Pre-Weddingness

Pre-Wedding Fun

What a whorl-wind weekend. After settling our tabs at work Emily and I finally set off for the west best coast to get hitched. We were full of smiles and giggles the whole way. Emily didn't mind getting to the airport early for our flight where we even had extra time for a pre-pre-wedding cocktail or two. We were inseparable, ringed hands clinched in unbeatable excitement the whole way to Seattle. Though, not entirely without complications; we seemed to have boarded the Chucky-cheese of airplanes as the children nearly out numbered the adults. Between screaming babies and pooping toddlers we lovingly/bloodshot-eyed stared at each other muttering, "two and DONE" under our exasperated breaths.

Once in Seattle we were met by the grand-master of our wedding ceremony, Emily's mother, who through unparalleled loving patience, had single-handedly organized, arranged, carried, created, afforded, setup, and completed our entire wedding. Blood, sweat, tears, crafts, inspirations, email flurries, and suppliers were painstakingly poured in to the creation and production of what would be one of the most spectacular days of our lives. Both of her parents were beaming as they picked us up with a picnic of salmon sandwiches. That night was filled with wine, fine dining, and family. We spent time with Emily's baby niece Sophia, made powerful cocktails, and proceeded to solve, yet again, the troubles of the world. 

The next day, the exhausted medical residents slept in and had a relaxing day of pedicures, massages, and some playful times with the Rosen-hogan clan at Pikes Market.

For a while, my closest (married) friends would often ask, "has it set in yet?" And to be honest, between working, planning and sleeping the concept of being married had not set in completely. It wasn't until we were on the ferry towards Bainbridge Island that it hit me. I remember it well. It was late afternoon on a warm sunny day in Seattle. The temperature was balmy, the air was electrified, and we were both utterly contented. Emily was standing towards the front of the ferry with the wind whipping through her long hair, her golden shoulders warm under the sun she looked very Titanic-movie-esk. Standing there gorgeous and happy with an adventurous aura about her, It wasn't what I had expected. In that moment I felt gut-punched, excited, terrified, overwhelming joy, and my eye welled up with tears as I saw my radiant future standing in front of me, the universe had definitely conspired to bring us together. Holding her in my arms we watched the regal Seattle skyline disappearing behind us and the beautiful Northwest forests of the Olympic islands welcoming us.

We drove to the 'Casa de Rosenfeld' a colossal VRBO that my awe inspiring brother had secured for our family. It was a 20 bedroom mansion set upon a cliff overlooking the ocean with a fire pit, wrap around porch, and an enormous attic built for kiddos.

We were greeted by Ben, Pamela, and Miche who promptly ensured that we had drinks in our hands. The rest of the family filtered to the house until it was nearly busting at the seams. The air was thick with children's laughter, clinking glasses, and lively conversation. Smells of the ocean mixed with the huge family style pizzas we gorged ourselves on. Ben, the ever-so-organizer of the family had lit a campfire outside and setup chairs for everyone. We migrated out and huddled around the fire under a great Maple tree looking out at the starry sky over the ocean. With the kiddos as our drink/food servers we settled in to our seats preparing for the alcohol-induced philosophical debauchery to commence. Laughing, arguing, debating, crying, yelling, and toasting dominated the remainder of the night.

Again, I found myself sitting back and taking in the moment. Surrounded by the people I love, whose faces aglow in the firelight, clucking like happy chickens in the crisp night air as the ocean waves crashed indifferently in the murky blackness outside our joyous circle.  Emily and I occasionally squeezing each other's hands to the intermittent corky family moments or just to silently say, "I love you". The night had its wild moments as many Rosenfeld nights do but we all made it to bed and Emily and I realized this was the last time we would be together alone and unmarried. 

