We meant to get on the road from New Paltz to New York early. We really did. Of course we didn’t leave New Paltz until almost noon! We woke up at a decent time, but by the time everyone else got up, and Rich got back with the most fabulous muffins and bagels, and we all sat down and had breakfast, it was almost noon!We also hit a lot of traffic going home (which we didn’t anticipate), so we didn’t get back to Queens until almost 2:30pm. We packed quickly, got all our things together for the wedding, and headed out the door a little after 3:00pm.
We were staying at THE HOLIDAY INN on Old Country Road in Carle Place on Long Island, about 20 minutes from Eric’s apartment. The hotel was right next door to the place where Jessica and Ken were getting married – I mean right next door. The parking lot of the Holiday Inn was connected to the parking lot of CHATEAU BRIAND CATERERS where the wedding was taking place. It was so convenient and I was so happy I could have skipped to our room!
Our room was on the first floor. We had a king size bed and the room was pretty basic otherwise. There was an iron and an ironing board, which was great, because Eric’s dress shirt got very wrinkled in the move to NY and I wanted to iron it before we took our afternoon nap.
Once that was done we both took a nap and woke up around 6:30pm. I showered first and while Eric was in the shower I decided what to wear. I had brought a few changes with me, because I wasn’t sure what I would finally end up wearing. I ended up with a skirt that has a cream-colored satin slip with a black lace overlay. It’s very full and looks vintage, but it’s not.
I tried three different tops on, but ended up wearing a pink sparkle sweater set with rhinestone buttons. I thought it looked great. I topped it off with rhinestone and black satin shoes, a rhinestone bracelet, rhinestone earrings and a rhinestone necklace. Think that’s enough rhinestones? You thought wrong! I also had a fabulous vintage rhinestone purse with a rhinestone handle. I was truly glittering, but it still wasn’t as dressy as some other guests at the wedding. There were plenty of people in diamonds and ball gowns walking around and they all looked fabulous.
Anyway, Eric looked very handsome in his yellow/gold dress shirt with a yellow/gold and blue tie (which I just purchased for him) and his gray suit. We walked across the parking lot to the CHATEAU BRIAND and arrived a little before 8:00pm. We were told to go upstairs to the Studio on 3 for family photos. Everyone was there. It was so amazing to see all 4 of Eric’s sisters, their spouses, and all our nieces and nephews with their assorted boyfriends, girlfriends and spouses.
It’s a big group when they all get together, and Ken’s family was also there, so it was a huge crowd! There was a lot of hugging, kissing and admiring going on (everyone looked SO beautiful), but then our attention was turned to Ken and Jessica who were posing for pictures. They both looked so beautiful and I almost started to cry.
Jessica’s gown was magnificent. It was a strapless delicate lace with crystals in the lace that made it sparkle as she moved. At the waist was a satin cummerbund that tied in a sash in the back that flowed down to the floor and met the train in the back. Since Jessica’s colors for the wedding were fall colors – golds, yellows and chocolate brown, I had bought her a big vintage brooch to wear on the sash where it tied in the back. It was her “something old.”
Here’s the bad news – I left my camera on the bed at the hotel. Eric offered to walk back and get it, but I figured everyone and their brother was taking pictures, so it might be delayed but eventually I’ll have plenty of pictures to share!
April, her maid of honor, also looked fantastic. Her gown was chocolate brown strapless matt satin with another gorgeous pin in yellows, golds and browns on the sash at her waist, but hers was on her hip, not in the back. They all held yellow roses with other yellow flowers mixed in.
There were two adorable twin flower girls and a handsome little ring boy. Ken had a “best woman” instead of a best man, an older, long-time friend. She wore a sparkly gown in a bronze, so their colors all blended beautifully.
After all the family photos were done, we were all told to leave the room and go down to the chapel where the wedding ceremony was being held. That’s where we had more reunions with cousins and friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. We finally sat down and then the ceremony took place. It was short and sweet and very touching. I kept thinking of Jessica as the cute little girl in her party dresses at the holidays, and how she has grown into this beautiful woman, who is now making a life with this wonderful man.
Next we moved to another HUGE room where they had the cocktail hour. There was so much food it was amazing and we each had several plates of sushi, Italian, and other delicious appetizers and buffet dishes. Here’s something that thrilled and amazed me – they had iced tea! You never find that at weddings or other catered affairs and I usually have to drink ginger ale or seven up all night, which I really don’t like, but it’s better than nothing. I was so happy with the iced tea that it really made my night (I know, it takes so little to make me happy!).
We sat with Eric’s Aunt Gloria, whom we had not seen in a year or two, and her daughter, Gloria, and husband Glenn, whom we had not seen in 5 or 6 years. It was great to catch up, and then the cocktail hour was done and we were all instructed to move to another room (there was a lot of going from room to room, and there were at least 5 other affairs going on at the same time, so it was a bit confusing).
Jessica and Ken had the cutest candy bars with the guests’ names and table numbers on it, so you’d have a nice treat and know where to sit! At each place setting was a tiny brown and white box that said “Fall in Love” scented leaf soap. Since they gave you chocolates with your seat number, the favor was two tiny leaf-shaped bars of soap that smelled absolutely delightful!
