Getting Ready for the Wedding

Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23, 2015

 

Pam, a close family friend,  has already put her wonderful pictures on facebook so this may be old news. Those of you who know me well know I don’t do facebook but I may have to change my mind since it is SO much easier than blogging and SO much quicker. 

But it may be harder for me to go back to other’s posts in future years, so here’s my version of the the first part of Carrie’s wedding week-end.  After the low 90’s heat of last week and the prediction for the same for this week, it is amazing what absolutely perfect weather they have for all 3 days of their celebration.   They are starting out charmed on their life together.

 

 

FRIDAY

 

First - the rehearsal.  We all rendezvous at the Gramercy Mansion at 2pm.  It’s an elegant house, north of Baltimore, Maryland, on beautiful wooded grounds with fantastic gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wedding is outside, the weather is gorgeous, the venue is perfect.  We practice the walk down several times, the musicians play and sing.  Carrie has chosen Pachelbel’s Canon in D for her processional.  It was the song her father and I had at our wedding oh those many years ago.  Very sweet of her!  Matt does an outstanding job on the guitar.   There are many Matts in this wedding.  One is the groom.  We call him Matthew.  One is the guitarist, We call him Matt.  One is a groomsman, Matthew’s close friend.  We call him Matt C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We finish up around 3:30 and are hosted by Matthew’s parents, Joan and Bob, at their beautiful home nearby until the rehearsal dinner at 5:00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dinner is also generously hosted by Joan and Bob. The company is excellent, the food is delicious, and the bananas foster lights up the room nearly as much as all the smiles.   We toast the bride and groom.

 

 

 

 

 

Our host and hostess, Bob and Joan Iwanowski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SATURDAY

 

The big day is here.  Carrie and her girls arrive around noon at the Renaissance Salon to have their hair and make up done. Manicure and pedicure were yesterday.  I notice the wedding day thing has gotten a lot more complicated since David and I had a simple wedding, no frills, no salon, in Williamsburg in 1978.

It’s all quite exciting. 

 

The bride and matron of honor, Jessica Green Smith,  make some last minute checks.  Everything appears to be “on schedule”

 

 

Kate VanDerbeek and Eleanor Hemmings wait their turn for make up.  They have already had their hair done.  Looks like the bride is wisely relaxing while she can.

 

 

 

Proud Mother of the Bride.

 

 

 

Can they really make Alyssa Bowlby more glamorous than she already is?

 

 

 

 

 

A little champagne will add to the festivities. 

 

 

At first, Carrie and I both think the make up looks a little much but clearly they know what they are doing here.  Later…..with the dress, the hair and in the photographer’s photos, it looks fantastic.

 

 

 

Kate and Carrie.  Friends since second grade.

 

 

Kim works her wonders on Carrie.

 

 

 

 

I think she likes it.

 

So elegant!   It’s just fantastic Kim.

 

 

There’s an audience, including me and my camera, for the addition of the veil.

 

 

 

The salon has provided a private room for all our things and some nibbles.  Eleanor has brought delicious sandwiches.  Thank you Eleanor, I never even thought about the fact that we’d have no time for lunch.  Carrie has the best friends.

 

 

 

Time to head out the Gramercy but not before a few more checks…..Jess, Carrie, Eleanor.  What did the bridal party do before cell phones?

 

 

 

Time to meet the photograph and get dressed for the 6:00 ceremony. 
Everyone looks and feels fantastic. 
We are so excited.  What a great day! 

The wedding deserves its own post and that’s just what it will get.
Later! 
Maybe if I wait long enough I can use some of the amazing professional photos taken.