Oh and

Matt's previous post about our two day stay in Seattle after the wedding was missing a couple of points I couldn't leave unsaid, or maybe I just wanted a chance to post some more pictures.
After the ceremony, Matt and I had a great but exhausting time chasing around the boat, saying hello to everyone, taking pictures, cutting cake, having Matt step on my bustle, bust it, and then start the first dance with the busted bustle un-bustled. I really thought I might fall and it was such a rush, I really wouldn't have had it any other way. We loved every moment on the boat but we needed to quickly check in to our hotel and get back to the rental house in time for wedding reception #2. The boat was so big, but I hope I got to say hello to everyone, and hopefully goodbye!

Matt and I left boat and sped off to the fabulous Inn at the Market. We walked in to the hotel and I don't know what really happened after that. I think there was some sort of sound like clapping, and the ladies waiting in the lobby crowded around. Cameras appeared out of nowhere. Matt escaped to the check-in desk. The women's husbands lingered on the edges. I think there are pictures of me on a lobby couch with my shoes off in someone's vacation slideshow, somewhere. I'd say Matt came to save me with the key to the hotel, but I was really having a great time. The ladies' excitement was rubbing off. So I was already excitable enough when Matt told me that they had upgraded us to the waterfront suite. I expect never to stay in a more wonderful room. It was all very white and modern with these classy little accents, but I couldn't really find the bed, and where was the bathroom? Matt said, "upstairs" and I didn't really get it for a minute. Wait, upstairs? Having two ocean views in one hotel room, stacked on top of each other was a bit mind blowing. I think we just collapsed there for a little while, rallied, ate a little complimentary truffle, cut me out of my dress with only a safety pin, threw something on and headed out for the party. We really can't thank Aunt Shelby, Uncle Pat, and Aunt Diana enough for setting us up there for those two days. It was the perfect break after such a fun and busy week.

Our booth had the second best artwork at Whiskey Bar.

I'm pretty sure Matt covered most of the rest. He left out some of the wacky parts, like the drunk girl at Whiskey Bar who ordered whatever drink I was having and our bemused and eventually successful attempt at finding the strip club Matt went to, or the dangerous late night bar sushi that I fought off with a quick nap and a slight fever. I can't vouch that the food was worth it, but the fellas to the right of us at the bar were top notch conversationalists. I think I'll always remember sitting at the park with Matt and watching the soldiers slowly sail into harbor, boat after boat, all day long. They stand to attention along the edges the whole time coming in. I didn't know that, and they coast in so slowly. I was a little worried that they were all very uncomfortable but it was a great sight to see all those white uniforms in perfect symmetry around the boat.

We hated to leave, but were happy to get home too. Oh, bittersweet.

The Emerald Adventure

I used to consider myself to be a person who could not live in a city.  With the traffic congestion, crazy people, and noise, I think I would go nuts.  But after living in Bellingham, a small size of a large city, and living in the midst of Vancouver I think It's something I could do, if I had to.  Seattle is a great city and Colleen and I certainly got to see much of its charm for the two days after our wedding.  One thing cities like Seattle have to offer is the events.  There is always something going on and if you can't find something you'll enjoy, then perhaps life is just not for you.

We walked around Pike's Place for the two days we had to ourselves.  Monday was a day full of food.  I wanted to celebrate our marriage, so a couple of days before hand, I made reservations at a french restaurant located inside the market called Place Pigalle.  Colleen had the duck.  I had the risotto with duck confit.  Both were delicious.  I also had a wine, which I can't remember the name of, that was grown only in Argentina and was very good.

Earlier that day we had to take advantage of one of our numerous wedding gifts and eat lunch at Matt's in the Market.  We were specifically told to have lunch, not dinner, at this location.  The advice was great.  I had a beef brisket sandwich.  I'm spotty on what Colleen had.  The beer was good, although nothing that I wouldn't find in other places.  But still a nice selection of micro brews.

Of all the beer I had while I planned, shopped, drove, visited, and relaxed around Seattle the best was the Tandem.  I discovered this on the night of my bachelor party.  I enjoyed one more while sitting in a bar with Colleen during my last night in Seattle.  The next time I go, I may have to find a bar that serves that brew.

Our last day we shopped in the market.  We bought peaches, lychee berries, tomatillos and a painting to remember our short two day stint in Seattle.  The artist of the painting gave us 5 dollars off as a congratulations to our recent marriage.

Fortunately these two days are not the full extent of our honeymoon.  If they were, I'm not sure if I would still work for my current employer.  We will be enjoying the beaches of Tulum Mexico in mid to late October.  The weather should be great, as long as no hurricanes pay us a visit.

In which Matt is a ravenous sea monster.

We have also purchased plane tickets to Dublin Ireland.  We will be leaving on January 12 and returning on ???  That will be the first leg of our journey to Europe.  We're both excited and very happy at the deal we were able to get.

Blogspot does not recognize the words, confit, lychee, or tomatillo.  This blogosphere is more uncultured than I ever could have feared.

