Many weeks went into this event. Over achievers are us... and I do mean our family and friends in that category! We had several Mai Tai nights of making the flowers, painting flowers, wrapping corks for place settings, and well... drinking Mai Tai's just for fun! Several days were spent organizing photos for the guest book. Months were spent caring for baby trees, herbs and plants in several gardens to decorate. The week started with family and friends coming in from all over. Mom and I spent a day driving up to Toronto to pick up my family from Holland. We spent a few hours in Niagara Falls having fun.
As family and friends poured into Rochester... I would get up to make breakfast at 7am and have a full day of activities from making pies and cookies to delegating little shopping favors of last minute items. On Thursday, we took everyone on a tour of Wegman's and then just played in the back yard - eating, drinking and being merry while more guests came into town. Friday was a full day of excursions with the bridal party. Most of the guys (one one brave gal!) went golfing in Rush - a great day to golf as it was a perfect 80 and breezy. A crowd of 24 came to Bay Creek to go kayaking and canoeing. We all returned glistening with a slight tan and sore arms. Several requests were made for straws for tomorrow's wine. We returned home to bake a few pies, thanks to Sierra, Krista, Inge, Tina and Mom! It was a hopping place, while the guys ran one last round of errands and of course, a trip to Wegmans! We ended the evening with a trip to Jeremiah's Tavern for dinner and karaoke night. The boys whisked Joey away for his Bachelor party and the girls stayed at Jeremiah's to finish some Blue Moons and sing "Kiss me deadly". Was that all in one day?
Saturday was again a magically sunny day. Now, Rochester has been unseasonably rainy EVERY day this summer. Joe and I just accepted that we'd get rained out of every activity... we were SO blessed! The day's first tears arrived when Joe's family from Indiana made a surprise visit to our home. It finally hit me at that moment that I was going to marry Joseph Shaver tomorrow! People are coming for our wedding! My sister helped me keep it together with her beautiful humor and storytelling. :)
The bridesmaids and Julie did an amazing job at organizing the food, set up and games for the jack and jill shower. So many people came, and we still can not believe how we were literally showered with gifts. There were several teary moments from mom's gift that she saved for years from my dad, to a beautiful handmade quilt from Sierra's mom. Thankfully there were several funny moments too from Joe declaring his favorite item int he house is his power drill, to his dad asking for clarification on 'their first kiss' during one of our NewlyWed games. The love was felt all day, thank you. A few hours later Jenny organized us at her first Wedding Rehearsal. We walked the 'aisle', practiced pacing and then dined on a wonderful spread by Julie and an amazing toast to 'Bliss' by Jimmy. Joe and I parted that evening with my last image being of the fairy tale lights in the tent as the sun was setting.
The next morning coffee was planned at 6am and breakfast at 7am. Unfortunately, I slept so well that I awoke to my hair stylist knocking on my door! Full gear ahead, I made breakfast and woke everyone else up to start the dominoe of hair styling. 9 heads in 4 hours... Crystal is amazing! 12 women packed up the house from pies to flowers, dogs to bags, one last boutineer to make... did we forget anything?
And we're off to Glenora! IT might have seemed chaotic at the time but my amazing circle of women kept reminding me to soak it all in... every drop of the day. It was a beautiful... clear blue... 75 and breezy... a-maz-ing day!
We all got dressed in one room while the guys started their photos in the vineyard. All of the women looked like gems! The girl's photo shoot started nad then we went to to big weeping willow for the meeting of the bride and groom. It was slow-motion to see Joey under that quiet tree, so dapper in his tux. All of the men looked amazing, and little Michael in his man-tux! Susanne kept us on task and we made one last stroll through the vineyard, smoochied Caliente, and parted again for the ceremony. Walking up the stairs to go outside was fairly difficult to hold back the tears...and then I came a bit unravelled when I saw Margie, our minister. A few deep breaths and several pep talks to keep it together, I was ready. I put on my big-girl panties and walked the aisle. I'm not quite certain why they worry about the bride walking too fast down the aisle... I was so amazed that so many people came to witness this event, I kept stopping to say hello and smile, and wave.. that they had to remind me to keep coming... whoops! Focus Aimee... make it to the altar.
The rest is a blur, and I'm grateful for my Uncle Ken and Tina for capturing it on video. Joe says I'm only allowed to watch it once every six months. I do remember an amazing dinner, our cousin Zach thanking us for having beef at a vegetarian wedding, and several tears and laughs from all of the beautiful speeches from Michele, Sierra, Greg, Molly, Susanne and Mark... I heard there were a few tears from the crowd as well. I also remember Natalie Sinisgalli taking some amazing photos down at the secret waterfall... Well, it was a beautiful day and as Margie said, my dad gave us one beautiful gift from heaven... a full weekend of beautiful sunshine!
Thank you all for boogying down on that floor, and for Travis taking an amazing amount of photos that captured the evening! This truly was a magical weekend and it wouldn't have been the same without everyone involved in spirit or in person.
<3 Aimee & Joe Shaver
