Wedding Family Traditions

Posted on by Mary P Karnes

 

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Wedding Family Traditions …

Do you remember my post, Advice to My Daughter?  In it I tell about passing down a family heirloom to a bride. If you missed it, and would like to read it, just click on the link.  It will take you there.  Our photographer, Hannah Colt, through Power Station Events was fantastic, and most creative.  She suggested placing both rings, my daughter Kathleen’s, (KK), and my grandmother’s, in one of the beautiful blooms from KK’s bouquet.  Janice, Mother of the Groom, and KK take all the credit – well, we must give their florist SOME… for their fantastic wedding flower vision, which became reality.

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The next photo showcases KK’s bouquet.  I loved her flowers.  While grand enough for a bride, KK’s bouquet didn’t overwhelm her.  And if you’ll notice, nestled in the ribbon banding…is the abalone butterfly my father carved for my mother, pinned to the ribbon.

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The photo above gives you a close up of the butterfly pendent.  Even though my parents were unable to attend, (The trip from California just a bit too much.  Dad turns 97 this year and thankfully is still in great health – Mom is MUCH younger… :-), a little remembrance of them was still in attendance.  And as a fun note – they “Facetimed” the ceremony, (thank you so much, Trish and Becca!), so they were able to witness the marriage joy!

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Next is my husband’s, father of the bride’s, boutonniere.  Such attention to detail was given by Janice’s florist. Not only was it beautiful, but it had color highlights to match my dress.  And to go with the boutonniere, was the handkerchief KK had made for her father out of her extra fabric from her wedding dress… (Now THAT made me tear up…)

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And yes…these photos were mine…taken on my little iPhone!  Hannah, the photographer, was not all that happy with me – but patient.

First Anniversary – And Your Wedding Cake!

Posted on by Mary P Karnes

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Let’s take a little break from KK and Tyler’s wedding… and talk about ‘Your First Anniversary – And Your Wedding Cake!’  Did you freeze the top layer of your wedding cake to enjoy on your first wedding anniversary?  In case you’re interested, click on the following link: Preserving the Top Layer of Your Wedding Cake to read an older blog post about saving the top layer.

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The top photo is of the defrosted cake…not only is it a process to FREEZE your wedding cake, but to Defrost it as well… click on the following link if you wish to read about the freezing process: Freezing Your Wedding Cake  Maggie and Rob are featured in the next photo.  As I was the person storing the frozen cake, I asked them if they wanted me to take it to them in Philly or overnight it.  Rob said, “Well, the whole family’s going to be together for KK and Tyler’s wedding, let’s eat it then, and we can all enjoy it!”

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I loved the idea, and followed my own instructions for defrosting to the letter, but I have to admit –  with an extended family of 14 in attendance to try the cake…I was a little nervous.

The above photo shows an individual serving size – it looks pretty, doesn’t it?

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The above photo showcases the top layer with a section cut out.  Robert and Maggie did a nice job of cutting it.  The cake was a tiny bit frozen, which make for a better cut.  As to the taste…it tasted just fine for a year old cake — a bit dry — but ABSOLUTELY no “freezer taste”.  I was pleased.  I will say, though, that no one asked for a second piece…

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And this last photo…the glorious cake on Maggie and Rob’s wedding day.

As an item of interest…the flowers on the cake are not real, but edible, spun sugar!!

Did I preserved KK and Tyler’s top layer of their wedding cake?  Well, of course I did… with a little help, (well, a lot!), from my wonderful father-in-law, Ken, just like last year…  🙂 (Patty Cloherty Photos)

I promise to finish my “Blooper Post” tomorrow…

Wedding Flowers

Posted on by Mary P Karnes

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Wedding flowers and music —  two of the most important presentations to be made at any wedding.  Janice, mother of the groom, picked up the baton of theses two curial factors and ran with them!

First the flowers…through the process of writing a blog, I have viewed many, many pictures of wedding flowers.  I haven’t seen any prettier than the ones Janice and KK chose.  In the photo above, you see KK and Tyler at the alter, actually saying their vows.  To KK’s left, you see the exquisite alter flowers.

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The new Mr and Mrs… walking down the aisle as man and wife.  This photo shows KK’s bouquets off to a good advantage.  I love how it doesn’t overwhelm her — she’s a little woman.  The flowers are varied and give the bouquet a multi-level dimension.

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The bridesmaids bouquets are modeled by my own Tess and Julia, sisters of the bride.  I love the variety of all the flowers, but yet how they work so well together.  There was just enough peach in the bouquets to make them pop.

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This photo is so KK and Tyler – relaxed, happy, and so were their attendants.  Their exuberance is definitely highlighted in this shot.  And when it comes to giving photo creds…they belong to me, with the exception of the top photo, (which was captured by one of KK’s girlfriends), on my tiny iPhone.  Hasn’t technology advanced?  Wow…is all I can say!

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The last picture above – life long best friends…KK and  her “little” sister, Matron of Honor, Maggie.  I love this picture, just like the girls…And yes, I love the flowers you chose, Janice and KK – job well done.  The music, wow!  Janice hired a string trio to play all the wedding music, and the most beautiful cantor to sing all the responses in the Mass.  I was so happy for the couple, I had no tears, but the sweetness of the music…well that made my eyes well…

 

 

Rehearsal Dinner

Posted on by Mary P Karnes

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I will start at the beginning of our festive wedding weekend, but first, I wanted to share KK’s favorite wedding photo above – I love it!  The breeze was just perfect for such a shot…

Below you see KK, our priest, Tyler and Tyler’s brother, Conner – best man – at the Rehearsal.  KK and Tyler chose to get married at St. Augustine in South Glastonbury instead of St. Paul’s – the big church in town on Main Street – where my second daughter and son-in-law married last June.  It is more in keeping with their relaxed style.  We were done in no time, and then headed off to “Mill on the River”

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for the Rehearsal Dinner, hosted by Tyler’s family.  According the the restaurant’s website:

“Podunk Mill dates back more than 200 years in South Windsor’s History. It’s original dam, built by Colonists and Indians, is the oldest in Connecticut. The first mill was destroyed by a huge flood in 1750. In 1775, the mill was rebuilt by Joseph Rockwell. Corn, buckwheat, and rye were ground at the grist mill and stored in large bins until ready to be sold. The kitchen area was then the first Post Office with the miller as the postmaster. A brick yard and ice house were also on the property. Ice was cut on the pond, stored and covered with sawdust which made it last all year.

The Podunk Indians were once three clans, the Nameroke of Warehouse Point, the Hockanum of East Hartford, and the Scanticookes. They camped on the river, fishing for shad and salmon, hunting for deer and small game, raising corn, beans, squash, tobacco, and helping the Colonists build the dam. In return, the settlers gave them protection from the warring tribes of the Pequots and Mohigans.

Eventually, the dam was widened and recapped over the original field stone once built by the Indians, with a covered bridge. The building was completely restored with timbers and boards from nine tobacco sheds. This once crumbling, condemned, ex-mill, is now one of the most picturesque restaurants in Connecticut.”

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The food was excellent, the company even better.  We all had a great time, and the “feel good” atmosphere set a lovely tone for the wedding the following day.  Photo #2 is of my own Tess and Julia, the next, a scenic shot of the grounds.  In the fourth photo, Amanda, (sister of the groom), is showcased with their father.

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And ending my blog post for today, is a sample of the diner menu, and a beautiful shot of Janice, Tyler’s mom, pictured with her three children, Tyler, the groom – Conner, Tyler’s brother and best and, and the lovely Amanda – bridesmaid.  Tomorrow, I’ll reveal all!   🙂

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