Finally, what Amelia had been waiting for: The Wedding! After the zoo, it was time to head for Whittier. Getting to Whittier has one neat feature - a mandatory drive through a two mile tunnel carved out of the mountain. We'd been hyping it up to Amelia all day, but she just couldn't manage to keep her peepers open. So when we woke her up right before, and she bawled us both out because she'd been sleeping. Well, I guess at least Mom and Dad liked the drive.
Whittier is a neat, mini town. It has only been fully 'accessible' for about twelve years, and it is mainly set up for tourists. The wedding was at the Inn at Whittier, and it is a beautiful. Virtually every room has a view, and ours had one looking out over the bay. I got a thing for boats, and sea air, so I was good to go!
The entire hotel had been rented out for the wedding, so it was nothing but lotsa family. Amelia was in heaven. She immediately ran to find Gramma, and that was the last we saw of her.
We had a couple of hours to kill before our presence was requested, and being that it was raining (and I mean really raining) we stayed indoors. But as time drew nye, the excitement grew palpable. Uncle Eddie (ie, father of the bride) came in with the most befuddled look. Apparently on this side of the family, nobody knows how to tie a tie! I have never, ever seen Eddie without jeans and a baseball cap, so how smoking was he looking?! He stated that the result came from many hours at Sears with the girls. I don't envision him repeating it anytime soon. Auntie Marilyn got him squared away.
We all met up in the bar to await our final cue. Check out my husband after a good nights sleep! He looked pretty darn good, by the by.
Here is cousin Jessie, the maid-of-honor. Taking a little tasty nip is fiancee, Jordan. They are next in line to bite the bullet with a Hawaiian wedding in November.
Cousin Ryan played super handsome groomsman.
The allure for getting hitched in Whittier was apparently the staircase that cousin Crystal got to walk down into the arms of her beloved. Sure'd be nice if I'd gotten a picture of that, right? Ha ha! I didn't. It was lovely; she walked and cried. They were married by Scott's (the groom) brother with a view of the misty bay in the background. Tears were shed, and Amelia kept asking me what was wrong. And then dabbing my eyes for me. As if I needed just that more attention drawn upon me.
Dinner was served after a cocktail hour, and Amelia discovered she could utilize these steps. She was enthralled by them. We'll come back to this, as we've had to repeat it upon numerous occasions. Numerous.
What I have really failed to mention is my daughter's demeanor at this wedding. She was the youngest by at least a decade. However, she was still on the hunt for 'a friend'. She had Scott's entire family wrapped around her demanding little finger. She spent cocktail hour commiserating with Scotts grandparents, then moved on towards his aunts and uncles, then wandered off only to be returned by a hotel employee wondering what sort of parent lets their kids wander like that. She was all about the socializing.
One Auntie whisked her away to the kitchen to help divvy up the cake. Amelia returned, ecstatic that she had finally met a real live chef! Of whom she'd bamboozled into letting her try one of the black flowers.
We watched Crystal in her gorgeous white dress with her handsome man by her side, as they cut the cake and as toasts were made. For proper toasting, sparkling cider was brought for those who were visibly gravid with child and her daughter. Here is where my moment of pride comes in. Amelia has never had soda/carbonation before. Mom and Dad don't drink it, so it has never been an issue. But since tonight was a special evening, I conferred with Daddy and we decided she could try a wee bit. The first toast was made, and Amelia drank. Her face scrunched up in disgust, and she loudly declared it was 'too spicey' and 'disgusting'. She had to wash it down with water. Hooray!
All the single ladies then convened on the dance floor to catch the bouquet. And of course, Amelia was not one to miss out. All these long, legged beauties and guess who ended up with it? Truly, she could have died right then with a full and satisfied life. She was over the moon.
But that was because she was unaware that dancing was coming up. She danced, literally, the entire time. Yes, that was like four hours.
Look who else was able to get her honey out to shake his watoosie!
Not letting anybody rest, even Uncle Ronny got his chance on Amelia's dance card.
Amelia later told me that when she marries Torrin, she wants to get married here and look as beautiful as Crystal. I've chosen not to mention this tidbit to Daddy.
She crashed hard that night, and was none to pleased about being woken up the next morning. "Mom, I'm still tired!' Despite this, we eventually made our way down to the dining room for some last family bonding. It gave Amelia a chance to say her goodbyes to her new found family. And mooch off of Gramma, and Auntie Marilyn.
Telling man-man stories, Uncle Ronny and J.R.
Amelia finally started to come around when her Mickey Mouse blueberry pancakes arrived. She devoured a rather alarming amount of this plate. Mom even had Eggs Benedict. Hello happiness! smothered with Hollandaise Sauce.
Then Amelia insisted on getting married. So, she had several partners (all female, in case you ask) walk her down the stairs to the wedding march. It was cute. Then. Not cute now. She does this at least thirty times daily at Gramma's house now. Wraps herself in a blanket, grabs some fake flowers, and demands I sing the 'Dan-dant-da-dant' song (Here comes the bride). Then somebody has to catch the bouquet. She wanders the house looking for a 'handsome man' to marry, 'cause Daddy and Grampa ain't participating.
She is all gung-ho on weddings now! Which is great, 'cause I've been getting her stoked to go to Uncle Scott and Aunt Sruthi's wedding. Even though it can be assured that it will not be a 'traditional white' wedding, I guarantee it will be something that she remembers.
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