Sunday, August 13, 2017 – Wedding Day!
Today we were just killing time until the wedding festivities, but to not be completely sluggardly, Mooney and I took a couple-mile brisk walk around the neighborhood this morning. The houses here are very small and built on the tiniest of lots, yet they probably cost half a million bucks. I don't know how anyone can afford to live in California.
For lunch we walked over to University Avenue again, this time to Canada Steak Burger, which besides burgers, also offers gyros, falafel, souvlaki, and kebabs. What about this place is Canadian I don't know. Anyway, the burgers were good, but they should have been ashamed of that unripened tomato slice. I threw mine off the burger. I'm certain you can get a better tomato in August in San Diego! Life's too short for crunchy tomatoes.
The wedding and reception were held in the East Village at Moniker Warehouse, a former industrial bakery now converted into a stylish urban event venue with brick walls, wood floors, and exposed rafters. Very chic. We got all dolled up and Uber'd over at 4:30 for the 5:00 ceremony.
The big day!
Carmen and Brian, all gussied up
Jana and Tom
Chris and Kelsey were handsome and beautiful as Chris's friend Matthew, recently ordained online just for the occasion, officiated their wedding. To honor Chris's Native American heritage, a blanket ceremony was performed, with the assistance of Chris's sister, Katie. The blanket represents the new household, in which the couple shroud themselves together to show their union. They then exchanged vows and rings, Chris's ring being the wedding ring worn by my late father, Chris's grandfather, who passed away in March of this year. I'm happy Chris has it.
Kelsey and Chris
After the ceremony, the guests were directed to the lobby for a cocktail hour while the wedding space was converted to space for the reception. Wedding officiant Matthew was also our lead bartender for the night and designed three signature cocktails for the special occasion. The man wears many hats.
My brothers and me, Mark, Jana, and Brian
Mark and Pamela
For dinner, Chris and Kelsey brought in a taco truck and a grilled-cheese bar. What a great idea! Later for dessert, there was the traditional doughnut wall. Okay, maybe not traditional, but it's a thing. I had no idea. In any event, there were to-go boxes for the gourmet doughnuts, and I made off with nine doughnuts at the end of the night. Bwahaha!
Bill and Marcia
Chris's brother Jacob (my other handsome nephew), Kelsey's brother Colin, and her friend Rachael gave toasts, occasionally hilarious and sometimes sweet, after which Chris and Kelsey had their first dance, and then merriment was had by all! I'm proud to say my table was the first to rush the dance floor. Brian brought mead to the reception, to supplement the already full bar, so we were merry indeed! Late in the evening, Chris and his multi-talented buddy Matthew actually performed a rap. (I told you Matthew wears many hats.)
Cutting a rug!
Chris raps
There was a photo booth set up out in the lobby, with accompanying props. The later in the evening it got, the more fun and interesting the photos! The party went on till 11:00, when the crowd filed outside, some fool (Matthew again) handed out sparklers to all of us drunkards, and the happy couple walked into the night...
Chris and Kelsey
Jana and Tom
Carmen and Brian, lost in space
Spider-Woman and Mooney
Tom, Jana, and Mooney
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