Here Comes the Bride!

We flew in to San Francisco last weekend to attend the wedding of Omid's sister Arezou & her fiance Evan. I have lots of SFO photos, but decided to post our mini vacation photos backwards.

First: the wedding!

**NOTE: I am in LOVE with the Instagram app on my phone and decided to 'instagram' most of my photos.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

The wedding was held at The Harvest Inn in Napa. This is the view from Arezou & Evan's room.

I snuck a photo while the bride & groom were getting photographed before the ceremony.

Arezou & Evan walking down the aisle together.
Notice the fresh lemon leaves, lavender & rosemary under their feet. The air was positively fragrant!

My father-in-law Mansour reading a Persian 'Poem of Love' written by Fereydoon Moshiri.

Here is the poem. Blogger won't let me rotate the photo. Sorry!

The Kiss!

The newlyweds!!

Here is the table. It was so beautifully decorated!
 Everything was perfect: from the table settings to the flowers. Simply stunning!

♥♥♥!!!

The proud parents!
 My inlaws, Fari & Mansour.

Beautiful mother-of-the-bride & her handsome son!♥

Cousins: Baanu & Matty.
Naseem was unable to attend as she started classes the next day.
We missed you Nas!!!♥

Lovely!

I can honestly say I have never been to a more beautiful wedding. Everything was perfect and beautiful.

CONGRATULATIONS Arezou & Evan!!! We wish you all the happiness in the world!!

Wedding Crasher!

I kind of crashed a wedding on Saturday. Kinda sorta, but not really. Brenda & Tom were invited along with Tom's friend Eric. B suggested I tag along as Eric had responded for two to attend the wedding/reception - but was actually going alone. They didn't have to ask me twice! I drove up with Brenda and Tom rode with Eric (so I was actually B's date!). The wedding was in Belfair (near Shelton). Belfair & Shelton have the distinctive reputation for being 'scummy' towns. I was really intrigued as I wanted to know what kind of couple wanted to get married in Belfair! I was in for a surprise as the wedding was held at a beautiful home & the property = well - if it wasn't in Belfair - I would have loved to live on it! Ten landscaped acres with a huge shop (Omid's dream property!).

On our way!
When we were almost there - we saw this sign! Scary!!

*This actual photo was taken off the internet - we were driving too fast to get the sign (plus I may have been too scared to get out of the car to snap the photo!)

Reception tent. Read on to find out why there were no chairs!

Waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The ceremony was really nice! It was held outside. The minister said one thing I thought was great. He said whenever anyone in the crowd touched their wedding rings, they should remember their spouse and pray for them. I liked that!

After the ceremony, we were told to carry our chairs to the reception tent. Funny - but I am glad we didn't have to stand!

The kiss!

Tom's friend Eric told B & I go inside the house. We found lots of taxidermied animals.
This goat was a favorite.

I thought this was an interesting way to make sure no one gets your cup:

Just stick it in your pocket.

Okay-I was shocked at this man's outfit FOR A WEDDING!!!

A Harley-Davidson tank top?! Really!?

Eric, Tom, B & me.

The dance floor. B only danced to one song with me & ( had to be forcibly taken to the dance floor).

Dancing to Sweet Home Alabama

Dance B Dance!

Al in all - I had a great time and am so glad I went! Thanks for your extra ticket Eric!

A Decision

Okay...we have decided that we are NOT going to go to the wedding next weekend. There was just not enough notice. Omid and I both agreed that we would have probably gone IF the invitation had arrived a few weeks earlier. So, I will send a card & gift and call it good.

Also...if we had gone up north for the wedding....I would have missed the Barn House Flea Market that I have been waiting for. I have never gone, but have heard great things about past sales. Check it out here.

What to do, what to do...

Omid & I received a wedding invitation in the mail yesterday. I was a little stunned to see it is for next Saturday, the 18th (in the Seattle area). I checked the postmark on the envelope to see when it was mailed (thinking it got lost about 6 weeks ago) but it said the 3rd of July.

I quickly went from excitement to some other feelings. Were we forgotten guests...added at the last minute? Or...were we on a second list...that if first attendees couldn't make it, the second list was consulted? Or...does this couple just not know that invitations need to be sent out at least six weeks in advance? Should I even be analyizing this as there are more important things to worry about?

Omid and I are unsure if we should go or not. Part of me really wants to go...and the other half just says...send a card & a gift certificate. What do you think? Vote in my poll on the right.

Busy Saturday

Omid and I went to a wedding reception yesterday afternoon. We had a great time and even ran into some friends from long ago (when our kids were toddlers....Katie B. - keep reading!)....Bride & Groom

Look who we ran into! Chloe & Diane. Katie B. - this picture is for you!!!

snacks
Celebrating the COUGS WIN (oh...and a wedding too!)



Lin & Ward

An Irish band played at the reception. I asked them if they took requests and they said yes. So I requested the song from Napolean Dynamite. They didn't know which song was from N.D. I told him I would be right back. I called Nas, got the info and told him the name of the song. They said,' Of course we can play that song!" They played it and Omid danced a little jig for me (sorry - no video of the jig - but it was witnessed by several coworkers).

Serious

Dessert!

Say cheese!

Cougar Fans!

Ward was jealous he was left out of the last photo. This is a 'do-over.'

We were having such a good time, we decided to 'extend' the fun. So we invited ourselves & the Kelloggs over to Omid's parents for dinner.

Omid & I ran to Cash & Carry to pick up some rib eye steaks.
Right after I snapped this photo in the store, a rude employee yelled at me, "Hey! No photography in the store!" I was feeling brave and said right back to her (in my sweetest 'kill them with kindness' voice), "Don't worry! I wasn't taking a picture of YOU!" Hmmmph! Omid said in his best Tony Soprano voice, "fuggediboutit." So I did.

Remy - hoping for a handout.

Beefy goodness.

Cool 70's photo of Fari.

Try saying THAT 3 times fast.

Shibaba pof pofi, shibaba pof pofi, shibaba pof pofi.

Omid in Fari's tub (he was giving Lin & Ward a tour of the house).

All the time the adults were upstairs, the kids disappeared downstairs with my camera. Here's a sampling of what they were doing.