Josh Ritter,Portland,North Conway, oh my!

I am still not totally caught up on the wedding posts and the philly-moon which are coming shortly.

But I had to sneak this one in here while it was still hot!!

This past weekend Brian and I had so much fun. It began on Thursday night really, with a viewing of a live performance of “A Prairie Home Companion” which was playing in movie theaters across the country on Thursday. It included musical guests such as “Old Crow Medicine Show” (which obviously holds a place near and dear to our hearts) as well as Sarah and Sean Watkins from the former “Nickel Creek”  who I was very impressed with. This was a fun night. Brian really enjoys “A Prairie Home Companion” as he used to listen to it on the radio all the time.

Then on Friday after work we hopped in the bus and drove up to Portland, Maine to the State Theater in order to see Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band.

Early in the summer we had tickets to go see Josh in Boston. Unfortunately Brian hurt his back so badly that he wasn’t able to go with me. However I was able to find someone to go with, via Craigslist of all places. She lived near Boston and her fiance at the time had to work and couldn’t make the show when I originally offered her both tickets so, in talking we decided to go together. The “blind date” worked out great thankfully, however I really, really, really wished that Brian had been able to see the show because it was amazing for one but for two, Brian was the one that introduced me to Josh.

So that was all rectified when I found that he was playing in Portland and bought tickets for us now that Brian is back on his feet. We had a lovely time. Josh Ritter is just the cutest, smiliest performer ever, straight from Idaho just like my Brian. A couple sitting just in front of us had somehow been able to bring in their camera and it made me bummed that I didn’t have mine. But at the end of the show, Brian asked them if they would send us the pictures that they took. They said sure and took my email address. These are some of the great shots that he took. We were pretty close, 6th row.

After the show, we drove over to Walmart in Scarborough Maine which would be our home for the night. Sleeping in the bus is always fun!

Home Sweet Home for the night…

Ahhh so cozy

Then that morning we headed back into Portland for some breakfast and shopping and touristing around the Old Port. It was so much fun! I definitely want to spend some more time in Portland town in the future. Here are some of the photos I took from our poking around.

Before lunch time we headed up to North Conway, where we did some more touristing and shopping around and then we had a lovely relaxing dinner at Flatbread…mmmm… one of my favorites.

The whole reason we went to North Conway was to meet up with Tim and Michelle Perry also some of my favorites and go to the Ghoullog scare at Cranmore Mountain. Oh my goodness was it good this year. Good to the point that I will admit here I basically broke down into a crying/hyperventilating fit and couldn’t breathe at one point.  I think that scared Brian more than any of the ghouls that were there. So A++ on the performance of the actors there this year. I guess I got what I paid for.

After we enjoyed some ice cream treats at Friendly’s with The Perry’s and had a great time catching up a bit.

We drove home and realized just how much fun we have been continually having since being married. We are so lucky.

On Sunday we mostly stayed in our PJ’s after such a busy weekend and relaxed. But we also got together with our neighbors for an instructional Drum Circle Lesson. Which will hopefully be continuing weekly so we can get good at beating our djembe drums.

Wedding: Ceremony

Where did we leave off…. let me see… oh yes!

Despite the bug fiasco, I did finally make it in one peace to my husband (then to-be) and was joined with him in front of my friends and family and started the next part of our journey together.

Neil did a wonderful job incorporating some nature and literature into our ceremony. We had asked Brian’s sister Susan and my brother Tim to do some readings for us and they did a wonderful job and we thank them so much for being a very important part of our day. These are the readings that were read:

‘Union’ by Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks – all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “ You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.

The Art of Marriage by Wilferd Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.

The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation,
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which
the independence is equal, dependence is mutual,
and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is BEING the right partner.

It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.
This is “The Art of Marriage”

Writing your own vows seemed really tough until we actually attempted to do it and found out how easily it came to us.

These are the promises that we made to each other on that magical day:

Brian’s vows to me:

Alina, when I first heard your name I was intrigued. When we first met you dragged me on the dance floor; I thought you were silly, and beautiful. On our first date, when we had our first kiss, I knew I wanted to be with you forever. When you accepted my proposal, I committed my life to you.

Everyday you amaze me. You are always so positive, thoughtful and thinking of others while shining with an inner light that radiates from your smile and twinkles in your eyes. I fell in love with your kindness, love of nature, sense of adventure and fun spirit. I know our paths have crossed for a reason and we are meant to learn and grow together.

