The audio slideshow from our wedding got me wondering just how hard it is to put one of these things together. Incidentally, while reading the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, I ran across an article about some fellow alums who do just this sort of thing, at a company they started called Animoto. So, I decided to take a stab at making my own movie from our honeymoon pictures and here's what came out. If nothing else, it ought to give you a good laugh!
(Note to readers: I wanted to post this on the blog that Tracy and I share, but it was vetoed by her. Any guesses as to why that might be?)
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Honeymoon
Tracy and I have decided to open a new blog for our shared adventures, since there's no need for each of us to blog about the same one, right? Devin thinks this is what marriage has become in the 21st century. He may be on to something. So, without further ado, I unveil...
THE ADVENTURES OF TRACY AND ADAM!!!!
(Click on the link to go there)
THE ADVENTURES OF TRACY AND ADAM!!!!
(Click on the link to go there)
The Big Weekend
For 12 months, I had been assuring people that it doesn't rain in Seattle in August. While I knew that it certainly could rain, part of me doing this was trying to convince the weather gods to be on my side. I should've known better. Sandwiched right between two heat waves was one cool and stormy day: August 9, 2008.
The weekend started off well enough. On Friday afternoon, I took out a bunch of people on my sailboat, and conditions couldn't have been better -- ideal winds and gradually clearing skies. By the time of the rehearsal (at Gasworks Park) and rehearsal dinner (a wonderful event at Ponti's), the sun was shining brightly and all looked good, even though the forecast for the next day was a mixed bag. Overnight it rained, and by the time we woke up Saturday morning, the skies were getting sunnier with each hour. I was optimistic.
I took the groomsmen to a restaurant called Atlas (in U-Village) for breakfast prior to heading over to Vashon Island. It was a beautiful fall-ish day, with cool temps and a brisk wind. By the time we reached the ferry dock, though, trouble was brewing on the horizon. The whole island was encased in storm clouds. To make matters worse, the ferry we were intending to catch never arrived, creating a long backlog of cars. I needed to get to the island ASAP to set up, and decided to grab Devin and walk-on in hopes of snagging a ride to the farm with Kendell.
My plan worked perfectly, except it began to rain as soon as we got on the island. At the farm, though, all was dry and we hurriedly began setting up tables and chairs while the caterers prepped, the band arrived and set up, the photographers photographed, the shuttle bus driver arrived, and the ladies did whatever it is they do. The other groomsmen, left to my rental car, played a cruel practical joke on me by telling me they got off the ferry at Southworth, rather than Vashon. I fell for it instantly, and began complaining about them to the bus driver before realizing that they were actually on the property already. I guess I was a little stressed? By the time guests started arriving (so early!) I was still not in uniform, nor were my groomsmen. As we hastily put on our suits in the garden house, I received word that the skies had opened up and now everything was soaked. I stepped outside to confirm that it was, indeed, raining, and had no idea what to do next. We had seven 10x10 pop-up tents at our disposal, and there were three 20x20 tents on the property that I opted not to set up (required lots of time, and again, I was tempting the weather gods). The rain refused to stop, and the next thing I know, the decision had been made to try to set up the big tents in haste. Then, to my amazement, I see Tracy's dad (not in his suit yet!) driving a tractor around with some tents on it, being assisted by our caterer. I could barely believe my eyes. What had been a carefully choreographed day had now devolved into this! The ceremony was supposed to start in about 15 minutes, and I had no idea how it was all going to come together. Tracy had sent a message from inside that she wasn't interested in making any more decisions either. I felt completely powerless.
But then, almost by miracle, the rain stopped and the skies cleared. We had ditched the idea of a seated ceremony in favor of umbrellas and tents (I can't thank enough all the people who moved tents, umbrellas, and chairs around to make it all happen), and suddenly, it was GO time! The trumpeter from the band played solo as the wedding party made it's way down the aisle. Everything went wonderfully, and there was even a receiving line of sorts after the ceremony. Then, during hors d'oeuvres hour, the photographers took pictures of Tracy and me, as well as the requisite family shots before dinner was served around 5pm. So far so good, until...
