It was a brilliant fall day. We couldn't have scripted it any better. Cool but not cold, sunny and dry. It was our favorite kind of day. After a restless night apart (actually, I slept quite well!) -- me at my parents' house and Melissa at home -- I was allowed to return only after she had left for the hotel. While Melissa and the bridesmaids got ready in Saratoga, (eating cookies and drinking champagne ) the groomsmen and I got ready at home. The time was drawing near...




When the groomsmen and I got to the hotel, we wasted no time getting many of the formal pictures out of the way (see the "Formals" section later on this page)--me with my family and the guys, Melissa with her family and the girls. And, after a truly uplifting "centering" session with Reverend Joan, it was on to the ceremony.

Congress Park was alive with color that day. After much conversation with the City of Saratoga Springs the week prior to the wedding, Spit 'N Spat, the two statues marooned in the reflecting pool of the Italian Gardens, were left running for our ceremony providing a beautiful backdrop for the event.




I arrived with Reverend Joan, the groomsmen and my parents, while Melissa, the bridesmaids and her parents made their way to the park on the trolley. I vividly recall the many smiling faces of our family and friends as I walked with my parents up the aisle. The girls and Melissa's parents got off the trolley, and the groomsmen proceeded to walk them up as well. As we waited for Melissa to make her entrance, the anticipation mounted.




Melissa met her parents just outside the Trolley and began the slow procession. I met them as they reached the first row, we sat her parents, and the ceremony began. Our good friend Karen Keane read from I Corinthians. It was very emotional for everyone, but she did wonderfully. The Unity Candle lighting followed the reading. As luck would have it, the wind blew up just as we were about to light the candle. Somehow, though, through equal parts teamwork, hope and determination, we were able to keep it lit! It was truly uncanny. As we placed the hurricane over the lit candle there was a rousing round of applause. Reverend Joan made the observation that by working together, anything is possible.




Next came our vows, the ring ceremony, and the all-important kiss. Reverend Joan pronounced us husband and wife and we slowly turned and began making our way down the aisle.One guest commented that from the back, it looked as though we were walking into our future together.




We received our guests in the park following the ceremony,and they immediately lined up for the requisite birdseed pummeling gauntlet. Yes, we were indeed pummeled. But even with more birdseed in her hair than our backyard birdfeeder, my new bride was still the most beautiful woman in the world.




As our guests boarded the Trolley to be taken to the cocktail hour, the bridal party began the business of taking the formals, and I with my new bride prepared for the continuation of the happiest day of our lives.

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This page was last updated on August 09, 2007