We left for New York last Thursday, and that was the last morning that I saw a TV screen and had a glance at a newspaper. We left the world of politics, giant garden weeds, flea baths (for Woof), tomato canning and my seven year back up of laundry for another world. Trust me, a long wedding weekend in The Hamptons is absolutely another world.
Even before we reached our destination, we diverted the journey to have a quick beer with the bride to be and her husband to be (he’s our side of the family). Since I hadn’t met the gorgeous young lady before, it was nice to get to know her before the festivities began, and she was whisked away into the crowds. I was delighted to learn she was a gardener…fabulous cook….artist….choir member.. blogger….and a whirlwind of energy and imagination. Her chosen one is a handsome talented all around nice guy who even helps her weed her gardens. ( reason enough to marry anybody in my book ).
Thursday was a pre rehearsal dinner dinner……at the groom parents home…outside..by the pool, with family members arriving from all over, cosmopolitans, lotsa hugs, and and a new friend who had a harrowing ride from the airport when a BIG hairy spider appeared on her shoulder …which caused her to do a screaming Saint Vitus dance in the back seat of the van. After they pulled over and shook out their clothes and swept out the car and calmed her down…slightly… the journey resumed. She no sooner walked in the door for the party when the spider crawled out from her V neck party outfit. I imagine that she may have just begun to recover by now back in Colorado.
The next day was EXHAUSTING….a morning on lounge chairs at the beach, followed by club sandwiches by the pool, a glass of white wine, a nap, and then off to the club for a rehearsal dinner for ninety of us. One of the most perfect nights of the summer, goregeous dark purple and green hydrangeas on all of the lime linen tablecloths, candlelight and the Atlantic ocean as a back drop. A slide show of the bride and groom as kids…and on trips to Greece and the islands with a great musical background brought both tears and laughter, and there were lots of heartfelt toasts. The bride’s father and I share political views, and we were immediate comrades.
The wedding day was all blue sky and puffy white clouds, and the ceremony was held at The Dune Church…a lifesaving station from the 1800′s that was converted to a church before the turn of the century…and is situation on a tall dune…right on the seashore. It held all 350 wedding guests and as the sun was setting, the Tiffany windows were spectacular. They were all donated from private homes through the years, and were surrounded by sayings from scripture that related to the sea. As the bells were pealing, the guests walked the block or two to the reception.
We were all ushered into a vast open garden and handed champagne as we strolled into an area that my garden only looks like in my January dreams. Since the bride had planned every detail, and chosen every hors d’oeuvres, one thing tasted better than the next. Guacamole on a quesadilla strip, lobster salad in puff pastry…wow. We were summoned to dinner in the ballroom, filled with red and purple flower arrangements and lots and lots of candles. Heirloom tomatoes…fillet mignon of course…and the best red wine I’ve ever tasted.
The wedding dance began as dinner was ending, and we were all handed giant sparklers that lit up the enormous white tent that was backlit with all pink lighting. The 10 piece band played for three hours without a break, and the dance floor was packed and wild until we finally sauntered out to the bus that was waiting to take us home.
We wound up our trip on the beach the next morning with the biggest waves I’ve even seen on the ocean. After one last lunch and a quick dip in the heated pool…we headed back to the reality of anti American demonstrations, weekend shootings, and flea baths. Ahh, so much for a fantasy weekend…so much for feeling like we were on a set for “Revenge”…but a few days away from it all sure was refreshing…gotta tackle those weeds today.
Fabulous summary of an amazing weekend. Thanks for putting it to beautiful music.
I shut my eyes and imagined myself there with all the family…I had a great few moments thanks to you..XO