My Anxiety is Your Happiness

The haircut was a huge success.

Enough of this posting about the preparation for the wedding. I can tell you what the preparation for the wedding was like: One big giant sleep deprived headache. It's time to write about the actual wedding. It is what everyone was there to see and it is why I woke too early several mornings and why I probably lost another couple strands of hair from my head.

The wedding was great. At least from my perspective, but that may be slanted since I was the Groom. However several people came to me afterward and mentioned how beautiful the ceremony was and how great of a time they had. This means a lot to me. I don't quite know how I would feel if people only had an okay, or terrible time at my wedding. Although I'm sure some did. One thing I've learned over the years, especially from my job, is that you can't please everyone. As long as most people had a great time, and I'm sure they did, then all the worry and hassle before hand was worth it.

Some of you may remember Colleen and I danced to the song "I'm on a Boat" by Lonely Island. I had a great time dancing to this and it seemed most people thought it was a pretty cool idea to play this while we were on the ferry boat. I've seen a video of us dancing and it does seem to make for a good time. While watching the video, I noticed some of my dancing was less than adequate. Although I admittedly would prefer other activities to dancing, I knew this was my wedding and I was going to boogie. Since dancing at my brother Luke's wedding, I've gotten more comfortable dancing in front of people and I'm at the point now, when while I'm dancing and I'm going to break loose and not care what others think. This video though, would seem to show that I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Although usually I would agree with that perception, the truth at my wedding is that that I was absolutely freaking exhausted. I had woken at two that morning because I was too excited. By the time the dancing came along I figured if I got through the Bride and Groom, Groom and Mother and boogie songs, I would be okay. This was perhaps not quite accurate. My poor gesticulations of feet and legs clearly shows an exhausted Groom that could easily be mistaken for just a bad white dancer.

Going back to how people were telling me they thought the ceremony was beautiful and they had a great time I must let everyone know of one thing. The beautiful ceremony, Colleen and I owe to our officiant, Darin Cline. I know Darin was nervous trying to pull this off and he went through I believe he said eight drafts of speech before everyone heard the one they did. The reason Colleen and I chose Darin to fill one of the most important positions of our wedding is because we knew he would pull it off without a hitch. He did a great job and we are forever grateful for his contribution.

Another big shout out of a thank you goes to Colleen and I's family. They were a great help in bringing everything together and we could not have done it without them. Some of their help wasn't even expected, like Colleen's uncle Pat making margaritas at the rehearsal dinner. Every small thing from lighting candles, to the most important such as Jerry at the barbecue for practically every hour of the rehearsal dinner and reception is greatly appreciated. We cannot thank you enough and although I doubt we will every be able to repay you, Colleen and I will most certainly do our best.

I was hoping to write about some of Colleen and I's time in Seattle after the wedding, but this is long enough. That will have to wait until later.

Hey I Know That Lady

As the Battle Grounders know, (because you were mostly all there, wow!), Val made sure I did my bridely duty and hosted my bridal shower for me. We walked in to a table full of delicious food and I had a great time talking to all the ladies, eating, drinking, and being generally blown away by all the kindness and generosity crammed in to one house. It was a salad plate theme and I am now ready for any salad related social emergencies. I don't think I should wait for one to arrive though. Better just to plan one and not tempt fate. Yes, I think a salad shindig is in the cards.

The younger girls and I had to leave to get to our reservation down at Darcelle's in Portland after a quick Jello shot with everyone at the house. My Bachelorette party there was hilariously fun and the "ladies" had us roaring. I recognized the host "Poison Waters" as a person we had bumped into on the street last time I was with the girls down in Portland. She put my hair up in a bun and then lectured me on proper bra-strap matching/hiding. I suppose that would have been good fodder for the interview when they pulled the brides up on stage.

After the show, it was over to Dixies. I saw the girls dancing on the bar top and said, yes, this is the spot. I was almost convinced to join in the dance comeptition up on the bar, but it filled up in the nick of time.

We danced, we laughed, I got way too drunk. Apparently we stopped by for voodoo doughnuts. It was a fabulous night. My poor sister and mother.

I didn't have much time to sit around feeling embarrassed the next morning. I went to work and got paid to feel not exactly on the top of my game.



Well, here's to only doing that once! 

Oh These Wedding Affairs

Things have settled down now, but what crazy fun it all was! Matt and I want to thank everyone for making it such a wonderful experience for us, and we hope you had as great of a time as we did. We owe a lot to our parents and all our family that came together to help make it happen. After the wedding we spent two days walking around Pike's Place. We and had a fantastic time but, pictures and stories about that later.

All of our photos will be uploaded onto http://s45.photobucket.com/home/elevencreoles/index. I'll post little samples here but there won't be room for them all. The Aberles, Cindy Adkins, and Brooke and Jim have already sent me some photos and I was so excited to receive them! I think you'll enjoy them as much as I have. The whole house has been filled with all of us laughing and making little affectionate sounds at all the adorable shots.

I would love as many pictures as possible, so if you've got 'em, send them my way.