Cars, trucks, and being outside are also some of his favorite things. He has a bicycle, a motorcycle, skateboard, roller skates, and if none of those are appealing at the moment, he'll make his own fun by going outside to dig for worms, or hunt for creatures he's never seen before.
All this is to say he is pretty normal, I believe. Full of energy, curiosity, a passion for all living creatures, including his lovely pet tarantula, Rosie, and a passion to explore.

He has always loved music. Before he could speak, he would hum along with hymns at church. He cried in the car as an infant. He absolutely hated to ride in the car, but one day I put in a classical CD and turned it up, and he quieted down. From that day, I had the CD ready as soon as we got in the car. To this day he enjoys classical music.

When he was a toddler I brought in a variety of instruments. We started with a tiny piano, then a type of string harp, a set of drums and a guitar. He loved all of it, but gravitated to the drums more than the other instruments. And he's pretty good. He hasn't had formal training, he just loves to keep a beat and make up his own.

There are a few things he has said lately that made me want to write this post. I know I've forgotten so many profound things he has said and done over the years, so I want to note these now before I forget them, too.

He enjoys an app on my phone that has little circles that light up and flow down the screen, and as you hit the circles it plays the notes on a piano to play along to popular songs. The other day he changed it to a harpsichord and I didn't really like the sound because he had it too loud. I asked him to change it and said "I don't really like that sound. It sounds like a harpsichord." He responded in a disappointed tone, "It is a harpsichord. I think it's awesome because it totally changes the sound of the song."

Yesterday we were in the car and I had the radio tuned to a public radio station, and it was jazz Monday. I asked him what his favorite types of music are, and he told me a few of them. I asked if he liked jazz, and he said yes, it was OK. He said it was the kind of music you would listen to when you're purple.

I waited for him to explain that. He sometimes associates moods with colors, or feelings with colors. He said it's when you're not really sad, but you're not angry or happy either. And jazz is the kind of music he would listen to when he was feeling purple.

As we arrived home from school one day last week, I pulled up to the mailbox to let him roll down the car window and check the box. I told him it might be empty, because I thought Chuck might be home already. He said he thought so too. "I can kind of feel that he's here," he said. "Do you know what I mean? Do you feel it?"

I do know what he means.

Bridal Shower: Wedding Plans

Written on 6/25/13

I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful group of friends.

The friendships have developed over the past five years or so. It all started when I accepted the job at our local monthly non-profit newspaper and began to be thrust into the community. I still stuck really close to home, and didn't make very many close friends because being a newspaper editor requires a certain amount of reclusiveness, mixed with a fair amount of extrovert energy. But for the four years I was there I had the most amazing assistant editor, Danna Webster.

She was with me through thick and thin, and there was a lot of thin, especially toward the end of my time there. I can't even describe how much she gave, and how much her help meant to me.

As Sean approached first grade I decided to homeschool him. I couldn't afford to pay for private school anymore, and I wasn't sure what to do. Once we got into homeschooling I was in a homeschooling group, but we weren't really active in it for several reasons. I received an email from another homeschooling mom who was doing Montessori and Waldorf, and Shane and I have stayed in touch and become friends.

When I enrolled Sean at the school in Tacoma I had no idea the friendships I would cultivate there. Each school has it's own culture, and the parents at this school are amazing! Most of them are casual acquaintances that I speak to on the playground, but some of them I have served with on committees and the site council. A few of them have become good friends.

This year I became more friendly with Gwen. Her oldest boy was in Sean's class last year. I work in the office as the volunteer coordinator and she walked in one day in November and I mentioned that I was going to an appointment after work to try on wedding gowns. She wanted to go with me. I'm so glad she did.

She was the only one with me that day, and she was at each subsequent appointment as well. We added a couple of ladies to the next two appointments, and it was so much fun to have them with me!

Gwen loves planning events, and from that second bridal gown appointment started talking about the bridal shower she was going to throw for me.

June 21 was the shower, and it was so lovely. She really went all out, and included so many little details. The colors were teal and white, and she had really nice gifts for the people who won games, and she also had nice favors for everyone as they left the party. She had printed super cute labels for glass canisters with a locking lid that included the date and a recipe for sugar cookies, and she had the cookie dough measured into it and you just have to add the liquid.

I got some really nice gifts, including a beautiful apron, kitchen towels and an amazing crock made in Italy from Jill. Jennifer gave me a really neat hanging sculpture for the garden. Claudia, another friend from the community where we live, gave me two wine glasses and some Seattle Chocolates. Danna gave me a huge beautiful basket filled with unique teas, and I plan to invite her over for tea very soon.
Silver and gold serving fork and spoon set were given to us by Kama, and Kristina gave me money that I plan to use for either a manicure or pedicure. And there were several friends there who brought their love and best wishes for us, and the best thing was all of those amazing women in the same room with me to help me celebrate this wonderful love that Chuck and I have.
There was a small "after party" at a local restaurant/bar and Lisa made it to that party. She gave me a nice book and a game to take on our honeymoon ;))

Last Minute Details: Wedding Plans

This was written June 18, 2013 I think...

Our final meeting with Pastor Jim before the rehearsal took place last week. We were also able to meet
with our musician, Dave Thomas. He had great suggestions, and is excited to do a duet with the lady who will accompany him.

