Intuitive Value: Winter Wedding Weekend

New Years' Day 2012 Keith and I went to see a movie at Osage Village. We never finished watching Sherlock Holmes because our son Jacob called while we were in the theater to announce his engagement to Nicole, his girlfriend of about five years! We were all smiles and didn't pay much attention to the rest of the movie. The timing was one month to the day that I retired so change was definitely in the making for this new year from day one!

Plans were in the making. Jacob made plans to visit us in Missouri Memorial Weekend while Nicole was deployed. During his stay here, he finalized the wedding plans by booking the date of December 22nd with The Red Fox Inn (established 1728) located in Middleburg, Virginia. This was a place they both decided would be perfect for a intimate wedding that would be accommodating as an easy location to find, historical with an old Virginia atmosphere, and quality in food and service. For more information about The Red Fox Inn and the town of Middleburg, Virginia visit their websites:

www.redfox.com
www.middleburgonline.com

After the date was set, I told Jacob that the date was my father's birthday and that I felt my father was smiling down with his approval. It also happened that my father passed away on a Memorial Weekend when Jacob was nine years old so it makes me smile even more that the date was set at this time. It was a great family time as you can see more in my blog post: A Joyful Ten Days of Family under the same label of Family Time and Genealogy that was posted in June 2012. This time was even more special as our son-in-law Brian had sadly lost his father in February and this time helped bring us all together in love and support. Even though Nicole was not actually with us at this time, her presence was felt in everything we did as she officially became part of the family with her engagement to Jacob who was beaming the whole time he was here!

I became closer to Nicole through emails as she allowed me the joy of sending her some of her favorite foods that summer while she was deployed and then later as she included me in the scheduling of wedding plans when she came home. The wedding plans were all made in the four weeks before the wedding! Keith and I didn't waste any time booking our flight for December in August and also later our reservations at the Lansdowne Resort LansdowneResort.com in Leesburg, Virginia. Of course, there had to be one hassle and as far as I know, it was our plane reservation which was cancelled due to bad weather as we were in line to board in Kansas City, Missouri.

The weather had been good as we left for the 2 1/2 hour drive north to the airport on the Thursday before the Saturday wedding event. About five miles from the airport it turned ugly! The first hint was a large sheet of ice crashing into our windshield off a truck that was heading south opposite us in our northbound lane. We had crossed some kind of nasty winter weather line and just made it to the airport in time to see all the flights coming in and going out cancelled! After a couple hours of making sure the information was correct that there were no flights for at least 24 hours and maybe more, we turned around and drove back to Hermitage. Our daughter Sarah was so helpful in keeping us calm and informed by phone and computer as best she could from Virginia as she and her husband had flown out of Branson a couple days before. Jacob also helped us stay informed by phone and computer. After we got home, I was up until very late on my computer trying to get Keith and I to Virginia as soon as possible. It all worked out when I took Sarah's advice and booked a flight out the next day from Branson which is a 2 1/2 hours drive south of our home. We got the last two tickets on the only flight out that day! Providence. With exceptional help from Sarah and Brian meeting us at the airport, we made it only an hour late to the first of the family activities that began the Winter Wedding Weekend.

Friday night was a bowling event where the families met informally at King Pinz Luxury Lanes Sports Grill in Leesburg, Virginia kingpinzbowl.com. I had never seen such an upscale bowling alley in my life! It was really modern and a taco food bar was available for all family and friends in the private party room. It was such a welcome relief to relax, unwind, and have fun after such a stressful trip! I am so thankful it was not a formal dinner and we all just came as we were and talked and bowled and ate and drank and a good time was had by all. It certainly set a wonderful tone for the weekend! Let the games begin...

Nicole bowling...

...and Jacob too!

After the bowling party, Sarah and Brian took us back to the airport to get our rented car that we had parked earlier and rode with them in their rented car to save time in getting to the bowling party. It all worked out very well and Keith and I had a late arrival at the Lansdowne Resort which was located between where the wedding was located in Middleburg and the King Pinz Bowling in Leesburg. Perfect. We slept well and late Saturday morning and had a grand brunch.

