The beginning

one married...four more to go!!!

no words necessary...

bon appétit

I haven't really talked about the food that was served at the reception but I want to give the kitchen staff my compliments for a job well done! If I had been served a meal like the one that Luke (pictured here) and his crew prepared, I would have thought I was in an elegant restaurant, and not in a rural New Hampshire camp dining hall! What was on the menu?

Before the meal: fruit trays of fresh pineapple, kiwi halves, grapes, melon, and strawberries; and cheese trays of assorted cheeses and crackers

Main Course:

• Caesar Salad
• Chicken Marsala
• Spinach Fettuchini
• Italian Broccoli (with garlic)
• Fresh bread and butter

Jacquie and Dan chose the menu and Luke & company orchestrated the rest. Bravo!

picture postcard

I know I have mentioned the absolute beauty of the area where Jacquie & Dan work (and play!). For anyone who has never visited New Hampshire, I hope you get the chance to do so sometime. The water of the lakes reflect the blue skies, the lush colors of the vegetation become a palette of greens and blues and purples and golds. The sounds you hear are quiet, soothing and hypnotic.

This place calms your soul.

At Camp Berea, there are no televisions, no video games, no distracting forms of artificial entertainment. What you find there are water, sand, rocks, elevation, and the invitation to experience it with all of your senses. You can swim, rock climb, go tubing down the hill in the winter, water ski in the summer, hike, walk, or relax by a crackling fire at the water's edge. When we were there last weekend, there were no insects - only the Mayflies were our companions as we walked near the lake. But they did not bite or buzz around your ears at night...they were only a reminder of the natural setting we were sharing with them. Newfound Lake - it's a beautiful place. A place to make beautiful memories.

the only time I cried...

The most touching moment for me (and many others, I think) took place during the reception when Jacquie's bouquet of lilacs & lily of the valley was presented to a very special lady. Her name is Glo - and she is Dan's maternal grandmother. She recently learned that her cancer had returned and had to start chemotherapy again. A few weeks ago, her doctor suspended her treatment so she would feel well enough to attend the wedding. During the reception, instead of throwing her bouquet to a gaggle of single women, Jacquie asked all couples in attendance who have been married at least 20 years to stand. 30 years. 40 years or more. Finally, the only couple standing was Dan's grandmother & grandfather...and to honor them and the celebration of a committed marriage, the bouquet was given to Glo. It was a very touching moment since most of us knew that her presence was a gift. Glo cried, I cried along with many others...and we all gave them a standing ovation.

a few more...

Instead of the traditional Unity Candle, Jacquie & Dan opted for a Unity Sand ceremony. As Dan's parents sang a duet, they stepped down to the edge of the lake and each poured a handful of sand into a small jar.

And here we all are...Rachael, me, Steve, Stacey and Davy, with the bride & groom in front.

more pictures are coming...check back later

two very special moments...

One of the first things we did....

...on Sunday morning after breakfast was to go down to the lake to the site of the ceremony. What a beautiful area...here is Steve with Rachael - taking in the view of Newfound Lake in New Hampshire.

So - here we go...this is what we've all been waiting for...the wedding! Following are photos that do not include all of the characters in the show (like me, for example, or photos of Dan's family and others) but I promise to upload pictures that I receive later from other photographers that day. I hope the wonderful atmosphere of the day is conveyed through these photos...it turned out to be (in the words of the groom) "even better than I imagined."

Sunday was a day of frantic preparation....

Although I didn't take the time to document everything that happened on Sunday, I am sure you can imagine the frenzy of activity that day...

First came packing for the honeymoon - the two-week trip to Hawaii. Here is Jacquie in the girls' staff cabin, trying to get everything she needs in her bag...

A little surprise for Dan - the black teddy that she received at her lingerie party the night before...
...and here we are pressing the gown (and, yes, I managed to do it without burning a spot in it!)
...and here is Rachael folding the napkins for the reception tables. She did a terrific job, as you will see in later posting...

Rehearsal

Everyone is in place...(with the photographer setting up his shots at the edge of the lake, too!)

