The Best Part Was "Everything"

So the kids got hitched and it was indescribable to see your son getting married – but I will try to describe it anyway.

First, we couldn’t have asked for better weather when you’re standing on the beach at sunset in the midst of the “June Gloom” season. The sun had been obscured by clouds – no Pink Floyd references, Sladed – for perhaps the previous (and subsequent) 10-12 days. But not on June 30. It was perfect; no clouds, a gentle breeze, a bright blue ocean, and a beautiful setting sun. Just perfection for an outdoor, beach wedding. The Boy decided on a high bluff above the beach, which had a wonderful view of the ocean below. It had been a location previously scouted and one the bride and groom thought would be the best place.

The ceremony was attended by just the Ber’s parents, the Mrs. and I and the Girl. The women folk started getting ready at 10 a.m. while the guys got ready about 5:45 p.m. Not sure what this says about the sexes. When the women arrived in the limo driven by Wrong-Way Warren, they all looked like they had been getting ready for the previous nine hours, which is to say they all looked marvelous. The Ber looked beautiful in her sleek wedding dress; the work of many hands, but finished to perfection. The Boy looked dashing in an off-white linen suit and white shirt.

The reverend did a very nice job of keeping the vows simple and fitting the personalities of the bride and groom. Daisy, the photographer, climbed lamp posts, hung off of cliffs and rolled around on the ground to get perfect photos – we think.

The kids did their repeating after the reverend, each parent gave away their child and a good smooch sealed the deal. This was followed by more trapeze work by Daisy for additional photos as the sun set.

After the wedding ceremony and with the two officially married, it was back into the limo with Wrong-Way Warren and off to the Four Seasons Hotel where there was a private room arranged with a private balcony area for Champagne toasting and tasty hors d'oeuvres. The dinner menu was created just for the couple and our group and had their names on it and the words “Just Meant to Be,” the wedding slogan.

The food was incredible, on nobody’s diet and so rich that I think we all groaned when they brought the unlawfully-good tasting wedding cake. Naturally I, along with the others, ate through the pain. While many stomachs yummed through the meal, the conversation was more like a merged family sitting around a big dining room table and was so nice and pleasant. We each had a little to say about the couple, including me after the censors stepped in and had their thumbs on the 7-second button. The dinner couldn’t have been better or more relaxing and it was superbly put together by Ronald the Efficient Austrian following specific orders delivered by the Girl (perhaps the perfect wedding or corporate merger should happen between these two). What seemed simple to us was well planned by the Girl to the desires of the bride and groom. By 10:30 the adorable couple was sent off to a room and spa day at the La Costa Resort and my guess was there was a lot of pay-for-view movie watching (I'm guessing something with Mathew McConaughey and Kate Hudson) and then off to bed.

It was such a great family event and everyone helped to make it a special day for the Boy and the Ber, who now must spell her last name as a matter of course just for marrying into our family. Special kudos goes out to the Girl for taking her Maid Of Honor responsibilities to a professional level and to Alison as part of Team Bride. Of course none of it would have been as great had we not been able to share it with Dan and Jo Jo and me with my lovely bride. As the Ber said when asked what was the best part, simply announced, “Everything.” I couldn’t agree more.