Family, Friends, Toasts & Champagne! {Rehearsal Dinner}

First things first: I apologize for disappearing. As soon as we returned from the honeymoon, my theatre company opened our second production (of which I was the production manager), and then Patrick, myself and a few other friends went into rehearsals, and opened a run of the musical Next to Normal, followed by me immediately going into rehearsals for Evil Dead: the Musical (yes, that's right...Evil. Dead. The Musical.). Needless to say, our life as newlyweds began and continues to be super busy!

I want to begin re-caping our wedding, if only for the joy of re-living it. It was the best week of our lives thus far. Let's start at the very beginning, The Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner!

Our rehearsal was at 11:00am on the Friday before our wedding (there was another wedding happening that day in our venue), so we woke, got ready and headed out immediately to the Towers. I wore my white strapless BCBG I told you about, with my DIY beaded necklace!

My Soon-to-be Husband wore a matching shirt! Love.

I admit I was getting nervy and stressed on the way to the Towers for our rehearsal. We had spent the night before assembling the favors (which, of course, I'll tell you all about), and there were a few things that still needed to fall into place. I hadn't seen Patrick for a few days (I had left work early to be able to finish up last minute errands/projects before the wedding, and had headed down to RI), but as soon as I saw him, I felt the nerves calm and excitement grow!

To tell the truth, as soon as our Officiant arrived and took charge, things went relatively smoothly! Our groomsmen and bridesmaids stepped up to the plate! With our friends looking on, my dad and I preceded to practice our walk down the aisle to Patrick who was waiting for me. During the rehearsal of the Ceremony, both Patrick and I suddenly became very emotional. I believe it started really to sink in that the following day would be our wedding day. We could barely make it through the vows! I looked around at my friends; some from when I was in elementary school, some new friends; and to my family, the smiles shining from their faces. I started to really feel the love and support around us that would continue to grow through the rest of the day and continue past our wedding day that still goes on today. We completed the rehearsal and finally got a clear picture of what our ceremony would be like. It was just as we hoped for, but until then, couldn't fully picture. We were so excited!

After that, we parted ways again; the girls and I to mani/pedis and the boys for lunch and maybe a game or two of disc-golf. I opted to drive with Bridesmaid Joelle, who sweetly offered to cart me around. But when we got back to the place where she had parked her car, we noticed that her driver's side rear-view mirror was hanging by a thread! Someone had swiped the car, and knocked it almost off! We headed to the police station to report it (all the while, my stress levels slowly rising). When we got there, a nice family was reporting that they had swiped a car a few moments before! We found that it was the same accident, and cheer was restored to both Joelle's and my own faces as the report was filed and apologies were accepted.

We arrived late to the nail salon, and I made a few changes to my original plan for my nails (opaque white heart on the ring finger and bright blue toes). But I went with a soft pink for fingers and toes and outlines of hearts on the ring fingers --- I think they came out really well!

Final pic of my sparkly without the wedding band!

After all the ladies were properly pampered and polished, we headed home. I gathered up the peacock fingerprint guestbook and headed with my parents to the Tower House, the beautiful bed & breakfast where we stayed the night we got engaged!

My handsome little brother and beautiful MOH sister!

Guys, I can't sing enough praise for this place. Not only was the rehearsal dinner delicious and full of family, friends and love, but they decorated for us and made the place into (seriously) an enchanted garden. The weather was perfect, everyone was outside, there were lights and lanterns in the trees, and delicious nomblies around every corner.

But the best part of that night was the toasts. It's actually quite hard to capture with words the amount of love, honesty, friendship and family that were poured into each toast; and almost all of our friends and a lot of family members stood up and said something. P and I were overwhelmed with happiness! Our best friends made us all teary with their sentiments. Patrick's cousins made us laugh and cry and our ring-bearer and my little cousin stole the show with some fantastic lines ("I remember when you two started marrying each other..."). The toasts were such a gift to us. My grandfather came up to me at the end of the night and said "You know, you have amazing friends." And I do know that. I couldn't be more grateful.

 

With a beautiful rehearsal dinner where we re-connected with far away family and old friends, laughed and cried happy tears with our dearest and toasted and ate delicious treats, Patrick and I got ready to spend our last nights as an unmarried couple. He drove me home, just like he did when we met and carpooled to rehearsal in that fateful production of Birds of Paradise. We kissed goodnight. And turned in, dreaming of our wedding day!

More to come!

Love,

Micah

The Ever Epic E-pics!

Finally. The wait is over! I will post our Engagement Pictures! I have been teasing you for far too long! :)

Here's the story: In January, I was in a little musical called "Into the Woods,"by Mr. Stephen Sondheim. This was before we were engaged (actually the week before he proposed the show went up). Anywho---I got to perform alongside this amazingly talented lady: Kate Harper.

