Once upon a time, there was a great wedding...

Katie and Sam tied the knot on December 27. As is our family custom, we held the reception the night before, which makes the actual wedding day much more peaceful. As is not our custom, we had the reception the night before at our house. Andi, of course, decorated, catered, and generally ran the show. It was, of course, spectacular. Andi delegated to me (Marco) the task of captioning the photos. So here goes:

Here's the happy couple at the front door... Yes, that's our front door, now painted festive Chinese red.


Mmmm, chocolate wedding cake.


All the family gathered 'round, including Liz and Andrew from Boston, and Becca and Matt (and Rosie Jo, in the baby-wrap) from Hawaii.

Observant viewers who were at Liz's wedding a year ago will be happy to note that Grandma and Grandpa, who were both in wheelchairs then, are up and about again, hale and hearty.

When Andi saw Katie's non-conventional wedding dress (obtained from tailors in Shanghai and shipped DHL) she was inspired to give the party a non-conventional Chinese theme. So she did away with the usual brownies and punch, and instead had Chinese dumplings (pot-stickers) and garlic beans and bok choy, served in take out boxes.


Note Sam's white python boots. The hit of the evening...


There have been several votes in favor of leaving the sparkly glitter-stars on the dining room chandelier permanently. My "nay" votes are so far being outnumbered.


Sam's former workplace, a bakery in Logan, provided 30 loaves of chocolate chip pumpkin bread. Andi added the cherubs.


Cousin Ian, the Marine, showed up in his dress uniform.


Grandma's so proud!


Gladiolas.

The five siblings. No more family weddings for 20 years. Hear that Zina?!?!



Our girls sure picked tall husbands!


The happy couple.


Winter wonderland. It snowed just enough to make it beautiful, but not so much to make the sidewalk slippery.


Next day, bright and early, we regrouped in Salt Lake City.


Photogenic Zina always turns heads.


Here comes the bride... It was really cold! Thanks to Grandma Zina (Andi's 96 year old grandmother) for the vintage fur wrap.


Matt and cute baby Rosie. Of all of us shivering in the shadow of the temple, she was the least used to the cold. Give me back my Hawaiian sunshine, she's saying.


Huddling together for warmth. Oh, and because they really like each other!


Sam, Katie, Liz, Andrew.



After the temple, we had a family luncheon at Sam's brother's house in Ogden, and then the newlyweds headed off to the relative warmth of southern Utah.

So, there you have it. Tune in about twenty years from now for the next installment.

Congratulations Katie and Sam! And thanks to everyone who came to celebrate, who helped put it all together, and who have sent good wishes to the bride and groom.