once in a lifetime:The Wedding Day Pt.1

As the wedding day was upon us Ashley had a pretty good idea of who and how many invitees would be attending. It was not a huge event but around 100 were possible. The most significant no show would be my mother, brother and sister in law who were driving from Detroit. 3 days before they were to leave my brother Dennis, left work feeling ill and went to hospital where after diagnosis the Drs. told him he would  not be going anywhere, he had major blockage in at least 3 arteries so he needed a bypass, ASAP, like on Monday day after the wedding. All plans were off for travel and luckily they were able to cancel hotel reservations. So this would be a big blow to having all grandparents there. At 82 My mom was nervous about making the trip by car but was gonna go for it. They all would be missed but the show must go on.

Now on the positive side, my dad, Step-Mom Beverly, and sister Jeanne would represent Symon's side of family from Detroit area.. At 82 my dad is still used to road travel and up to it but Jeanne would do most of driving. Cousin Erin, my niece was still going to make the trip from San Francisco and represent for her dad, bro Marshall and step-mom Jo-Ellen. Erin and Ashley have been buds since being little ones, becoming closer as they have grown into young women and Erin was to be one of the speakers making a toast.

Sisters gettin ready!

By Saturday night all family were in or around Salem. Soaking up sights, sounds and smells that are unique to Boston area. Several of Mary's family, Ashley's aunts and uncle, cousins made the road trip from Michigan, Wisconsin and were among those ready for a party. My BFF and world traveler Bill had managed an invite and had arrived before anyone, staying in an AirBnB in Salem by the sea waiting anxiously for us all to arrive. His plus one would be an old friend from Fraser, Deborah who lives in Portland, Maine and would fit right in with this crowd.

Sunday came quickly as Mary and I drove in from Framingham taking the same basic route as the Boston Marathon does into town. For me a somber reminder of that day in April and the aftermath for the people of Boston. This day of course was about life moving and new beginnings. We all had our itineraries from the bride with our times and responsibilities for he day from the Bride. We had joked at dinner that someone had hinted at some Bridezilla in Ash but I came to see it as her skills as a wedding planner and eye for detail. My first job was dropping Mother of the bride off at the Salon in Jamaica Plain where sissies were already under their makeovers for the main event. I took a quick pic and moved back to Ashley and Sherry's place in JP where only Andrew, Sherry and myself would be hanging out til load up time and leaving for the wedding site in Peabody, near Salem. Sherry was reviewing or writing her vows and I my piece I would say during the ceremony.  We all would soon be back packing the flowers, table and hall decorations, wedding dress, and all our stuff into 3 vehicles and heading to Peabody.
After Sherry ordered and picked up lunch for everyone and Mary, Callie and  Ashley's return home. We began the packing process as Ashley's co-workers Doug and Kelsie came by to lend a hand and car space. Kelsie assisted Ashley with a lor of the wedding planning and both found a love for it in the process. Kelsie was several months pregnant but worked right along with us all in the prep. Soon cars were full and our rental would try and follow Sherry and Ashley thru Boston streets and highways to Salem, Peabody and the Smith Barn property. Sherry warned me she would probably lose me and she did somewhere after we passed Fenway Park on a game day. Our GPS would take over and navigate again. Even after a near accident in a tunnel and a missed turn we, Mary,Callie, Andrew and myself made it to the farm where the wedding would take place. It was a sunny, warm and slightly humid day as we began the unloading and merged with caterers and Smith Barn staff to set up the decor. Other friends of Ashley and Sherry pitched in as they arrived. The barn was warm but great breezes and well placed fans would keep it pleasant as we worked. As we finished, Mary and our daughter's would head over across the street from barn to where wedding ceremony would take place to get dressed and final bridal touches would take place.

Smith Barn ready for a celebration

This gave Andrew and I a chance to catch our breath and relax for a bit until we needed to get ready. Sherry would get dressed over in the small historic house too. When done Ashley and Sherry would do all of the "first look" photos as the photographers had arrived. Mary's family had arrived and we awaited my dad, Bev, Erin and Jeanne's arrival along with other hotel guests on the shuttle from Salem.

(Due to length Wedding Day, a fathers perspective, split up in 2 parts) Pt. 2 follows ...