The Baker's Wife and Cinderella (personal shot)

Those were almost always our expressions in this play (personal shot)

Turns out that she, being amazingly talented, also is an excellent professional photographer and co-owns a prominent studio in Boston with her good friend Lara Woolfson. This is The Studio Nouveau. They are "two cheeky girls with one chic vision" and they are so wonderful! (Look them up!!!!!)

After we got engaged, I was thinking about researching them for our photographers. While it didn't quite work out and we are going with another photographer, Patrick and I did have the amazing opportunity to participate in an Engagement session shot by Lara from the Studio Nouveau. We shot in a beautiful house/mansion with Lara and what a blast we had! Here are some of our favorites:

All of these pictures are copyright Studio Nouveau unless otherwise noted

I cannot recommend The Studio Nouveau enough for photography. As you can see, not only are they great photographers, but they truly care and want to get to know the couple while having a good time. They made us feel very comfortable, and I loved being able to be a part of the session! Bottom line, if you are looking for a fun-loving duo for your wedding/engagement/maternity/boudoir (seriously, they do everything!) I would really look them up! http://studionouveau.blogspot.com/, http://www.thestudionouveau.com/

Thanks Kate and Lara, you gals are fierce, fun artists and we are so appreciative for the beautiful photos!

Best, 

Micah 

Get Going Already!

Hello all! I feel like I have been gone for years, it has been far too long. Here's what I have been doing for the past summer:

As you may know from my other blog, I have been doing an apprenticeship with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company in Boston! Little did I know that besides classes from 9am-5pm everyday, 6 days a week(...for 10 weeks!) I would be cast in the mainstage "All's Well That Ends Well," the show that the professional company put on this year on the Common. It. Was. Amazing. And truly and deeply exhausting. To keep this lame excuse for not blogging very much this summer brief, let me simply say that I learned so much, gained invaluable acting experience, and a lot of strength of endurance physically, emotionally, and mentally. (If you'd like to know more about my experience this summer with CSC, please go ahead and visit my other blog!)

From this program, which ended a mere five days ago, Patrick and I are diving right into a musical production being opened next week! (Thank goodness we have each other! And we are playing lovers, so not too difficult of roles ;-) ) So, as you might have guessed wedding planning this summer has been kind of slow.



I know what I need to do...I'm just so tired!


But here's what I have been doing a lot of is a lot of thinking about things. Making little decisions with Patrick verbally and mulling over caterers and photographers. What I need to be doing is GETTING ON TOP OF THINGS! Because now there are 325 days left, (according to my Wedding Plandroid app on my new Thunderbolt phone! - I have two other Wedding apps. I need to stop) so I need to get on it. And believe me, the motivation is there, there is just one little thing that still needs to fall in place before I can go all-in wedding planning cray cray: I need a full-time job. One of those 9-5ers that can support me. So, in the midst of all my and Patrick's glorious wedding dreamings, I am interviewing like a madwoman!

Never fear! All is not lost! This post is not to say I have gotten nothing done whatsoever! I have in fact; started making paperflowers for our archway for the ceremony, gone to David's Bridal (a second time, I never got to post about the first) and I may or may or may not have decided on THE dress! I've also emailed a bunch of photographers, made a giant Excel document listing all the DIY projects I would like to do, added about 40 things to it, and we are planning a family budget dinner to discuss who is paying what for what (I know, joyous) for the wedding.

But guys, I am SO excited that now I can really start planning and getting things done. I am so looking forward to evenings of crafting with my bridesmaids, giggling about the honeymoon plans with P, and starting to really solidify our big day! From now on, there will be more frequent posts because this girl is getting her butt in gear and going forward!

Best,

Micah

P.S. Remember when I showed you a sneak peakie? All the waiting will soon be over!!!!



A Romantic-al, Theatrical Wedding!

On June 25th, two of Patrick's and my best friends, Erica and Andrew got married! It was an AMAZING wedding at the Calderwood Pavilion, one of the most beautiful and prestigious theatre houses in Boston! Erica, as I may have mentioned in talking about her Italian-themed bridal shower my friends and I put together, is an actress, and Andrew is a composer. Their wedding ceremony and celebration were held in Deanne Hall of the Calderwood, and what an amazing, glowing space it was!

Erica and Andrew were married by their good friend, and Erica's director in Light in the Piazza

Their ceremony was beautiful, honest and truly heartfelt. It included promises of love and praises of character as well as a few hearty laughs, for what is more "Andrew and Erica" then some good chuckles! Also included in the ceremony were references to Light in the Piazza, including the title phrase of (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful love songs ever written: "Love to Me".

