Allison and Sean's wedding reception

A last posting about Allison and Sean's wedding two weeks ago, then, on this sunny October Sunday morning. Hmmm. Maybe I should run to Starbucks before continuing...

OK, grande misto in hand, let's go!

Allison and Sean had an inspired venue for the reception, given their love for movies: the Eglinton Grand. There was ample space for seating, for a terrific slide presentation at the front, and for dancing. Ah, dancing. More on that later.

The reception moved along quickly. Too quickly, it felt. Sorry, not a criticism, just the feeling that it was a wonderful night, and so time moved far too fast for our liking. Mark, one of the groomsmen, did a fantastic job of MCing the event, we dined well (but only took a photo of dessert, curiously), the cake was cut, and soon it was nine-ish and time for music. Among the first dances was Allison's waltz with her dad (loved his Scottish regalia!), and then the rest of us took over.
No comments, please, on our stunning choreography.

Here's the amazing thing. In seven years together, Conrad and I had never been dancing. Never. Well, OK, I lie slightly. We occasionally get silly and romantic and dance together in the comfort of our living room, slow dancing and holding each other as a soft song plays some nights when we've had just the right about of wine and winking at each other. It's a true mark of how much Conrad enjoyed the wedding and felt comfortable with the surroundings that I got him on the dance floor several times, easily, for fast and slow songs. Maybe that's why the night ended too soon for my liking. We had other willing partners, too. Fun all around.

Our table was the bridesmaids' table, and we had a great evening with Brenda, Nikki (and her husband Steve, who was a terrific guy to chat with and even dance with), Nina, and Portia. We also wandered over to other tables to chat with Marie and some of the Montrealers I knew. I hated that midnight eventually came.

We're grateful to Allison and Sean for having invited us to share in the celebration. I'm a true western Canadian, so I can never bring myself to like Toronto itself, but I can certainly love spending time with such good friends there.

And now, if ever Conrad and I marry, we have some high standards to meet for providing our friends with a good time.

after the ceremony

Gosh, how long ago did Allison and Sean get married? Two weeks almost? Time flies when you're at work and then on the west coast visiting family.

I have 3/4 of an hour until boarding my plane here in Vancouver, so time enough to catch up on the wedding weekend photos. After the ceremony, of course, come the photos. The couple, their families, the wedding party. It's been some 16 years since I was in a cousin's wedding party, the only other time ever, so I'd forgotten how much goes into the process. Conrad bore it well, I'm glad to say, boring as it must have been despite the lovely day out. He caught a number of group and individual shots as well.

I have to say, I loved the colours Allison and Sean chose for the wedding party. Green is not easy for everyone, but it worked. Brenda was especially gorgeous, but I know I'm biased from having known and adored her for several years now.

Onwards with photos:

The couple with Allison's family. Allison's mother, Isobel, is in the blue dress while her father, Louis, is kilted on the end. The other family members had come from as far as Scotland and Dallas. I had such a fun time chatting with her Auntie Kathy. Or is that Cathy?

The wedding party awaits its turn. The ladies' shoes were not handling the soft, damp ground well for all they looked great.

Sean with his mother, Phyllis; his father, Ted; and his brother, Mark, a groomsman.

Allison with Marie, a close friend who did a reading during the ceremony. Marie is one of the several friends I'd heard about many many times over the ten years I've known Allison, and I was so glad to meet her and the others instead of knowing them by personality traits or activities. Take Marie, for example: no longer will she simply be a fellow Kevin enthusiast.

The musicians played on a little while. Well, for photo ops, at least.

The wedding party in full.

Allison with her bridesmaids: Nina, Janet (matron of honour), Portia, Brenda (see? gorgeous!), and Nikki. More names I've long known, now better known to me as faces and enjoyable dinner company. More on that in the last wedding post whenever I get to that.

You know, I've known Allison since we started library school together in 1998. Ten years. Her birthday was the first month, so I baked white chocolate chip cookies for her and brought them in to class that day. A month later we were neighbours in the same, small apartment block. I kind of miss the contented simplicity of those days.

Groomsmen and Sean: Mark (Sean's brother), Tom (his cousin), Mark (yes, another one - he gave me and Conrad rides to and from the ceremony, and he was a hoot to chat with), and Kevin (the best man). Good group of guys. I was a little nervous about fitting in, but that was groundless fear. They were all great to chat with and get to know a little. And we all looked great, you gotta admit.

One last vanity shot of me. Well, for this entry. Goodness knows my vanity is otherwise limitless.

25 minutes to boarding...

last weekend's wedding, part 1ish

Part 1ish only because I've posted some things already. Many photos remain, however, and such a lovely day deserves more mention. So, reaching waaaay back in my decrepit, 38 year-old memory to last Sunday...