The rain began again in earnest right before the food was ready. This particular downpour was the hardest of the day, and showed no signs of letting up anytime soon. Numerous people tried to tell me it was good luck to have rain on your wedding day, but all I wanted was bad luck. Resigned to eating standing up under a tent, I decided to lead the charge to the buffet line with Tracy and start the process. The food, as expected, was unbelievable, but I only wish the hot stuff stayed hotter longer. Covered by a mix of odd-colored umbrellas, Tracy and I attempted to eat dinner at our table, which looked so pretty earlier in the day before it got drenched. Unfortunately, the customary visit to all the other tables never really happened, and I didn't get to introduce ourselves as a couple to everyone I had hoped. No matter, though, our guests made the best out of a tough situation. Huddled under random tents and umbrellas, people got acquainted with people they otherwise might not have, and lots of new friendships were born. People genuinely seemed to be having a lot of fun, and it all made for probably one of their most memorable weddings.
The rest of the evening was a blur to me. Mini cheesecakes were served for desserts (which were also a big hit!), and around that time, the sun came out for good. Devin and Kate gave very nice speeches, and additional toasts were done by Emily and Tracy's dad. By the time our first dance came, it was getting pretty late in the evening. The females all seemed cold, and many had shed their fancy shoes for flip-flops or bare feat. Tracy's dress was rather muddy from being around all day as we danced to "Unforgettable", played by our band (by all accounts, the band was very impressive, although I could only recall that song and the ceremony music). We laughed as we danced, as neither of us had expected anything like what our special day had become. But perhaps because of this, it was especially special, because like most everything else we do, there was nothing conventional about this wedding. Appropriately, the event ended with a double rainbow over Puget Sound as we all cleaned up.
After the wedding, we stopped briefly at the Pan Pacific hotel (where we stayed that night) before continuing on to Kate and Ben's house for the after-party. True to form, our friends and family didn't disappoint and turned out in large numbers. Tracy and I stayed until all the guests were gone, content on letting the busiest and most amazing day of our lives come to a quiet end.
The next morning, we all gathered at the Tylee household for brunch, and opened the wedding gifts that had been sent there. It was a nice and relaxing way to recover from the previous day's adventures, and prepare us for the next adventure the following morning.
I don't know that I had the chance to formally thank all the people that made it all possible. Our families came through like champs: my family traveled from all corners of the country, sometimes with kids, and were right there by my side when I needed them most. My mom threw a wonderful party for us at Ponti's the night before the wedding, which was even more challenging considering she did it from 3000 miles away. Tracy's family was equally amazing, helping out with all the pre-wedding arrangements, picking up and delivering many of the items needed for the event, and hosting a lovely brunch the morning after. My groomsmen were there in the clutch when I needed them most, always a step ahead of me and making my life somewhat easier on the day of the wedding. And a big thank you to Ben, who was basically an honorary groomsmen in going above and beyond the call of duty to facilitate it all. And last but not least, all of our friends deserve our thanks for sticking it out and making the best of a rough situation. There were too many individual efforts to point out, but I don't think it would've gone as well as it did without them.
The weekend started off well enough. On Friday afternoon, I took out a bunch of people on my sailboat, and conditions couldn't have been better -- ideal winds and gradually clearing skies. By the time of the rehearsal (at Gasworks Park) and rehearsal dinner (a wonderful event at Ponti's), the sun was shining brightly and all looked good, even though the forecast for the next day was a mixed bag. Overnight it rained, and by the time we woke up Saturday morning, the skies were getting sunnier with each hour. I was optimistic.
I took the groomsmen to a restaurant called Atlas (in U-Village) for breakfast prior to heading over to Vashon Island. It was a beautiful fall-ish day, with cool temps and a brisk wind. By the time we reached the ferry dock, though, trouble was brewing on the horizon. The whole island was encased in storm clouds. To make matters worse, the ferry we were intending to catch never arrived, creating a long backlog of cars. I needed to get to the island ASAP to set up, and decided to grab Devin and walk-on in hopes of snagging a ride to the farm with Kendell.
