Friday, May 30, 2008

LOVE IN THE LAND OF HILLS, HORSES, AND TOBACCO

For Memorial Day Weekend, Ross and I flew to Kentucky to celebrate the marriage of Nate and Sarah. Ross and Nate grew up together. Then Ross went to grad school in Kentucky with Sarah, and Nate moved to Nashville. So, Sarah and Nate met...


It was good to see old Sam dog again.


And the elusive Sasha cat Dr. Suess creature.





There were many preparations to be made. First order of business: pick up sound equipment and rent a banjo for the reception.


Nate and Ross tried out a couple of banjos first.





This poster caught my eye--then I realized it was Nate's poster.


Second order of business: the groom needed a haircut.


Ross and I didn't drink coffee while we waited.





That night, Thursday, the guests really started to arrive. Nate and Sarah hosted a barbecue in their backyard. I had no idea they sold hotdogs in such large packages. Mm-mm.


Nate went to recording school with Dustin in Arizona, and then they were roommates in Nashville. But Dustin and Jessica are from Craig, Colorado.


Sarah and Nate have an amazing backyard garden. Sarah's parents arrived from Oklahoma, along with the pastor that married them. He married Nate and Sarah, too.


Sarah's sister-in-law, Joy, had been there for a week, helping prepare. She had her two beautiful daughters with her. This is the bride, holding Claire.


Finally, Rebecca, Hans, and Ava Lily arrived. We've been anxious to meet Ava. She is a real daredevil!

These two photos are of rare moments when she wasn't running around.


The next day, we moved all the equipment to the cabin where the wedding and reception took place (in Bagdad, KY).

The cabin looked like it belonged in the moutains, and it had a Western theme. Nate's dad's family is from Wyoming--maybe they felt especially at home?






Karl, the official photographer, arrived from Bowling Green. He was on his best behavior, for the most part.


The rehearsal dinner was at an hibachi grill. Lucky for my table, we got the "Bad Boy" chef.


Is this guy really old enough to get married?


That night Sarah's old friends from childhood threw a lingerie shower for her. She received a lot of nice gifts, but she paid the price of mild humiliation.






Everyone brought a pair of underwear for Sarah. We were supposed to give her a pair that somehow "represented our personality." She had to guess who each pair came from, and if she was wrong, and she was almost always wrong, she had to wear the pair on her head. (Who comes up with these things?)


Back at the cabin, Mark and a few other guys played some music. Mark and his band, Red Shade Blue, played at the reception.




Karl quit smoking a year ago.


Okay, he strayed a little from his good behavior.





On the morning of the wedding everyone rushed around making more preparations. James, the father of the groom, practiced his chords on the ARP.

Zoe, Laura, and Mary Ellen (aunts of the groom, and adopted aunt), prepared the flowers.




Sarah's sister-in-law, Joy, made the groom's cake and the wedding cake!








I sliced the cherries for the filling.





Marty helped button it up.





Until the death...


Nintendo partners for life.

The bride stopped by to see how things were going and I made her model her hair.












Around this time, the wedding began. As the guests arrived I accepted guest book duty, which meant snapping Polaroid photos of everyone, so it was kinda fun. But I didn't take any photos of the ceremony, which was beautiful.











Elizabeth, Sarah's niece, was the flowergirl. I think she is Red Shade Blue's biggest fan.





And she's a great dancer.





Elizabeth and her dad (Sarah's brother, Will)

The next day we hit the horse races. And yes, I drank a mint julep.


Ross won a few dollars.





Congratulations to an amazing couple!