On August 28th, 2005, a little after 4:00pm, I was married in a small, elegant ceremony in Asheville, North Carolina. The event was intimate - we only invited our closest friends and family, though we wish we could have invited more. One thing we realized early on was just how expensive weddings (and receptions) can easily become - even the little things add up. We tried to temper some of the burden by turning our office into a printmaker's shop, but even that was offset by the extraordinary cost of quality paper. However, I think the final product was gorgeous - more beautiful flowers than I'd ever seen, sophisicated music by talented instrumentalists, delicious food and beverages throughout...I can't wait to see the photos from our official photographer! He sent us a couple of samples in an email, and hopefully we'll be getting a package from him soon (previews available here for registered visitors).
The wedding ceremony itself was wonderful - exactly what we had envisioned. Our officiant was both meaningful and entertaining, and I'm really glad that we were able to hold on to him well into the reception. After the ceremony, our guests were escorted into another room for appetizers and beverages while we posed for some photography. Then it was back inside, where the great room from the ceremony had been transformed into a dining area and dance floor. One of the three favors, a clear gift box with Lindt truffles, was awaiting each guest at his/her placesetting (as an indicator of their meal preference). Beef Tenderloin and Mediterranean Chicken were the entreés of the evening (we had a vegetarian option on standby), delivered to our seated guests at their table, along with beverage service.