Wedding - Mini-moon

We woke up Monday morning to some heavy rain!  But we awoke early as we were driving all the way to Michigan to Dave's cottage.  But we were up early anyway, the excitement of a new marriage.

We said goodbye as the burn-it pile was still smoking!  We made it through each of the borders, and then onto Frankenmuth, Michigan.  A German town that felt just like Bavaria.  We wore our lederhosen and drindl and were mini-celebrities.  It was a great way to start our mini-moon.

We then made it to the cottage before sun down and finally exhaled.  We had all week to recover, relax, and focus on each other.  Tuesday we relaxed and enjoyed the lake.  Wednesday we headed to Traverse City to enjoy some wine tasting & the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  Thursday & Friday we continued to enjoy the cottage, fishing, sunsets, and campfires.

Saturday we hopped back in the car and headed back to Rochester (with a quick IKEA stop!) to say hi to Ralph & Olga...and then drove all the way to Scranton that night.

Sunday we relaxed and got ready to join society as husband & wife!

Monday - Frankenmuth, Michigan

Bride looking good

Frankenmoose

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Wine Tasting in Traverse City, Michigan

L Mawby Winery - Traverse City, Michigan

Fishing at Saddlebag Lake - Evart, Michigan

Sunset on Saddlebag Lake - Evart, Michigan

Mini-moon at the Cottage

Even Nora & Tanya celebrating

Wedding - Sunday Boat Cruise & Bonfire

On Sunday we invited everyone to come along on a cruise of the Erie Canal, a gift from the Bride & Groom.  The weather was amazing, everyone who hung around was in great spirits.  Nadine & Dave didn't hear a word of the cruise since we chatted people up the whole time.

The cruise ended around 1pm and we said goodbye to pretty much everybody.  But those who really wanted to stick it out were invited to a bonfire at Nadine's childhood home.  We had a huge burn-it pile and celebrated the beginning and the end.  We slept at Ralph & Olga's before heading off to Michigan for our mini-moon on Monday!  Ed & Deb cleaned up the Farm, and drove back on Monday as well.

Sure we had a few bumps throughout the weekend, but all-in-all it went fantastic.  A huge thanks to so many people for helping in ways we will probably never know about.  May May 27 be a party every year!

Lockport Locks Boat Cruise on Erie Canal

Bonfire at Nadine's Childhood Home

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Wedding - Saturday Reception

After the Bridge Ceremony, all the guests headed inside the Barn, and the wedding party lined for the big entrance to the party.  Each group was planning their entrance and then the Muddy Waters music started and each group did their thing.  Then it was our moment, the doors swung open and the crowd cheered.  We came in wearing hats and dancing to the music.

Then there were several toasts before dinner...the co-maids-of-honor, Becky & Irene, lead it off with several laughs and props...followed by co-best-men Josh Hanna and Pat Snyder...and then finally Dave's Dad Ed came through with the best speech of them all.  It was fantastic, her acknowledge all the places people came from with that specific phrase (down south, up north, back east, out west...it was Ed at his best), everyone was cheering and it was great. 

Then it was time for first dances.  Dave & his Mom danced first to Beautiful Boy...followed by Nadine her Dad to Ella Fitzgerald...and then came the big surprise.  Dave was hoping Nadine would sing the song to their first dance.  And sure enough it was an amazing surprise, but it too was almost spoiled by the band starting the recording too early!  But it was beautiful and of course we cried.  Then Nadine's family came up and did their family tradition, where they wrapped us in ribbons, it was neat!

It was finally time for dinner and everybody filled up on the delicious buffet.  Then we partied and danced all night to the live band on the dirt floor.  Apparently we ran out of beer and they had to go out and get more, wow!  One of the best parties ever!  Then 10p came around, too early of course and it was time to pull the plug.  We said our goodbyes and Nadine's dad drove us back to the hotel. 

We got back to the hotel...did what we had to do...then walked over to Bill Gray's for some final drinks.  We danced to the live band, and hoped it would never end.  What a day, what a night, what a life to look forward to.

(and huge Thanks to Sarah Goetz & Shelley Paslay for being our mistresses of ceremony!)

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