Alina, today and forever, I stand by your side honestly and openly as your partner and equal. Through good times and bad, I’ll encourage and support you , sharing in your tears and your laughter. As a patient, loving, faithful friend I will listen with my ears and my heart. I promise to be a sincere, strong, and compassionate husband, here for you through all life’s adventures. I love you.

My vows to Brian:

Brian, one of the many quotes that you’ve sent to me says: “Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over.”

You are the kindest, and most thoughtful man I’ve ever known. When I’m with you I feel like I am “home”, whether we are sleeping in the bus in a mechanics parking lot in Connecticut, standing on a mountain top, or cuddled up with the kids watching a movie. I can completely be myself and feel so incredibly loved.

You’re my partner in all things. I am so happy to have you in my life and honored that I get to stand here today and promise to share all of my tomorrows with you.

Everyday you show me love through the little things you do, like meeting me with an umbrella when I arrive home on a rainy night. I promise to always appreciate these kindnesses and to reciprocate them for you as well.

I promise to be there for you when you need me, to fill your days with sunshine, to comfort and encourage you, to always be open and honest with you. I promise to be your best friend always and to love you for all of my life, with all of my heart.

I look forward to an adventurous future, filled with laughter, tears and the knowledge that we will always be growing together in the same direction. I love you!

And then we exchanged rings and sealed the deal with a big kiss and hug.

With a short parting prayer by Neil, nice and simple, “May Peace Always Be With You.”

We were married!!!!!

I love my new family!

And then it was time to go eat, drink and be merry!

Wedding: Pre-Ceremony

First off I would like to give a big giant THANK YOU to Neil English who did an amazing job officiating our day. He was so dedicated that he even stayed around after our rehearsal to have dinner with all of us and get to know some of our family better. Then went as far as to stay after the dinner and was so kind as to entertain us all with poetry and stories, as we sat around a fire in the cool fall evening together. Neil is a very kind man and I am so grateful that he was able to make our wedding so special and personal for us.

Unable to sleep very much the night before, Brian and I were wide-eyed at 5:00 am on the day of our wedding. We got up, got dressed and went out to finish up some of the decorating before everyone else awoke. It was nice to work alone together on some finishing touches in the quiet crisp morning air.

Getting ready was fun. My cousin Kate was such a doll and came early to help me and Isabelle with our hair. She did an amazing and beautiful job. Thank you sooooo much Kate, it came out exactly how I wanted it even though I didn’t really know how I wanted it in the first place!

My mom was there to help me into my dress as was a great friend of mine Beckie who was so kind to come early as well and take photos, documenting this pre-wedding action. Thanks Beckie!

The ceremony began at approximately 11:30 am on Sunday. The weather was chilly and a bit cloudy, which just made the turning autumn trees that much more beautiful. Everything was so quiet after a full morning of bustling around the house. Now it was just little Isabelle and I waiting for my Father to come join us before we were to step out onto our journey. I caught my breath a moment and realized, wow, this is it!! As Dad arrives he gives me a big hug and I tell him, he is not allowed to start crying.

I was sure going to need his arm to help me climb up that hill in those yellow heels of mine. Oh well, they’re cute, it was worth it.

Brian had been out and about all morning after he was dressed, greeting all the guests and making sure that the band, the caterer and everyone else was all ok. He’s the best ever!

He did get a chance to sit by himself and have a quiet moment to collect his thoughts before it was time as well though.

I looked out to see that Brian and Colin and Neil had started walking across over to the center of the break in the rock wall between the maple and the ash tree where we would tie the knot.

So, the three of us step out and begin our trek. Isabelle is worried about when she is supposed to start picking petals and throwing them. I reassure her she is doing great and that I will tell her when to start. She is so cute in her “first pair of heels” walking up the hill in front of us.

All of a sudden a bug flies right into my eye… of course! It’s trying to make me look like I am tearing up already, although I swear it was a bug. Dad suggests that we stop a moment to be sure it is out…

To be continued…..

Wedding: Location

For our big day we decided to rent out Sunny Slope Farm in Alton, NH for the weekend. This way we could relax and enjoy our event and the family time surrounding it and it turned out to be so much more than we had ever hoped for. Deanna and Tim O’Shaughnessy were the sweetest hosts ever and really took the time with us to make us feel so super comfortable with our stay. Showing us all the ins and outs and history of the house. We felt like we were staying at our own family’s old farm rather than hers. Besides the fact that the house and land itself are just beautiful, you can really feel the 200 years of love that is surrounding it. I am so glad that we found this place to host our wedding weekend and make it so memorable, special,relaxing and personal just the way we wanted it. All of our family that stayed there for the weekend with us, I think would agree about how awesome it was.

