Standing On Tip-Toes (Part II)

I arrived back at the hotel, and moved from the room I had stayed in Friday night to the room that I would stay in with my wife on our wedding night. Getting dressed was quick and easy, and I had a nice few moments of downtime with my mom, putting on the cuff links she gave me.

The drive up to the Waterview, where the wedding and reception were held, will stand out in my memory of that day. It's a beautiful drive, through a sleepy little town and up a winding river. It was around four in the afternoon, and the sun dripped through the colored leaves in that lazy-late-afternoon way. I drove, followed by cars of groomsmen and parents, along that river and followed its bends. And just before arriving at the Waterview, you swing uphill and drive across the dam that creates Lake Zoar above the river. To your left is the low river valley you've just come through, and to your right the shining blue water opens up into a wide lake with steep shores. It left me with such a sense of peace.

Once there, I was shuffled off to the very back of the room where the ceremony was to take place, lest I spy my bride taking pictures outside. It was a great time to hang out with my groomsmen and my cousin (who officiated), as we sipped champagne brought to us and waited for guests to settle in. Eventually, we moved to the lobby to line up, and then we were off through the doors and down the aisle.

I walked up the aisle and took my place next to my cousin and watched as the groomsmen and bridesmaids all followed. But I kept glancing back at the doors off to the side where the procession came from. I knew that after the maid of honor, I'd see my bride and her father. But there was one little detail I had forgotten. When the music changed slightly and my bride entered the room, everyone stood up. It didn't occur to me that everyone would stand, it had completely slipped my mind! More to the point, I couldn't see her. She was in the room and on her way and we were getting married and I had to wait until she walked from the side doors to the bottom of the aisle before I could see her.

A friend later told me I was standing on my tip-toes trying to see over the crowd.

And then I saw her, and my breath caught. My bride, walking right toward me. It was everything I could do to stand in place. I'm not sure there are words a groom can use to describe his bride that would make sense outside of that moment, but she was so beautiful.

The ceremony seems like a series of moments now. I remember it in little snippets. Smiling at Lynn. Laughing at the jokes my cousin told. Feeling the affection of all these friends and family who traveled from all over the country to be with us. The conviction with which she said her vows. The sincerity with which I said mine. The kiss at the end was a release, a celebratory expression of all the feelings after having to stand still and not pull her into my arms for so long! It was such a personal ceremony, the kind that only my cousin who grew up with me could provide, and yet accessible to everyone through his words and the way he brought everyone in. Lynn's cousins added many kind words and sage advice. Friends sang a song and read a sonnet that were what we'd been singing and reading to each other throughout our relationship—but not in so many words and notes. Nothing could dampen those moments, and nothing did. Even the little interruptions added to the sense of sharing a personal moment with everyone in the room.

We walked back down the aisle as husband and wife. The only thing left to do was celebrate!

So There Was This Party, And... (Part I)

I woke up on Saturday, October 4th in a hotel room. I always have this momentary confusion when I wake up in hotel rooms, that little bit of "where am I?" Sitting up, knocking the book I had dropped as I fell asleep to the floor, I look around the room sun-lit by a beautiful day. There's a full suitcase, I must be on my way somewhere else. There's a jacket, the weather just started getting a little cooler. There's my cellphone, charging. There's my tuxedo, I'm getting married today.

I'm getting married today!

Then it all rushes back in. Wednesday night prior, friends and family started arriving in New York. I took Thursday off from work, thinking I'd have a lot to do at the last minute. Everything was done, so I bummed around the natural history museum and Central Park with some friends. Thursday night I took the train out to CT, meeting a couple Brothers along the way. Friday was a golf outing with the families, a quick rehearsal, and a fantastic rehearsal dinner at this little Italian place. (It used to be a bank, and the interior still looks like it. The vault is used as the wine cellar.)

Friday night our families and friends took over the hotel bar. That was one of the best times during the weekend, to see all of these people who we care about meeting and talking and having a good time together.

Then I woke up on Saturday, in a hotel room, and it was my wedding day. The hotel was pretty quiet that morning (not surprising, given the previous night). But a couple of the groomsmen, friends, and I had plans to go for lunch. It was to be an adventure, some place we've never been before. This was not terribly difficult as the town we were in, Shelton, Connecticut, was a town to which only I had been before. So it was suggested that we choose one of two options: a burger place in Meriden, or a burger place in New Haven.

We chose Meriden, not for the location, but for the burgers. Meriden is home to Ted's Restaurant, maker of the world-famour steamed cheeseburgers. Yes, steamed.

Meriden, as it turns out, is 35 miles from Shelton. It took us a while to get there. Being a world-famous place, and featured on many a burger magazine and TV special, we weren't sure what to expect. We were not expecting the tiny little hole-in-the-wall (in a good way) burger joint that we found after pulling up onto the curb in Meriden. Ted's Restaurant has three tables and a counter that divides the three tables from the kitchen. The walls barely contain all this. But quite unsurprisingly for these real culinary treasures, the burgers were fantastic. We almost had seconds, if not for the very large meal to come that evening. And yes, we drive half an hour to sit in a little place for 20 minutes and drive half and hour back. And yes, it was completely worth it.

Of course, we also had to stop on the way back at a Dunkin' Donuts. Some crazy Californians with us had never been, and there were just so many that we passed on the way to lunch.

Finally back at the hotel that afternoon, it was time to begin getting ready for the evening. And oh, what an evening it was!

To be continued...