Heather's Wedding

The rehearsal started about 5PM on Friday. The rehearsal dinner followed at the beach house that Heather and Jeff rented for the week. The 60s-style weathered wood summer home was built above the rocky beach with a tiny lawn in between.It was a build-your-own-burrito buffet and I must say I was apprehensive as I have had very little confidence in “New England” Mexican. I was pleasently surprised. Trays of pollo asado and carnitas, asiago cheese, tomatillo salso, pico de gallo, jicama and pepper salad, guacamole, black beans, various other sauces and salsas, rice, cerveza Mexicana, etc.; all of it excellent. Cookies and cake made by my sister Betsy followed. It was hot and very humid but a sea breeze made the temperature just tolerable.
It started raining fairly early and coupled with the heat we became a bit apprehensive about Heather’s wedding scheduled for 5 PM. It was actually pouring as we drove to Branford at 4. As we approached the coast the sky cleared and the sun came out. There were the white chairs on the lawn and the brightly colored guests milling around under the trees. The Onewego Club is a vintage tennis/beach/social club located on the rocky beach a few miles west of New Haven. There’s a big clapboard clubhouse/hall with extensive decking and rolling green lawns with giant trees, old park benches, flower gardens and cottages. The club members, mostly in bathing suits watched with curiosity as we all arrived. The Wedding started out in a little arbor with the principals in slow procession down the lawn, through the chairs to the floral edge of the sea wall overlooking Long Island Sound. Jeff and his Posse were in beige suits with wine colored ties and flip-flops. I knew this was gonna be right! It was very casual and light-hearted. My brother had told me earlier that he was wearing pearls. He did. His wife, Dana fashioned a “tie” of long strands of old family pearls gathered at the neck by a bright, colorful brooch. It really looked good and I think the style could catch on. My sister Eileen’s son Billy played guitar and sang as the ceremony began. The tiny attendants [Jeff’s nephews and niece] walked down with Heather’s second love, her Lab-mix, Sally sporting a matching wine colored leash. My sister, Cathy and her husband, Fred, escorted the beautiful bride dressed in a strapless ivory number with lace, beaded accents and a line of buttons down the back and onto the train. Her beautiful blond locks were tucked up and held in place with small ivory orchids, which were repeated in the corsages of the mothers of the bride and groom and the grandmother of the bride. Jeff’s sister-in-law officiated. The décor was a family affair with sister, Eileen creating chair decorations and the ring pillow. My sister, Mary, and S-I-L Dana created the seaside themed table decorations. There were starfish and shells everywhere. The party started with a great variety of finger food offered by an extensive staff. There were spicy Cajun meatballs, the requisite Connecticut staple, pizza [3 varieties], 3 quiches, “quesadillas” [more accurately deep fried rolls], and steak wrapped somethings. Two bartenders kept our thirsts quenched. California Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet were offered at each table. The dinner menu included Chicken Plicate, salmon, prime rib, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, pasta w/ pesto and salads. The desert was pies and ice cream. The party started in earnest after dinner with a “funky” dance band. Aside from someone regularly calling for “Free Bird” everyone seemed enthusiastic with the musical repertory. And Aggie, at 95 she did really well hanging out with the young people until quite late.