So over the weekend, my older brother Garrick finally married is longtime girlfriend Leigh Ann. I served as best man, and as I mentioned in my reception toast, I was very grateful to them for setting the Ten Year Courtship precedent. In general, it was a very pleasant affair, though there seemed to be an undercurrent of tension surrounding some of the events. But overall, a beautiful weekend. The weather was the first spring-y weater of the year, and it was nice to have the whole family together again.
The wedding was held on the campus of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, where the bride and groom met. The wedding party stayed in rented houses on campus, the kind usually rented by guest speakers and alumni visiting the college. Garrick's side of the bridal party consisted of his three brothers. My new sister-in-law's side included two friends and her brother, listed as a bridesman. The most humorous part of the whole affair was when we had to file out down the aisle after the ceremony, with each groomsman offering his arm to the bridesmaid across from him. When Galvin got to John, they instead did an exagerated celebratory handshake. Twas quite funny.
When not doing wedding business, the four brothers spent most of the time playing Mario Kart on the Gamecube, much to the chagrin of Miss Charming Melodee and Geoff's ladyfriend Elizabeth. Still, they handled it pretty graciously.This was the first time in a while where I actually felt no rush to come back to New York. I was having a fabulous weekend, eating and carousing with assorted family members and friends, and the weather was just turning nice. Sunday was the nicest day I'd seen in a while, at least on the east coast. When Miss MCM and I got back into Brooklyn and were standing around waiting for the subway, I couldn't help but think "Man, is this place ugly."
So my brother is married now. I put the over/under of number of times I'd be asked that question at 5. I think it was well exceeded. Here are some other bets Geoff, Galvin and I placed during the weekend:
Over/Under of:
Camcorders at wedding:5 Actual: 1
Scallops in a dinner at the California Cafe: 6 Actual: 10
Pushups Garrick claimed he could do: 40-50. Actual: 34 I thinkThere were also many tests of strength between the brothers. Galvin lives next to a gym in Japan, and has transformed into a little ball of muscle. He was particularly fond of this flexing pose in which he lifted his open palms to the sky whilst flexing, calling it "the crescendo!" Very amusing.
Anyway, I have many more scattered thoughts about the whole thing, but instead here are some pictures from the weekend:
Elizabeth, Garrick, Geoff, and me. Miss CM and I thought this looked a lot like some sort of Asian Beatles photoshoot. The architecture, along with the gray sky, gave the whole thing a sort of Eastern European look.
The lovely Miss Charming Melodee and Me. My mother demanded I shave and get a haircut before the wedding. I am satisfied with the results, particularly her hair cutting.
Geoff and Elizabeth
Littlest brother Galvin. Miss CM in the background
The receiving line after the wedding. That little boy was a riot later at the reception, as he was the only one on the dancefloor. He hopped away when anyone tried to approach him, but later embraced miss CM. Litterally. He wrapped himself around her legs.
Before the ceremony, the minister had to play the bagpipes at a funeral. He wore this attire under his more offical garb, and after the ceremony played a few bagpipe tunes as guests filed out.
The Vincett house on the Dickinson campus. Miss CM and I stayed in the room on the middle floor on the right in this picture. The bed was about the most comfortable night's sleep that I've had in memory. It was almost like sleeping on air. Not too hard, not too soft. It just held your body there, and just stayed out of your way as you slept. For a guy whose favorite activities include eating and sleepy, this was a pretty awesome weekend.