The Celebration of Grace and Paul
Posted: August 11, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
Yesterday was the most beautiful wedding day for my fairy Godchild Grace and her sweet now husband Paul. Last night I barley had enough time to write about what was the best wedding ever, so I only covered the ceremony before passing out.
Now, 24 hours after the ceremony I finally have a moment to sit down and reflect on all the fun, the conversations, the friends, the details and the happy couple. I am still exhausted, but some of that is because we had to leave NH this morning, return Russ’ rental car in Boston and go pick up Carter’s Girl friend Claire to go to meet Claire’s parents for the first time. This plan for our meeting has been in the works for months and it was just wonderful. I do wish I was not so tired, but I was still in the glow of the wedding weekend which was a bonus.
Now back to the wedding…. Suzanne has been a great planner for at least the 45 years I have known her. So it was no surprise that every last detail of this wedding was perfect. When Grace and Paul got engaged almost two years ago Suzanne started the search for wedding venues. As Steve and Suzanne had recently moved to NH and purchased a lot on the New Hampshire sea cost I suggested they have an at home wedding, even though they did not have a house on their land yet.
Suzanne ended up taking that idea and running with it and what took place was so far from a little tent in the grass that I had suggested. Instead a steel and glass architectural wonder was built over looking the ocean with a porch full of comfy couches and chairs. As soon as the happy couple walked down the aisle Steve and Suzanne led the way for the guests to join them in the glass house for drinks and appetizers.
No one was shy about enjoying a mini lobster rolls or any of the offerings from the raw bar. I was so happy to get to visit with Suzanne’s four sisters and their families. Suzanne’s many friends from the years all had a great time reconnecting, just as Steve’s numerous friends did. Grace and Paul’s friends were the young blood of the party who made sure the dance floor was never empty. Carter had the best time with Grace’s brothers, Jack and Oliver and a bunch of their cousins at a table strategically placed near the band.
The Band! Music has always been a huge part of Steve’s life. When I asked him at age 27 if he could be anyone else in the world who would he be, he quickly announced, “Sting.” At the time I was hardly cool enough to grasp what a wonderful answer that was.
It came as no surprise that the band, all dozen or so of them, was out of this world. The playlist was right out of our era, since I am certain those were the songs Grace heard her whole lifetime. The dancing was powerful and exhausting. It started early and only took a break for dinner to be served and when the speeches were being given.
Dinner was served family style at each table with a flight of haddock, chicken, risotto, and vegetables. No one went hungry. I loved getting a chance to get to know my friend’s Rose’s boy friend Gene and Sally’s husband Pete. As always it was great to see Frank and Janet.
The dinner tables were a combination of rounds and long tables laden with ivory vases of varying shapes and sizes filled with every type of beautiful yellow flowers and lemons strewn about and used as place cards. Someone asked Grace about the theme of yellow and she said, “It is the color of sunshine and that is what Paul is.”
After dinner the speeches began. First from Steve, whom I certain had thought more than once over Grace’s lifetime what he might say on this day. Every tender word was perfect, reflecting so much of the love that this tight knit family has always had.
Grace’s lifelong friend Sydney was her Maid of Honor and she too gave a funny and darling toast to Grace that only a friend who has known you since you were both six could give. I loved the story of pretending to be models during recess with a game Grace made up called Chic, Chic, but pronounced, “Sheek, Chick.”
That was followed by Paul’s best man, his brother. Carter deemed his toast one of the best wedding toasts from such an doting brother, she had ever heard. I loved the part about them being back to back, to back to back science fair winners. These brothers’ love is a testament to their beautiful mother Sandy who raised them with their sister.
There were first dances, the cutest being with Paul and his ninety something year old grand mother. But those tender dances gave way to full on party mode and after the official reception ended and the band finished, a surprise after party took off with a DJ and light up batons.
Now it wouldn’t really be a party if I didn’t have so much fun that I fell down, and now have two bruised toes, a black and blue skinned knee and a bloody arm, but that didn’t stop me. Thanks to Pete for getting me a wet napkin to act s a tourniquet.
The one thing I loved so much about this wedding was how present Grace and Paul were in it. I had sweet conversations with them. Carter had a heartfelt love fest with Grace sharing how much our families love each other. Carter and Oliver talked and danced. Jack and Oliver and I danced. Suzanne and Steve and I danced. Nothing makes a Mother happier than when you love your best friend’s children and they love each other.
There was no more beautiful mother of the bride than Suzanne. She not only planned and executed this whole weekend, down to transportation for every guest, but she did it looking the like a billon bucks and having so much fun at the same time.
It was an honor and a pleasure to be witness to this happy union and to celebrate my dear dear friends. I can’t wait to see the life that Grace and Paul build together. It has a foundation built on love.
Less Dana, More Good 