Since the Wedding Day Schedule Nicole had provided me earlier didn't include our presence until 4 p.m., Keith and I made full use of the resort facilities and relaxed in the spa before taking our time to get dressed for the wedding. The drive to The Red Fox Inn in Middleburg was only about 30 minutes west in low traffic. Nice. As we were leaving, my son-in-law Brian called to say the photographer was ready early for family photos and we got there as soon as possible about a half hour early. It was cold but the location was so beautiful and the photographer was very good! All family and friends have access to the 700+ photos on a secured website. If you did not already get access by email, please contact a family member for the password and website. You can view and be able to purchase any of the awesome photographs directly. 150 of the photos are posted on Facebook. I have included some photos here that were taken by my brother John (dated). The rest were obtained from Facebook recently.

The Bridal Suite

The Bride wore a Nicole Miller gown. Attending were her mother and the groom's sister. Her colors were red and white.

The Bride

First Look and Outside Family Photos

Bride and Groom with their Families

The Ceremony

The Ceremony Room

Family and Friends are Seated

Bride and Groom Enter

They Do!

They Kiss!

They are Mr & Mrs!

The Wedding Couple - Jacob and Nicole

Cocktail Hour

Kristen, Sarah, Amanda with Baby Cecilia, Jacob and Nicole

Jacob in the middle of the men in his new family

Brian and Sarah

Amanda and Vince

So nice to hold a new baby!

John and Corinne

Bride & Groom with Bride's Cousin's Family

The Cocktails Served were: White Cosmopolitan, Jefferson's Crimson, and a Non-Alcoholic Merry Berry. The Champagne was La Marca Prosecco and Sparking Cider was available.

Mothers of the Groom and Bride

Appetizers were set out as well as Canapes served by the Butler during the Cocktail Hour.

The food was exquisite!

Variety of meats, mushrooms, pickles, olives, and veggies

Baked Brie with Apples

Virginia Peanut Soup Shooters and Apple,
Bacon & Sharp Cheddar Cheese Crostini with Pepper Relish

Deviled Eggs Four Ways

The Dinner

The Dining Room

Bride & Groom Table with Parents

Table Setting with Gold Christmas Ornament Souvenir

Premium Red and White Wines

1st Course: Smoked Duck Spring Rolls, Slaw Salad,
Spicy Plum Virginia Chutney

2nd Course: Mediterranean Salad with Spinach, Artichoke Hearts,
Sundried Tomatoes, Olives,
Pickled Onion, Feta, Tomato Vinaigrette

Main Course: Choice #1 Surf & Turf - 4oz Fillet, Crab Cake, Mashed Potatoes,
Spinach & Cauliflower Gratin, Walnut Mustard & Lemon Saffron Sauce
Choice #2 (Not Pictured) Chicken Cordon Blue - Country Ham & Fontina,
Smashed Red Jackets, Shredded Brussels Sprouts, Sauce Mornay

Nicole and Jacob at the head of a beautiful table

Parents of the Groom

Dining Room with Friends & Family

Toasts and German Shoe Game

There were several glasses raised to toast the newly wedded couple!

Brother of the Bride

Father of the Bride

Father of the Groom

Groom and Fathers' Rings

Bride and Mothers' Rings

Then it was time to play a version of the German Wedding (Shoe) Game. The Bride and Groom sat in chairs back to back with two stuffed Disney Christmas Mickey and Minnie animals each instead of each other's shoes in each hand along with their own shoe. They both responded to questions from the crowd by raising the male or female character as the best answer. The questions were to see how much they knew each other individually and as a couple. Family and friends could see how well they really know each other and that they are willing to compromise with humor and fun! By this time, everyone was full of good food, drink and merriment!

The Cake

A Very Special Red Velvet Cake!

Looking down the road to a happy future!

Jumping for Joy!!!!!!

My Wedding Blessing for the Newly Married Couple

May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. May God bless you and keep you in His Good Graces. Amen.