Friday - Sunday, August 9-11, 2013 (Camano Island, WA)

Friday

Because today was the start of the wedding festivities, we took the day off from painting.  The morning was just spent doing some miscellaneous chores around the 5er. 

The rehearsal and dinner was going to be held in Marysville at Mountain View church.  We headed toward Marysville in the early afternoon because we were picking up the small cutting cake for Jessica and Gary's wedding. 

We got the cake picked up and then headed to the church.  Jessica had asked us to be there early so she and her dad could practice their dance steps for the father/daughter dance.  Here they are practicing - looking good don't you think?

Jessica & Rich practicing a dance step

The traffic was absolutely horrible on Friday and three out of the four groomsmen were stuck in traffic and not going to make the 5:00 rehearsal time.  It was decided to go ahead with the rehearsal and catch the other guys up later.  One cool thing was that Jessica's brothers, Brandon & Jeff were going to co-officiate the marriage ceremony.  Here is a shot of Rich & Jessica walking down the aisle.

Walking down the aisle at rehearsal



After the rehearsal, we had a very nice catered dinner from a local Italian restaurant, we had chicken fettucini and spaghetti and meatballs and wonderful breadsticks  - yummy.  Then it was back to the 5er.  We had an amazing sunset that evening, here are a couple of pictures taken from the truck.

sunset as we are driving onto Camano Island

This is the bridge from the mainland to Camano Island - you can see the Puget Sound in the distance. 

Saturday

Today is the big day.  I got up early to give Jessie and Elsie a manicure. 

Giving Jessie her manicure (notice our lovely surroundings outside the window)





Giving Elsie her manicure

After the morning manicure, Kris & I headed off to get our hair done for the wedding.  Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the end result.  When I got back, we got dressed for the wedding and headed out to the Wild Rose where the wedding was being held.  Did I mention it was an outdoor wedding?  We had a little rain overnight but the weather was clearing up and it was turning out to be a nice warm day. 

To sum the day up - it was an amazingly beautiful wedding.  Jessica was breathtakingly gorgeous and the wedding ceremony was lovely.  Brandon & Jeff did an amazing job with the ceremony, keeping it light hearted but at the same time getting the message across of the importance of the marriage vows.  The reception food was amazing, the grounds lovely, all in all a wonderful wedding.  The weather held with no rain until the bride and groom were driving away to their honeymoon.  Instead of trying to describe the day, I'll let some pictures do the talking.

Wild Rose grounds

Jessica & Garry having a private moment and the beautiful grounds

A sleepy ring bearer

A light hearted moment with the wedding party during picture taking



Groom with his groomsmen and Calvin (ring bearer) and Cameron (Unity Sand Helper)



Jessica with Elsie (flower girl) and Jessie (Unity Sand Helper)

Jessica with Calvin & Cameron

Bridesmaids (left to right) Amy, Brea, Sabrina & Kristina



Family photo - Brandon, Kelly, Rich, Jessica, Aleita (Jessica's mom) & Jeff



Jessica & Rich

Father/Daughter dance

More father/daughter dance moves

Jessica & Gary's first dance

Cutting the wedding cake and desserts for wedding guests

Sunday

We got up and attended Tidelands.  Brandon had most of his family there, except Jessica and her new husband Garry.  As always, it was a very good message.  I always come away with some new knowledge about the Bible that I didn't know before, Brandon is a good teacher.

After church we went back to the 5er and got the truck loaded up with wedding decorations that we were taking to Jessica & Garry's.  Jessica & Garry had invited family over in the early afternoon to watch them open their wedding presents.  They will be leaving for Hawaii on Monday morning to enjoy the rest of their honeymoon. 

We had a nice little family gathering and it was fun to watch Jessica & Garry open their presents.  They got some very nice gifts.  After the gift opening, we all left so they could get packed and be on their way to their hotel. 

Jessica, Garry & Karen (Garry's mom)

That wraps up the wedding festivities.  We got back to the 5er and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.   The coming week we will be staying on at Brandon & Kris' and working on finishing up on the painting.