I will now look forward to going back someday as a family vacation and staying there again and remembering our special day there. I want to share the beauty of the place with the images that I captured on our last day there. I wish Deanna and Tim all the luck in the world with her new spring water company she has started from the farm called NH2O. We purchased some bottles of water for our event and even have some extra to use at home now. They are so great, and voted best drink of water in NH! Find them in a grocery store or restaurant near you!

Wedding: The Band

We are so, so pleased with the band that we booked for our wedding. Lunch at the Dump did such an amazing job of both setting a beautiful tone to our ceremony, as well as a fun barn dance for the reception. Casual and beautiful bluegrass, just how we wanted it. If you ever get a chance to see them play in and around NH, it will surely be a great time! We plan to see them many more times in the future.

Warming up

Warming up

When I first stepped out to start my wedding march up to the ceremony, I was taken aback by the fact that there wasn’t only one or two of the band members up there playing for the ceremony, (as we talked about) but there were four of the five members! It was beautiful.

Ceremony

Enjoying the ceremony

They were also very accommodating when we decided last minute, to ask them to set up inside the barn instead as the weather was pretty chilly to be outside too long. They were more than happy to do so and it turned out great!  Apparently the barn acted as an amplifier of sorts and you could hear the music beautifully even from way up on the hill people told us after taking a leisurely walk around the farm. How wonderful.

Playing in the barn

John and his mandolin

barn dancing!

So much fun

They even attempted to play “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show at the end, as earlier requested by us. And by then it was pretty much a private show for Brian and I. Even though they had never played it before, to us it sounded fantastic.

Thank you Lunch at the Dump for making our day awesome!

Wedding: Crafts

So, in trying to keep things a secret for those people who read this and were also coming to the wedding I didn’t really post any specifics about the crafts we were making for the wedding. In this post I would like to just highlight some of these because, well, we worked hard for many months on them and I am pretty proud of how everything came out. Plus, it was so much fun to do and they added more personal and homemade touches to our special day!

One of the first projects I did and one that took the longest was to make napkins for everyone to use. I wanted to do this because to me, plain white catering napkins just didn’t fit the country, eclectic and fun feel that I wanted for the wedding, but also, I figured that this way when we were finished and the wedding was over, we could use these “wedding napkins” at our home as a more eco-friendly alternative to paper towels and napkins and we could always remember our wedding at every meal. It also helped me to re-learn and get used to using my sewing machine for future fun projects.

We also made things like, banner flag decorations, fabric flowers and yarn flowers, pin wheels, up-cycled pie/dessert plates, homemade jam favors, custom labels for the bubbles on the kids table, custom program books filled with activities and more.

Below is a gallery of the projects we did. One click on the image will get you a description of it and then click on it again from there if you would like to see the full size image. Thanks. Enjoy!

Wedding: Outfits

This post is to say a HUGE, HUGE  Thank You to Ann Latta (Brian’s Mother). She is the one responsible for making us all look so cute for our wedding day. She worked so hard to create a beautiful simple, vintage style wedding dress for me. We used Bamboo Satin which was so soft and had a great color and sheen to it. And a pattern from 1950 something. With some adjustments of course which made things even more challenging. It came out so lovely.

Then she also created Brian’s daughter Isabelle’s dress out of the same material as my dress.

She also created matching vests and ties for Brian and Colin’s outfits as well. These came out so very nice. Made from a brown linen with a wonderful yellow flowery silk lining on the inside as well as for the Ties. I love how much like twins they look. They both can’t wait to wear their “wedding outfits” again. So cute.

We all looked pretty great thanks to you Ann!

I will leave you on this post with this adorable photo that Erica captured of Colin. I can’t get enough of it. His outfit is all disheveled after playing and eating after the wedding.

Wedding: Flowers

The flowers were one thing that made me a little nervous. Because they were such a last minute thing. We didn’t want to go with a florist as we try to get everything as local as possible. So we finally found a farm right down the road from us! About as local as you can get, that still had flowers blooming into late September. Warren Farm in Barrington, NH.

