Ian and Beth got hitched. I was there. It was magical. Well, maybe “magical” isn’t the right word. Maybe there is a more masculine word I could use. It was “cool”? No, that doesn’t work. It was an honor to celebrate with the couple and their families, I was happy to see so many familiar faces, and I don’t think I embarrassed myself or anyone else as a groomsman. All in all, a wonderful weekend!
By the way…is it Ian and Beth or Beth and Ian. The rules of alphabetization would say the latter is correct, but if they’re Mr. and Mrs. Ian W. doesn’t that mean Ian’s name comes first? Where’s my AP Style Guide when I need it!?
Now here’s some pictures and witty captions.
Family members and bridal party stayed at the Hilton in Westchester. According to Ian someone was murdered there with a dumbbell a few years ago. No one reported any poltergeists or ghost sightings. The best man (Jon), Ben and I shared a room. Unfortunately it wasn't big enough to fit two beds and a cot comfortably, so they put my bed (the cot) in between the other two beds. Which basically left us with one giant bed. Of course we all cuddled through the night.
Glen Island Harbour Club at 8:30am the morning of the wedding. After a delicious dinner the night before, we were instructed to be up early so we could dress and take pictures and rehearse before the ceremony. We got to watch the sun (mostly) rise from the comfort of our little groomsman nook overlooking the Long Island Sound. There was a delicious spread of croissants, danish, and coffee there to help us wake up. The mood was jovial and relaxed.
No one seemed certain how to fold their pocket square. Ben took a stab at reading the directions, but I think in the end we all just shoved 'em in our pockets and tried our best to make it look like we'd folded it into a triangle.
Ian, on the other hand, brought his own YouTube instructional video that showed him how to give his square a tri-fold look. I think we all got a good laugh watching him rewind the video over and over again as he tried to follow the directions. In the end his ruffled, tri-folded pocket square put all the rest of ours to shame.
The groomsmen had convened in the lobby to watch Beth (the beautiful bride) descend from her dressing room upstairs. Ian waited outside for their official meeting...
This is as close as we could get to the unveiling (I don't think that's the correct word, but my wedding vocabulary is sorely lacking). This was the first moment the couple saw each other in full gown and tux. Following this photograph -- In accordance with Jewish tradition -- the husband-and-bride-to-be both jumped into the Sound and swam out to the ocean. The Greek God Triton officiated the wedding!
Family and friends begin to crowd the lobby at the Glen Island Harbour Club. The bridesmaids and groomsman were ushered upstairs to await our instructions. Following Ian and his parents, bridesmaid Lucy and I were the first members of the bridal party to walk down the aisle. Just before the doors opened I turned to her and said, "If you fall I'll catch you. If I fall you'll catch me." I don't mean to brag or anything...but supposedly we walked at the best pace!
For this picture I told Ben to look as dainty next to me as possible. I thought it might give the illusion that I look butch. Instead this picture looks like maybe the two of us had just been married. Oh well.
That's Evan and I. We met in 1st grade and have been friends ever since. At this point I was already "in my cups" so-to-speak. Immediately following the ceremony I started to drink. I drank without relent for as long as I could before I had to sober up and drive home. My plan to get happily drunk very quickly then gorge myself on great food and lose my buzz went really well! Then Ian reminded me that one of the bars stocked a bottle of Buffalo Trace for us, and the drunkenness quickly returned.
A priceless expression for a memorable moment. The reception was immensely fun. The food was absurd. The cocktail hour included a sushi station, a Mediterranean station, a Cajun station and a "Coney Island" station complete with kosher hot dogs, fresh-cut pastrami, and knishes. The reception included fantastic Chateaubriand and a varietal dessert plate that was a pure hedonistic treat. Also lots of booze.
Towards the end of the afternoon, Justin, Sharon, Ben, Danielle and I retired to the privacy our little dressing room to celebrate our own achievements (not falling down, being equally reverent and irreverent, etc.) with one of my aged bottles of Dogfish Head Fort. A delicious way to cap a memorable weekend.
Tom Waits – Ol’ 55 [MP3]