As I was standing where everyone will be seated for the ceremony tomorrow, I looked up and experienced one of those "deja vu" moments. To my left was a birch tree framing the view of the lake. I took a picture....

Although I was never given a photo of this particular view of Newfound Lake...
...I somehow came up with this drawing for the cover of the invitation. Freaky, huh? Jacquie had given me a simple direction for the scene she wanted me to draw: a single birch tree, with the lake and the mountain range in the background. This coincidence is amazing...I can't explain it.
Jacquie & Dan at the edge of the lake
...and at rehearsal dinner - where Hawaiian meatballs were served (in honor of their upcoming honeymoon destination!)

Getting ready...

Morning morning, the first of May, dawned bright, with no rain in sight. Although the skies were a bit overcast and the breeze was brisk at times, the day turned out to be perfect - in every way.

"Do I have time to floss??"

...lots of princess curls, thanks to Jacquie's cousin, Lisa
"Mom, what time is it?"
"It's time to go, Jacquie"

The Ceremony

Nate (the officiant) and Dan ~ waiting for the bride to make her appearance.

Josh (Dan's brother) & Stacey.
Jacquie's dad guides her down the steps.
My favorite picture of all...
the bridemaids ~ Anna (Dan's sister) & Stacey
Josh & Dave
Dan saying his vows
...and Jacquie saying hers
husband & wife...

Reception & Farewell...

The head table

Dan's place setting
...and Jacquie's
the cake (angel food, strawberries and climbers...)
appetizers...
table at entrance with sign-in and seating charts
Jacquie has a smile for her groom
Anna, Stacey, Jacquie & Dan, Josh (Davy is probably at the buffet table!)
time to leave....
Hawaii...here we come!

Tuesday ~ the day after...

Rachael, Davy and me - on the deck looking out onto Newfound Lake.

This morning, we woke up to cloudy skies and a constant drizzle. What a wonderful day to rain! Yesterday's weather was perfect...
Steve & me at about 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
This is the door Jacquie & Dan will enter as husband & wife in about 2 weeks. Thanks for the memories ~ it was a wonderfully perfect day.

Day 1

8:48 a.m. - (almost) packed & ready to go...

See you next week!

Day 2

Well, I never thought today would arrive! As I mentioned in earlier entries, everything is done (here in PA, that is!) so this week I was feeling a little adrift...with nothing major to do - related to the wedding, of course. At work, it's been busy with Administrative Professional Day on Wednesday (we celebrated with hotdogs and brownies) and yesterday, we went out to lunch to celebrate Don's 50th. Today I have a lunch meeting and then afterwards, I'll be picking up the rentals. Tonight, I'll be packing the car and then we'll head out in the morning for Rachael's softball games and then on to NH. The next time I blog may not be until next Tuesday, when we return.

Yesterday, I connected with a fellow MOB blogger from Illinois and we talked about how mothers of brides are often overlooked. Some may find that troublesome or frustrating, considering all the the behind-the-scenes work we do, but I am looking forward to sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the festivities. I know that a lot of people have contributed to the beauty of the day and I don't need accolades or public declarations of thanks from anyone. All I want is to see the smiles on the faces of my oldest daughter and her new husband. Only then will I know that everything we planned and prepared was more than worth the time and effort. Enjoy the day, J & D. But it is only the beginning of a lifetime of wonderful days. All my love to you both...I'll see you tomorrow.

Day 3

Only a few more days until May 1, the day that Jacquie and Dan will get married. At first, they chose April 10. But wise New Hampshirites advised them that the lake would probably be still frozen, and standing at the shore of a frosty body of water was not what they had envisioned. So the wedding date became May 1...May Day. Jacquie had always wanted to carry lily-of-the-valley (along with lilacs) at her wedding - and we soon discovered that these flowers are associated with a lovely tradition. In France, May 1 is La Fête du Muguet, and the tradition is to give the ones you love a little bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, for good luck and to celebrate the arrival of spring. So...each wedding guest will find a little bunch of these sweet-smelling blooms at their place at their reception table.