We were seated with the bride’s parents (Eric’s sister Rachel and her husband, Robert), and Eric’s three other sisters, Robin (and her husband Brian), Susan (and her husband Steven), and Ellen (her husband, Rich, couldn’t fly up from Florida). Also seated at our table were a neighbor, Tony, and Robin’s best friend, Stacy and her husband, John. We knew everyone well, so it was a great table and we all had a lot of fun.
We had salad, then a lemon sorbet to cleanse the palette and then were offered our choice of Chateau Briand (of course!) and Shrimp Scampi (sliced filet mignon topped with a porcini mushroom sauce and served with prawns sauteed in white wine, garlic and butter), Chateau Briand (sliced filet mignon topped with a Porcini mushroom sauce), Chicken Alla Vittoria (Sauteed boneless breast topped with fresh asparagus spears, imported sun dried tomatoes and wild mushrooms in a light calvados wine sauce), Red Snapper Oreganata (filet baked with white wine and butter topped with spiced breadcrumbs), Portabella Mushroom Lasagna (homemade lasagna noodles layered with sautéed portabella mushrooms, and imported freshly ground Parmesan cheese in a traditional béchamel sauce), or Eggplant Terrine (layered and baked in plum tomato and basil sauce).
I had the red snapper and Eric ordered the chicken. The food was really good and everyone really enjoyed their meals. We had time between each course to walk around and say hello and Eric was really a social butterfly. There were so many people he had known all his life – friends, neighbors and relatives – and he took full advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with them all. It was wonderful to see him having such a great time.
I was enjoying people watching and looking at all the beautiful women dressed to the nines. There were lots of gorgeous cocktail dresses, gowns, and fabulous purses, jewelry and other accessories. I love to look at people all dressed up and looking their best and a wedding is the best time to do that!
At one point April and the “best woman” made speeches. April’s was really funny and clever. She talked about the fact that she and Jessica shared a bedroom for about 25 years. They get along remarkably well and really are best friends. It’s a beautiful thing to see. They really truly love each other and get along so well it's hard to believe. They don’t seem to have any of the problems getting along that most sisters have (including me with mine!).
The wedding cake was another feast for the eyes. It was white, and cream with a fondant covering each of the four layers and an intricate design hand-painted in white. There were chocolate brown ribbons on two layers, which again highlighted the color scheme of the night. It ended up being a carrot cake inside, and it tasted as delicious as it looked!
We all danced the night away to the great music being played by the DJs. They really got everyone up on the floor. I haven’t danced that much in a long time and I had such fun with Eric, and also with all my nieces and nephews.
Melissa was there with her husband, David. She looked so beautiful in a black and white dress and you’d never know that she had been through hell with surgery and had been so very ill for so long just a few short months ago. Her recovery has been miraculous and I was so happy to see her and get a chance to catch up with her and David.
Our niece and nephew from Florida, Scott and Michelle, were there and Michelle came with her boyfriend, Justin. Scott's wife, Jaime, had to stay home with her two babies. Michelle looked fantastic, and I was so happy to see her again. I had seen her and met Justin last September, when Eric and I visited them in the RV.
Stephanie, Melissa’s sister, was there looking so glamorous and beautiful, too. She was wearing a brown dress, which fit in with the evening’s theme so nicely. She also had rhinestone-encrusted sandals, and we were comparing our sparkly footwear!
Jason, Stephanie and Melissa’s brother, looked handsome in his suit and bow-tie, and he’s a true enigma with his Mohawk! He’s a steamfitter – just like Eric. I had so much fun watching him dance all night. He’s a great kid and he definitely knows how to have fun.
Our nephew, Brandon, was up from Tampa with his girlfriend, Dorsi, whom we had never met before. She is so beautiful and sweet and really funny, too. They make a great couple! Brandon looked so handsome. I was really kvelling from all of them!
Susan’s three, Steven, Anthony and Ashley, were also there. I've really missed them a lot, because I got to see them very regularly since they lived just a few blocks from the shop. It was wonderful to have 11 of our nieces and nephews, and their spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, all there. I so enjoyed all of them. They’re so handsome and so beautiful and so sweet and they were so happy to see me and Eric and we were so happy to see all of them.
I love my nieces and nephews so much. They mean the world to me, and I know they mean so much to Eric, too. I hardly ever get to see my sister’s son and daughter, Keri and Eddie, which breaks my heart, because I adore them, but I used to see all of Eric’s sisters’ kids all the time.
Now, Brandon lives in Tampa, and Michele and Scott are in Ft. Lauderdale, and since I’ve been living in San Diego, the only ones I’ve seen were Jessica and April, who came to visit last January.
It was so very wonderful to be with them all at this joyous occasion and get to see them all dressed up and and as happy as can be.
The night flew by and the party ended and Eric and I were one of the last to go (since we only had to walk back across the parking lot!). When we got back to the room it was after 2:00am. Eric fell right to sleep, but I watched TV for a while and didn’t turn it off until 3:00am. Then, I tossed and turned a lot and didn’t get a great night’s sleep.
April and Jessica had told us to come downstairs to the free continental breakfast at 8:30am, so I set the alarm for 7:30am, but I wasn’t very optimistic about making it!
It really was a wonderful, wonderful night and I don’t think anything could have been better. It was a perfect wedding and Eric and I totally enjoyed every minute!