more wedding pics

I've updated Saturday and Sunday with pictures from the wedding. If you can't get enough and want more, do check out the cool wedding Web site that Larkin and Rick had asked Jeff to set up so that some of Rick's relatives who couldn't attend the event could see what was happening. Jeff updated this site throughout the weekend...not an easy task considering the slow connection speed and the fact that he kept being called away for wedding-related activities like family photos. :-)

The photo at the top of today's Blathering is from Larkin's and Rick's wedding. My nieces Brittany and Olivia are at the far right.

There was a special table just for the kids during the reception, and a babysitter was hired to keep chaos under control. Each table setting at this table had crafts and toys, and the children were served hot dogs around 6:30 pm rather than having to wait until later in the evening with the adults:





The food, as I've mentioned before, was wonderful. Here's a photo of the lobster bisque appetizer:





Dinner was a buffet of food prepared by the groom and his helpers, and included roast beef, salad, scallops, small stuffed potatoes, other side dishes. Dessert: Haagen Dazs ice cream bar (perfect for the muggy weather), Rick's famous almond tiles, strawberries.

At each table setting was a jar of Rick's raspberry vinaigrette or his homemade salsa:





Each table also had a disposable camera and a small spray can of citronella. The latter came in handy since the mosquitoes starting coming out after sunset.

Here's a picture of the wedding ceremony site beside the pond:





Daniel LaBrash and his partner provided music as guests arrived. Flower petals had been scattered along the procession path and ceremony site.

As I mentioned earlier, Larkin had asked Debbie and me to perform a song after the exchange of the rings:





I had also written a song to surprise the bride and groom with during the reception; Debbie and I sang it during the speeches. By the end of the song, the whole room was singing along with the chorus, which was very cool.

For your entertainment, I've enclosed the lyrics to the song below. Insider jokes: Larkin and Rick help run a restaurant called Oasis, Rick always wears a baseball cap and tends to get up super-early to cook, crashes by 9 pm or so. Brittany is Larkin's daughter, from her first marriage.

LOVE OASIS
By Debbie Ridpath Ohi
(For Larkin & Rick, 2002-06-22)

We're here to celebrate the joining of Larkin & Rick
It's obvious these two are quite in love
(This is no movie trick)
If you're not sure just look into their faces
They have found their Love Oasis!


CHORUS (singalong):
Love love love Oasis
Love love love Oasis here

He's almost always cooking yummy things with a
cap on his hair
And it kinda makes ya wonder what he's
hiding under there! He works so
hard by 8 pm he looks like he's in stasis
Good thing they've found their Love Oasis!


CHORUS (singalong):
Love love love Oasis
Love love love Oasis here

And don't forget about a special little girl
Who has a sunny smile, the biggest in the world
(hey Brittany)
She shares her love and she shares her embraces
The three of them in their own Love Oasis...


CHORUS (singalong):
Love love love Oasis
Love love love Oasis
Love love love Oasis here