My plan worked perfectly, except it began to rain as soon as we got on the island. At the farm, though, all was dry and we hurriedly began setting up tables and chairs while the caterers prepped, the band arrived and set up, the photographers photographed, the shuttle bus driver arrived, and the ladies did whatever it is they do. The other groomsmen, left to my rental car, played a cruel practical joke on me by telling me they got off the ferry at Southworth, rather than Vashon. I fell for it instantly, and began complaining about them to the bus driver before realizing that they were actually on the property already. I guess I was a little stressed? By the time guests started arriving (so early!) I was still not in uniform, nor were my groomsmen. As we hastily put on our suits in the garden house, I received word that the skies had opened up and now everything was soaked. I stepped outside to confirm that it was, indeed, raining, and had no idea what to do next. We had seven 10x10 pop-up tents at our disposal, and there were three 20x20 tents on the property that I opted not to set up (required lots of time, and again, I was tempting the weather gods). The rain refused to stop, and the next thing I know, the decision had been made to try to set up the big tents in haste. Then, to my amazement, I see Tracy's dad (not in his suit yet!) driving a tractor around with some tents on it, being assisted by our caterer. I could barely believe my eyes. What had been a carefully choreographed day had now devolved into this! The ceremony was supposed to start in about 15 minutes, and I had no idea how it was all going to come together. Tracy had sent a message from inside that she wasn't interested in making any more decisions either. I felt completely powerless.
But then, almost by miracle, the rain stopped and the skies cleared. We had ditched the idea of a seated ceremony in favor of umbrellas and tents (I can't thank enough all the people who moved tents, umbrellas, and chairs around to make it all happen), and suddenly, it was GO time! The trumpeter from the band played solo as the wedding party made it's way down the aisle. Everything went wonderfully, and there was even a receiving line of sorts after the ceremony. Then, during hors d'oeuvres hour, the photographers took pictures of Tracy and me, as well as the requisite family shots before dinner was served around 5pm. So far so good, until...
The rain began again in earnest right before the food was ready. This particular downpour was the hardest of the day, and showed no signs of letting up anytime soon. Numerous people tried to tell me it was good luck to have rain on your wedding day, but all I wanted was bad luck. Resigned to eating standing up under a tent, I decided to lead the charge to the buffet line with Tracy and start the process. The food, as expected, was unbelievable, but I only wish the hot stuff stayed hotter longer. Covered by a mix of odd-colored umbrellas, Tracy and I attempted to eat dinner at our table, which looked so pretty earlier in the day before it got drenched. Unfortunately, the customary visit to all the other tables never really happened, and I didn't get to introduce ourselves as a couple to everyone I had hoped. No matter, though, our guests made the best out of a tough situation. Huddled under random tents and umbrellas, people got acquainted with people they otherwise might not have, and lots of new friendships were born. People genuinely seemed to be having a lot of fun, and it all made for probably one of their most memorable weddings.
The rest of the evening was a blur to me. Mini cheesecakes were served for desserts (which were also a big hit!), and around that time, the sun came out for good. Devin and Kate gave very nice speeches, and additional toasts were done by Emily and Tracy's dad. By the time our first dance came, it was getting pretty late in the evening. The females all seemed cold, and many had shed their fancy shoes for flip-flops or bare feat. Tracy's dress was rather muddy from being around all day as we danced to "Unforgettable", played by our band (by all accounts, the band was very impressive, although I could only recall that song and the ceremony music). We laughed as we danced, as neither of us had expected anything like what our special day had become. But perhaps because of this, it was especially special, because like most everything else we do, there was nothing conventional about this wedding. Appropriately, the event ended with a double rainbow over Puget Sound as we all cleaned up.
After the wedding, we stopped briefly at the Pan Pacific hotel (where we stayed that night) before continuing on to Kate and Ben's house for the after-party. True to form, our friends and family didn't disappoint and turned out in large numbers. Tracy and I stayed until all the guests were gone, content on letting the busiest and most amazing day of our lives come to a quiet end.