We have a tentative song list. Including: Cinnamon Girl, When You Say Nothing at All, When the Right One Comes Along, I Can't Help Falling In Love With You ( A nod to my mother who loved Elvis) and a religious song, You Are My King. I will walk down the aisle to The Wedding Song.
I think the ceremony will be beautiful, and I believe it will be the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended. And I'm so happy we have put so much work into it. The part with the gift giving to the children will be so meaningful to us, and I hope they will think so too, and that the youngest ones will remember it all of their lives.

I'm excited for everyone to arrive, and we will be busy preparing for the Big Day.
This is going to be one of the most amazing times of my life. I am so happy to know that I am embarking on a beautiful life with this wonderful man who loves so easily and completely.
We wrote our vows and handed them to Pastor Jim, but neither of us has seen them yet.

I booked the hotel for the night of the wedding. I found one that offers 14 day parking, plus 1 so we can stay there the night we arrive back in town. We've got all the lists in place for our house sitters.

I also paid in full for the rental of chairs and tables today.

Yesterday I went to Marshall's to browse and found the perfect addition to the church and reception. The letters C and M in a delicate and intricate white metal that looks like lace. I can't wait to get them hung and on the church doors. We will transport them to the reception after the ceremony and hang them there as well.

We'ver getting the details of the reception dialed in.
We want to offer some lawn games, especially if it's beautiful weather like today.
We will bring our croquet set. I found a child's horse shoe game at a garage sale last weekend, and I'll have some other things for kids to do.
I also bought a crate at Marshall's to hold some of our old soda bottles for an old fashioned ring toss.
I got a few child's bracelets at a thrift shop for that game.

I have the florist paid in full, and will deliver the vessels to them this week. I'm using four galvanized french buckets for arrangements, and will have a large bouquet for me and small similar ones to mine for Karen, Jewel and Lilly.  We will have 5 tall and 5 short single stem vases from old bottles and I will use mason jars and some candle holders to finish the groupings on the tables. Not sure yet what to put in the jars and holders. thinking greens from our property.

We are pairing down the cake--Doing away with the groom's cake and hopefully making ours a little smaller so we won't have leftovers.

I'm ready to finish my To Do List and have only cake, musicians and food and champagne for the recpetion to pay for now. Next we will book our Venice hotel! Yippeee!

Driving Miss Marsha and Chuck: Wedding Plans

As I said before, we have a lot of friends and connections and we are so blessed to know so many people.
Early on we knew we wanted some kind of old car to drive us from the church to the reception after the  ceremony. We tossed around a couple of ideas, but some of them were convertibles and I knew I didn't want that. I didn't want a windblown look upon arrival to the reception.
One idea was a firetruck, but I wasn't very thrilled with that idea. Chuck didn't seem sold on it either. Then Chuck had a brilliant idea.
He knows a guy who works with the LaMay family who own the cars that are displayed at the Car Museum in Tacoma. We have both been to the old museum, the original one that held all of the collection. Now there is a new museum near the Tacoma Dome.
He asked this friend if it would be possible for him to get a car from the LaMay collection to drive us from the church to the reception, and after a little time of making sure it was OK, etc., we were told yes!!
We are so excited to have an old car to drive us, and I can't wait to see it.

Supporting the Arts: Wedding Plans

Author's note: I didn't have time to publish all of the posts prior to the wedding, so I'm going to be publishing a few in the coming days. I wrote this one a couple of weeks before the wedding.

Whether it's live music, paintings, old buildings, or just about any other thing that is an original work of art, we love it.

I want to support artists because I believe they are so important to a community. What a sad world we would live in if we didn't have artists.

We have several paintings and pieces of art, and we wanted to incorporate art into our wedding as well.

Two musicians will sing and one will play guitar during our ceremony. We have selected some songs that we know we want for that day. One is an Elvis song, and I am really happy that Dave Thomas suggested it. I was looking for a way to include my mom in our wedding. She was a huge Elvis fan back in the day. She really enjoyed his music all her life, and loved his Gospel songs. She wasn't all crazy and fainting and such, just really enjoyed his music and thought he was really handsome in his young days.

The others songs we've chosen are some we believe speak to us as a couple.

Early on I knew I wanted classical music for the reception. In my daydreamy thoughts of the reception I pictured everyone enjoying a glass of champagne or wine and nice conversation while musicians played in the background. I searched for a trio, a size I thought was just right.

I found A Trio Classique through the principal at the school where I work. She knew the leader, and said if they couldn't do it she would surely know someone who could. Turns out they were free that weekend. I am super excited!

Because there are chalkboards at our reception venue, and after I thought about how to use that space, I hired an artist to fill those chalkboards with beautiful script and designs. I met with her today to discuss the vision for that.  I can't wait to see her finished product!!

All of these people we found through friend connections. Chuck knew someone who knew Dave Thomas and Whitney Erickson who are performing some beautiful duets during our ceremony. My friend Scott put me in touch with Wendy Kleven who is working on the chalkboard designs.
There are some other connections that have been really instrumental in helping us achieve our vision for the wedding and ceremony.
We are really blessed to have such great friends!

Next Post: Driving Miss Marsha and Chuck: Wedding Plans