I had a lovely meeting with Heather Warren and we went over what I was sort of hoping to do with small country style bouquets and boutonnieres and table vases. She got a clear picture from all of the inspiration printouts I had for her to look at. The one thing she would have to order in were the sunflowers as she was out of hers for the year. So with that one meeting and nothing else, Brian went on Saturday morning to pick up about 6 buckets of flowers and my bouquet and boutonnieres for him and Colin.

Here is a nice shot of the bouquet that Heather made for me and the boutonnieres:

Now that we had flowers, It was up to me, or should I say rather Tim’s girlfriend Kerin to create some lovely table bouquets. I gave it an honest try and then thanked God that Kerin was there and is so good at it, because mine didn’t come out half as nice as hers did. So I left her to it!! THANK YOU SO MUCH KERIN!!! You are a lifesaver. These are lovely.

On his way back from the farm, Brian also stopped at a nursery that was near the wedding site and picked up some potted mums and other fun plants to go around as well. He arrived with the Bus bursting full with flowers and my heart bursted with love for him.

Wedding: Preparations

Our wedding weekend festivities kicked off on Thursday. First thing we did was to pack some of my crafty creations and decorations into the car. Brian was so glad to finally get our house cleared out a bit. I admit that it was getting quite cluttered with wedding stuff.

Then together with Brian’s Mother, Ann, we made our way up to Sunny Slope Farm to meet with John from Lunch at the Dump (the band) to go over our thoughts and what they might need to play some great bluegrass music for us on Sunday. It was really good to look around the farm again and give Mamma Ann a pre-wedding tour too. We were able to figure out where exactly we wanted to try to set up the tent and some other last minute decisions. We were also able to look in the “wedding room” which held lots of supplies that other previous weddings have “donated” or left behind. Which was really helpful to calm me about needing any more little decorations, we were covered!!

Later that day the three of us went out for a very lovely dinner in Dover at the Orchard Street Chop House, in celebration of Brian’s Birthday!! I am so glad he was born!

Friday came and Ann and I headed out to get Manicures/Pedicures together in the morning as well as finish up some last minute shopping for the weekend. Then she was off to Manchester to pick up her husband from the Airport and they would meet us up at the farm later. During this time, Brian made his way up to the farm with the things we had packed in order to meet with the Tent people who were going to be setting up.

I made my way back home to finish up my packing and make sure that Rufus had food for the weekend etc. And then I was off to the farm myself. By the time I got there, Brian was still waiting for the Tent people who were still on their way over from another site. I also learned upon arrival that there had been a problem in the house. The last guests to stay there were having issues with the water and come to find out… the well pump for the house needed to be replaced. Oh No!

So while we sat and watched the tent people work to put up our tent on one side of us. On the other we witnessed plumbing/water guys struggling to replace “the worst pump they had seen in 27 years.” All the while hoping that we would in fact get the water back on in time for the arrival of Tim and Kerin that night and all the others that were coming to stay at the farmhouse with us all weekend. Otherwise we were going to have to bathe in the pond ha. But we were still in good spirits about it. And it all turned out ok. All of a sudden we heard cheers of delight from the guys who were finally able to pull out the old pump in order to replace it. Phew!

Excited for the start of our wedding weekend!

Tent guys hammering in stakes. Tough work!

Oh, hello tent!

Later that night we welcomed my brother Tim and his girlfriend Kerin who arrived from NYC. We had built a fire in the Fireplace Stove outside on the back porch and had been preparing a yummy chicken and rustic vegetable dinner for us and when they arrived we were able to sit down and enjoy a meal and wine and listen to their tales of adventure as they just recently arrived home from a month long trip to Italy and Greece. (A pre-entering the working world vacation, after their hard work of studying and taking the bar exam). It was a lovely and quite evening which we could better prepare for the upcoming busy and bustling few days. Then Brian and I went and tried out the hot tub for the first of many times that weekend. Ahhh, I like hot tubs.

It’s Official!!

We’re Married!!!

And the first official place I have been able to change my name, of course, Facebook. It is so weird/exciting to see Alina McGinty. I just love it.  I look forward to writing a nice re-cap (for all who actually read this) very soon of our whole AMAZING wedding weekend. But I am still trying to take it all in for now. But I will leave you with this…

The wedding weekend was a whirlwind of activity, love, laughter and fun. It was happy, warm and comforting, homemade, family oriented and intimate. All the things I hoped it would be and more. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed themselves and those who weren’t able to, will enjoy reading more of our favorite moments from our weekend coming up soon…

We’re a happy family!