The ceremony took place out at UT Scarborough, at Miller Lash House.

We couldn't have asked for better weather, and Allison and Sean certainly picked a handsome setting. The house was useful for the bridal party and the groom to be sequestered separately until the ceremony. The grounds, meanwhile, were stunning, and Darth's friend David (was he there? If so, I regret not meeting him) had provided some lovely flowers.
Yes, we could hear activity on nearby tennis courts, but no matter. It was wonderful.

Sean, his brother Mark, and his cousin Tom had driven over in their restored cars. I'm not a car person. Dad will read this and laugh because I just don't know one vehicle from another. Red, green, blue, whatever. But still, I can appreciate that the guys had taken such care to restore some older vehicles, and they were a cool addition to the wedding.

The groomsmen weren't there too long before the bride arrived, so we scattered quickly to take care of some last minute things. While Sean and his best man, Kevin, remained inside, the rest of us groomsmen began guiding guests to the seats.
A couple of musicians played gently (and a bagpiper sounded the start of the bridal procession - Allison is a good Scottish lass. Daniel, if you read this, that's Scottish, not Scotch). The officiant greeted the guests and laid down a few ground rules, or something like that.
With humour, of course. He performed the ceremony with great good humour, all in all. Can't you tell: look at the groomsmen.
Oh, there were solemn moments, deeply emotional points that had us attentive. But we laughed a lot, too.

Conrad sat out among the guests and enjoyed the ceremony from there. The bridesmaids came in (look how lovely Brenda is), and before you knew it, we had newlyweds on our hands and the wedding party was heading back up the slope we'd first come down. The first part was over, and it went very well indeed.

a few wedding photos before bed

I've been lazy this week. No, scratch that. Other than one frantic night of making travel plans for next week, and one night devoted to the season finale of Project Runway, I've been lazy. Believe me, I had every good intention of posting wedding photos earlier this week. Sorry.

I won't say too much in this post save for this:

Allison was gorgeous.
Sean was handsome.
They are very much in love and well suited for each other.

Can you ask for more?

I'll post photos of others tomorrow or Sunday. My lazy post for tonight, though, is all about Allison and Sean, happily married (and still honeymooning in the Rockies, I think).

The bride before the wedding.

Vows.

Signing the documents.

Newlyweds.


This is how Allison ALWAYS is in my mind's eye: happily laughing.

More laughter.

A kiss for the photographer, and not the last kiss at that!

With Sean's restored '68 Mustang.

Outside the reception hall, formerly a cinema.

First dance.

quick dispatch, post-wedding

I've barely begun looking at the 266 photos we (Conrad) took at the wedding and reception yesterday. Expect photos on the blog later today and this week. For now, while I sit at Pearson International awaiting my flight back to Chicago, I offer you this shot taken as we left the reception just after midnight last night. Allison and Sean had a wonderful movie theme they executed magnificently. What a fun night!

rehearsal dinner

Oh gosh, not much to report here. Just read into this post the ever-growing anticipation of the wedding this afternoon. The skies are clear, blue, and sunny over Toronto; the temperature is pleasant. Allison and Sean have a wonderful day before them in so many ways.

Last night, the happy couple gathered the wedding party (and in case it wasn't clear, I'm one of the groomsmen) and immediate family together at Spring Rolls on Eglinton for dinner. Conrad and I got to see Brenda (YAY!) for the first time in a few years. I got to see Allison's parents for the first time in even longer. We got to meet a number of the people (like Marie, whom we shared some wine with at the hotel last night) I've heard so much about for so long, as well as meeting Sean's family. Instructions received, gifts given to us (a digital image frame - I have ideas for it in the front foyer - cool gift!). And a fun, easy, casual dinner wherein we got to chat with a whole lot of people. And Brenda got the toast she wanted.

We have a few hours yet before we leave for the wedding. I think Conrad and I will go for a walk just to get some nice down time together. In the meantime, photos from last night...

Brenda and me.

Sean's cousin's wife, Fiona, and his mother, Phyllis.

Fiona, Phyllis, Conrad, Nina, Janet (the matron of honour).

Percy and Portia.

Allison's mother, her Aunty Kathy (Cathy?), and Marie.

Sean's brother Mark, Mark's girlfriend Donna, and Allison's cousin Rina (Reena? - we needed name tags last night, in retrospect).

The groomsmen receive gifts: me, Kevin (the best man), Tom (Sean's cousin), and Mark (another Mark).

Brenda and I with our gifts.

Opening the gift.

Brenda shows me her gift.

Jewelry for the bridesmaids.

Brenda and Sean.

Sean's parents, Ted and Phyllis.

Sean and his best man, Kevin.

Allison, with me, in a stunning dress.

Conrad and me.