Andrew's younger brother read a beautiful excerpt from Nietzsche, of whom the groom is an ardent fan, and the couple prepared to listen to Erica's brothers; Michael and Sean and my Patrick sing another piece Patrick composed. The text was from the poem "Love" by Billy Collins, and it was perfect for the couple. Patrick truly captured the essence of the relationship Collins was describing in the melodies of the three tenors. I was moved to (happy) tears.

Then, Andrew and Erica exchanged their promises to one another. They were perfect, each capturing themselves and each other in words and promising to love and cherish one another always. After exchanging their vows and rings, it was official! And the celebration began!

For dinner, we got to greet the bride and groom on the way to a buffet-style serving of BBQ and sides from the delicious Red Bones Barbecue! with, OMG, CUPCAKES for dessert! (Chocolate or Vanilla iced cupcakes to be precise). Yes, I was freaking out.

Then we kicked off an evening of dancing, karaoke and fun with dear friends surrounded by the glow of those two, Andrew and Erica, celebrating their love and friendship. It was an amazing night!

They are kind of a big deal!

Ladies...

And, this is happening...

Patrick and I just before the party begins!

Beautiful, happy couple!

It is amazing to see such close friends share something so special. Patrick and I are honored and blessed to have been present for two weddings like that, that truly touch the heart. We love you guys, Congratulations!

Best,

Micah

Wedding Summer 2011 Begins!

Hello all! I know I haven't posted in a long time, but it is for good reason. I have recently returned from somewhat of a destination (read: five hour drive) wedding I was in last week and this week began my 9 to 5, six days a week acting apprenticeship with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. So, needless to say, I have been running around for quite some time. But it was happy running around, for I was a bridesmaid in my dear friends' wedding on June 4th!

The wedding took place around Philly in PA, and to say that it was romantic, beautiful, and a great time would definitely be an understatement. But let me back track a little to the end of May. After my other great friend's shower and bachelorette, we had another one coming up for Abbie, our June 4th bride! I was in charge of decor for the Shower! (Remember those paper flowers I was ranting about before? Put those to good use, but more on that later!!!) Here are a few pics of how it came out. It was held at Finale; Desserterie & Bakery! (Warning: This link will make you crave sweet, sweet desserts....like NOW!)

Lunch buffet decor

"Bride" Bunting

 "Love" Bunting

I'll be sure also to post tutorials for my DIY decorations like the Bunting and the paper flowers I used for table decor, but I'm watching the length of this post so, it will have to wait for a future post. (I promise, not for as long as before). 

The Shower went off splendidly and I created a Ribbon Bouquet that she actually did use in the rehearsal the day before the wedding.

Ribbon Bouquet, the Second

Abbie, the bea-yoo-tiful bride!

For the Bachelorette, we slipped out of our garden party sundresses and into some slinky black dresses. Abbie wore hot pink and a "Bride-To-Be" sash, completed with a glowing crown. She, being lovely as she is of course, rocked it! We got together, just us bridesmaids and Abbie and had a nice dinner in Boston at Lolita's Cocina and Tequila Bar where we shared a lot of laughter, stories, and some delicious guacamole. I think this was especially nice to have some quality time with Abbie before the Wedding and just with us girls. Then we met up with some more friends and headed over to Limelight Karaoke and sang our little hearts out! We of course made a night of it, and had a wonderful time!

Bridesmaids and Bride!

At the Bachelorette Dinner!

A week or so later, it was time to head on down to Philly! We packed our little backpacks and carefully placed my bridesmaid's dress and Patrick's Best Man suit in the car and set off! We arrived to be greeted by the happy couple, their parents and more of our good friends. Wedding Summer begins. We celebrate a successful rehearsal by gathering for some delicious Italian food and touching speeches from family at the rehearsal dinner restaurant. And then, the big day arrived!

Bridesmaid dress and Best Man suit!
Looking snazzy, I might say!

It was a beautiful ceremony, personalized to suit Devin and Abbie perfectly. It was presided over by Abbie's friend, boss and priest from an Episcopal church in Boston. He traveled down to preside over the wedding and both Patrick and I really enjoyed and appreciated and felt connected to what he was saying. (It is something that we will be looking into). It was religious, and also specific to Devin and Abbie, and was meaningful for all. I cannot wait to explore this more for our own wedding!

Not only were we honored enough to be a part of the bridal party, but Patrick composed a piece of music that we, and our friends sang just before they exchanged their vows! It is a letter from Abigail Adams to her husband John set by Patrick to his utterly romantic and compelling music.

I am unable to truly define the beauty of our friends' wedding on June 4th and we are more than happy for them. It was wonderful to eat with our closest friends and dance the night away, but more importantly, it was so powerful to witness our two friends truly come together in the commitment and ceremony of marriage. It was a wonderful time and Patrick and I were so honored to be a part of their special day!

(We love you guys!!!)