We got married in St. Louis Church on the morning of April 26th...
There's quite a story about my ring. I picked out an unusual, cognac-colored sapphire from Tanzania and designed the setting with the help of a fabulous jeweler in NYC. (You can check out some of Leon's work here.) With my affection for all things old, it was natural to have at least one of my rings be an antique, so I found an antique platinum wedding band at an estate jeweler's website. It was from a wedding in 1921, so I think it has good karma! Anyway, my sapphire ring arrived just in time-- the Fed Ex truck pulled up as we were getting in the car to head to the church! So here's our rings.
Mitch and his father wore traditional Filipino dress shirts called barongs. The fabric is made from the fiber in pineapple leaves and is entirely hand embroidered. Mitch's dad Johnny had theirs custom-made on his last trip to the Philippines.
We saw each other privately before the ceremony, and I clowned around a little.
Right before things got started, my Uncle Art and Mitch's dad had a moment. Paternal pride? or relief?
I hope this is a picture of me singing... but I suspect I just couldn't keep quiet.
At least some of the time I managed some decorum, however.
Father Larry conducted a beautiful and moving Mass.
The choral group was amazing, and our organist Chris helps make the Saint Louis music program famous. He put a lot of effort into making our music unique and inspiring.
I apparently made some faces, showed some expressions etc. during the vows...
And after we were pronounced husband and wife, I started jumping up and down!
This is Heather, my best friend since we were eight! Since we did not have a wedding party, best man, maid of honor etc, Mitch asked his brother to be a witness, and I asked Heather. They stood up for us in the most literal sense, as well (of course) in the metaphysical sense.
My long-time family friends, Art and Linda Matthews, babysat me when I was four and five... I grew up with their boys... and basically they're second parents to me. I cracked my "Uncle" Art up during the formal portraits by telling him not to pinch...
My family-- from left to right: cousins Carolyn and Judy, my mom's sister Aunt Pat, me, Uncle Art, Aunt Linda, and cousins Liz and Jackie.
Mitch's family...
After the ceremony we all headed to our house for the reception in the back yard.
Yum- mojitos!
My best friends from grad school, Janet (on the left, from Richmond VA) and Shelley (from Little Rock). True Southern ladies to the core, bless their little hearts...
Mitch's friend and coworker, Kari, with his newborn son Dax.. and a friend from the salsa scene, Sara, in the background.
Part of Mitch's harem-- Adriana, Jessica, and Sara...
Sarah, Mitch's brother's daughter. She'll be a heartstealer in a few years!
My girlfriend Ali in the foreground, and Lauren, my law school roommate's wife, in the background.
The titas and titos enjoyed a good laugh..
It would not be a Filipino get-together without lots of fabulous food. I can't say enough good things about the food at Gammad, a local Filipino restaurant who catered some of the dishes at our reception.
Our other caterer, Frauke with Blue Trout Catering, did a fabulous job on the rest of the meal-- hors d'ouerves, salads, fruit, drinks, pasta...
And I made a big deal out of the cake-- there were four separate, different cakes! and all delicious!
As far as portraits go, I like these...
By around six that evening, most folks went back to their hotels to change, nap, and relax. At eight, we regrouped downtown at Copa, the club where Mitch and I teach salsa each week. We taught a quickie merengue dance lesson and got people back in the party mood.
Uncle Art and Nicole, a friend from Houston...
Mitch and his Tita (aunt) Ciony (short for Concepcion, pronounced "shoney").
Me and Sergio, another Houston friend..
Mitch's mom Norma and my Aunt Pat.
Mitch's cousin Sharon from Florida and family friend Richard...
And when we danced together, it was to my favorite salsa song, "Otra Oportunidad" by Jimmy Bosch..
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