The next morning was also pleasantly lazy. We chatted with family over eggs and bushels of berries while drinking coffees infused with Baileys. We then set off to change for the Rehearsal dinner of a lifetime. This was our only stressed moment during the entire week. We had set out 2 hours early to get in a much needed nap before changing for dinner. The trip was a mere 2 miles. We hit traffic... apparently there is a draw bridge which, "may shut down traffic spontaneously for hours at a time" said a blinking sign in front of us. That 2 mile trip took 90 minutes. Let's just say we were less than thrilled at the prospect of our guests potentially running into the same issue on our wedding day.  But we made it to 'Casa de Eck' with time to dress but not nap. I met some of Emily's extended family and had a funny moment when I went to get a iron I was told it was in the forbidden dress room so one of Emily's cousins volunteered to run up the stairs and grab it. Standing at the foot of the stairs I saw his disgusted face as he opened the door to the dress room, coyly he shouted down to me, "man! That is one short and very pink dress!" Seeing my concerned face he quickly retrieved the iron and while patting my back with a big grin he mumbles, "good luck...".  We got dressed and headed to the Paulsbo Yacht  Club. 

Now I have been hearing about this dinner for a long time. Expectations were high as my mother had undertaken this project herself. She didn't disappoint. We roll up to a stunning building with a giant personal banner out front. As we were walking in, the nautical themes enveloped us. What touched me the most right away were the cookies. 

(For those of you that do not know about my mother's famous cookies, these are a staple in my life. Ever since leaving home after high school my mother has sent me cookies once a month. Not just regular cookies but true culinary and esthetic masterpieces.

She has her own cookie wrapping station to not only individually wrap her cookies but she has a custom label she adds while filling her packages with the theme of the month. Whether I was in collage, the peace corps, or trekking the world, her cookies found me each month. They were the saving grace of my frat brothers, Salvadoran communities members, exhausted medical school colleagues, even more exhausted co-residents, and anyone I have ever worked with.)

The room was dressed to the nines in blues and yellows with nautical pieces strategically positioned everywhere.

Each place setting had napkins folded into boats,  special settings for the kiddos, and my mother pleasantly greeting and directing everyone. She hugged Emily and I and took us over the bar for Moscow Mules in copper mugs which we were told were for the guests to take home! Then the appetizers... she had engaged the Unlikely Spaniard, for a Northwest-Latin fusion extravaganza.  Shrimp and crab ceviches presented on spoons, and various other delectable tapas. Emily and I snuck bites where we could between schmoozing with guests and family. The Raines came and I was their, "honorary nephew" so we could use their club membership for the venue.

We chatted all afternoon, it was overcast but it reminded me of home with all of the boats bobbing un-emphatically in the marina and the Olympic mountains as a back drop. The head chef called everyone's attention to the Paella for presentation. This knocked our socks off.  This vibrant, colorful paella was an outstanding blend of white and dark chicken, pork ribs, prawns, squid, clams, mussels, artichokes, and green beans. It came out on a 6 foot diameter cast iron paella skillet and the room was instantly saturated with the aroma of Latin seafood and the heat from the paella itself. It was so spectacular that people applauded the entrance. The dish was radiating deep spicy yellows and reds.

The sheer magnitude of the presentation was only matched by the flavors and taste of the dish itself. Gustatory explosions of peppers, seafood, and chilies filled our mouths. Once our senses recovered our fathers started speaking. Again, this was very purposeful. As Emily and I embark on our great adventure I wanted a major theme of our wedding to be about our parents and their successful unions. My father spoke powerfully about our family's history, escaping the holocaust, and forging a life in the United States. It was touching to see nearly my entire family in one room at the same time. Emily's father introduced his family both relatives from near and far away. After the parents we had our friends speak and if you weren't there then I am truly sorry but their words touched our hearts, made us laugh, cry, and filled us with unimaginable pride at the people we have in our lives. Then the slide show put together by Miche. It was surreal witnessing the evolution of Emily as she grew up, you could tell by some of the snickering that there were timeless stories behind most of our photos (I know mine had some). We enjoyed another fantastic dessert and then said our goodbyes as we hit the after party. Meeting up with even more of our friends we had the privileged of witnessing the joining of friends from all aspects of our lives in one place. Stories were shared, dancing occurred, and we even snuck in a little beer pong before I kissed my bride-to-be goodnight.

That night I returned to the house on the cliff and sat out alone on the porch. It was pitch black but warm, silent except for the occasional crashing wave in the distance. I was calm and certain giving myself any chance for doubt, cold feet, or nervousness to arise, but they never did.  I was confident and I was ready. I crawled up to the attic and wrapped myself in the only available fitted sheet around and slept peacefully.