The lovely Mr. Curry got married this summer.
In a modern version of Romeo and Juliet, the referee married a basketball coach. There was no actual gunfire to mar the ceremony but I am sure that many guests on the Bride’s side of the aisle have fantasized about gunning down many of the guests on the Groom’s side.
Everyone behaved themselves.
Jay was the Best Man so we were involved rather heavily, although not compared to the week before when we had Parents of the Bride duties to consider. (full disclosure; Heidi, Alex and Kathy took care of most of my duties. Thanks again, ladies)
It was a very busy week for Jay. Due to Katie’s wedding, my brothers were all in town (except for Joe, all busy saving the world and stuff) and as usual, that can only mean one thing.
HUBBELL OPEN.
It’s not really Open, it should b called the Hubbell Invitational. Mr. Curry has played in it in the past but he was too busy with wedding concerns to join in this year. Things like his own golf game with friends from out of town who journeyed here to celebrate his nuptials to the lovely soon to be Mrs. C.
As the Best Man, Jay was to organize a bachelor party, in addition to his duties as a former champion of the Hubbell Open. He refused to order strippers or a trip to Vegas. After pouting briefly, Mr. Curry cheered up when Jay organized a round of golf and dinner at their favorite eatery. The waitresses were very cute but remained fully dressed throughout the evening.
Our week went like this;
Friday: Groom’s dinner for #1 daughter in Shakopee.
Saturday: Marriage of #1 daughter to #1 son in law. Dance the night away.
Sunday: Wake #2 daughter, who in capacity as #1 Maid of honor over indulged the night before. Suffered mild disappointment at absence of hangover in #2 daughter. F****** nineteen. Party for family at Bill and Jen’s in Plymouth.
Monday: Got the news that Joanne Mahoney, the founder and long time proprietess of the Picket Fence, had died at the age of ninety. Forty minutes later, a magnum of champagne was delivered to the house bearing the note “Have a fun wedding! From the Picket Fence!” Joanne and her sister Mary Jeanne were the first people ever to pay me for my artwork.
Party at Frankie’s Chicago Style Pizza up in Crystal. Mmmm…Frankies.
Tuesday: Opening round of Hubbell Open. Inaugural year for Gus and Vince; future HO champs. At the Picket Fence, I’m honored to be asked to give a eulogy for Joanne. Andy’s at the top of the leader board.
Wednesday: Golf with the Curry wedding party; bachelor party at Hoyt’s.
Thursday: Second round of the Hubbell Open. Woody wins. Again. I stay home to write my eulogy for Joanne before attending the Groom’s dinner for the lovely Curry’s at the party room of the Carlyle. No one stays too late; big day tomorrow.
Friday: Wedding party due on location for photos by 2:00. Wedding followed by reception downtown at Hoyt’s with dancing and fireworks.
Saturday: Funeral for Joanne. More on this later.
About Mr. Curry’s wedding:
I was not in the wedding party but since Jay was, I was included in the pre wedding festivities. I wore my zebra striped dress. I love that thing; easy to wear and looks great. The wedding colors were black and white; all very urban and sophisticated. I was one of at least four guests wearing zebra stripes. We all looked good.
To avoid traffic problems, a party bus had been hired to take most of the wedding party from the downtown hotels at which they were billeted and transport everyone to the ceremony in Orono. Zack was going to drop us off downtown and Jay and I were going to ride the bus with the rest of the party. Unfortunately, the computer ate Jay’s toast and he had to rewrite of retrieve it so our timetable had to bend. The speech was retrieved and Zack dropped us off at the Woods Chapel about ten minutes before the party bus from downtown arrived.
The location was absolutely gorgeous.
All the weddings we’ve attended this summer have been completely different and completely beautiful. I feel like the host of a reality show that explores all the different types of weddings available these days. You can really have anything you want without sacrificing breath taking beauty, fun, sophistication or romance.
This time, instead of an apple orchard, we had a gorgeous woods with an amphitheater facing a stone patio before a beautiful, serene pond complete with waterfall. The cottage used by the wedding party looked like something out of a Fairy tale. It was big enough for the men to use the downstairs while the ladies used the upstairs for hair, makeup etc. The men also had lots of food and libation which we ladies helped ourselves to before repairing up the stairs.
Four of us were wives of groom’s men and ushers so we hung out all afternoon while our men had their pictures taken. It was fun. I only knew one of the gals. I’d been introduced to another but it was at a gala fundraiser she was in charge of so she really didn’t have time for socializing that night.
I didn’t bring a book or any needlepoint so I actually had to talk to them. It was fun. No, really; I had a good time and wasn’t rude to anyone!
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful! The aisle the wedding party walked down was the stone path from the cottage, which was lined with lanterns. It was still light out but the lanterns looked good beneath the canopy of trees. The groom’s brother, a music professor with a golden voice, sang. He was accompanied by a young lady whom he’d just met and they sounded like they’d been singing together forever.
The Bride wore a simple but stunning Grecian style dress with a low back, jeweled spaghetti straps and a slim, jeweled belt. Her attendants wore black dresses of their own choosing. The Groom wore a black tux with a dull gold vest and his men wore black pants with pale silk shirts. Everyone was happy.
After the ceremony, we hopped on the party bus and drank champagne on the return trip down town.
The reception was at J.D. Hoyt’s where a large tent took topped most of the parking lot, so there was as much room outside for the party as inside. Twinkle lights were everywhere. It was beautiful!! I absolutely love the view from the back patio there; you’re in the shadow of downtown. It’s great. I recognized most of the wait staff and Pat (the owner and a wedding guest) told us that all the regulars wanted to work Curry’s wedding.
We had cocktails as the sun set over downtown. I had a long chat with Mr. Curry’s delightful mother and two of his sisters, along with Mrs. Commissioner, whom I’d never met before but really liked. (Her favorite show is Sherlock. Need I say more?) Dinner was served buffet style and it was superb, of course. I found some of my favorite people (Dick, Jan, Ron and Kathy) and got to visit with them, too.
Jay’s speech, which had almost been lost to cyber purgatory, was a breath of fresh air. After two days and nights of ball busting he had nothing but nice things to say about Mr. Curry. It was totally unexpected and very well received.
Jay and I danced. So did Dick and Jan but most of this crowd was more interested in conversation than cutting a rug. The entire wedding party had a great view of the fireworks from Target field that accompany all Friday night games. They added to the overall wonderfulness of the night.
The guests of this wedding were a well established bunch. Before the end of the evening, I found myself at a table with the owner of an airline, the owner of the most inside eating establishment in town, two World Series ring bearers, a big time MLB mucky muck and a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame. (okay, the hall of famer was Jay. But if there’s any justice in the world, Jack Morris will be inducted into the MLB HOF on the next ballot. Ten innings, Game 7, 1991; come on!)
Oh, the MLB mucky muck is our friend Scott, who set up the whole McCartney concert event. He liked my review of the show so much he gave me his tour VIP pass. It’s hanging in my office. I will cherish it like I cherish my X-files script of episode 8x10, Badlaa.
Before the night was over, Jay had convinced half these guys that I should write their memoirs for them. Hey, I’m game if they are.
Jay and I didn’t over indulge because we don’t really do that anymore but also because we had Joanne’s funeral in the morning.
It was another perfect evening in our summer of perfect weddings.