The next morning, we all gathered at the Tylee household for brunch, and opened the wedding gifts that had been sent there. It was a nice and relaxing way to recover from the previous day's adventures, and prepare us for the next adventure the following morning.
I don't know that I had the chance to formally thank all the people that made it all possible. Our families came through like champs: my family traveled from all corners of the country, sometimes with kids, and were right there by my side when I needed them most. My mom threw a wonderful party for us at Ponti's the night before the wedding, which was even more challenging considering she did it from 3000 miles away. Tracy's family was equally amazing, helping out with all the pre-wedding arrangements, picking up and delivering many of the items needed for the event, and hosting a lovely brunch the morning after. My groomsmen were there in the clutch when I needed them most, always a step ahead of me and making my life somewhat easier on the day of the wedding. And a big thank you to Ben, who was basically an honorary groomsmen in going above and beyond the call of duty to facilitate it all. And last but not least, all of our friends deserve our thanks for sticking it out and making the best of a rough situation. There were too many individual efforts to point out, but I don't think it would've gone as well as it did without them.
Pre-Wedding
The last four weeks have been a wild ride, and I've got lots of catching up to do in this space. When I last wrote, I had just been let go from my job, and was beginning a four-week stretch of not working, touring San Diego with my family, getting married, and going to Peru on my honeymoon. I will start with what I did prior to leaving San Diego...
My mom arrived in town on her birthday, a day ahead of my sister and her family. To celebrate, she and I drove up to the OC to visit Devin and go out for a nice dinner over the water in Long Beach. The next morning, my sister's family arrived and the madness began. With three jet-lagged kids under the age of 7, there was never a dull moment. Fortunately, their vacation rental wasn't too far from my apartment, which allowed for some flexibility.
The big highlight of the week was Legoland. My nephew is a huge Lego fan, and there had been an incredible build up for our visit. Even Uncle Devin and his friend Aly were coming down from Huntington Beach. We aimed for Monday, hoping to avoid any additional weekend crowds, but suffice it to say the park was still quite crowded. We waited in line 45 minutes for our first ride. The park itself was probably pretty neat for a kid. Personally, I enjoyed the elaborate Lego structures situated throughout the park, including replicas of several U.S. cities. After a tiring day at the park, we came back to my apartment for a BBQ with Tracy.
The other major highlight of the week was going to the zoo, which we did on Wednesday. As always, it didn't disappoint, and I actually sat down for a few of the shows this time, which were a nice treat.
On Thursday, we all decided to switch our flights to fly out a few hours earlier to Seattle, which seemed to help a lot since there was a lot of coordination that needed to happen once we got there. Fortunately, all the out of town Silberfeins arrived about the same time, and I was able to direct them to where they needed to go for the big weekend.
My mom arrived in town on her birthday, a day ahead of my sister and her family. To celebrate, she and I drove up to the OC to visit Devin and go out for a nice dinner over the water in Long Beach. The next morning, my sister's family arrived and the madness began. With three jet-lagged kids under the age of 7, there was never a dull moment. Fortunately, their vacation rental wasn't too far from my apartment, which allowed for some flexibility.
The big highlight of the week was Legoland. My nephew is a huge Lego fan, and there had been an incredible build up for our visit. Even Uncle Devin and his friend Aly were coming down from Huntington Beach. We aimed for Monday, hoping to avoid any additional weekend crowds, but suffice it to say the park was still quite crowded. We waited in line 45 minutes for our first ride. The park itself was probably pretty neat for a kid. Personally, I enjoyed the elaborate Lego structures situated throughout the park, including replicas of several U.S. cities. After a tiring day at the park, we came back to my apartment for a BBQ with Tracy.
The other major highlight of the week was going to the zoo, which we did on Wednesday. As always, it didn't disappoint, and I actually sat down for a few of the shows this time, which were a nice treat.
On Thursday, we all decided to switch our flights to fly out a few hours earlier to Seattle, which seemed to help a lot since there was a lot of coordination that needed to happen once we got there. Fortunately, all the out of town Silberfeins arrived about the same time, and I was able to direct them to where they needed to go for the big weekend.
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