Entries Tagged as 'maureen'

Hawaiian Bridal Luncheon

December 1st, 2010 · 1 Comment


With my mom.


With my mom and dad. My dad gave me these flowers!


Festive Hawaiian Table


With Cousin Dawn


Cousin Kelly, Kelly’s daughter Margo, Mom, Mom’s friend Maureen


Cousin Kelly’s daughter Margo


Cousin Marla, Marla’s daughters Mya and Ella, Cousin Kelly and Kelly’s daughter Katie, Aunt Connie


With my niece Jessica and Cousin Kelly’s other daughters, Tessa and Charlotte


Aunt Connie and Charlotte


Mom & Cousin Dawn. I don’t know what they’re pointing at.


Aunt Connie, Mom & Cousin Dawn. I don’t know what they’re pointing at.


Ella


Aunt Deb, Cousin Erica and Erica’s daughter Ella


With Aunt Deb, Cousin Erica and Erica’s daughter Ella


Aunt Sue and My Mom’s Cousin Jane


Jane’s Daughter Jessica and Jessica’s Daughter, Abigail


With my sister-in-law Amanda


Cousins Skyonna and Katrina. I babysat for Katrina very regularly from her birth on!


Cousin Sky. I kept thinking she was older, but she is only 14!


Me!


Me and my mom.


Time for gifts.


Ella, My Niece Jessica, Abi


My Aunt Sue wrote a poem for me inside this card.


Ella helping out. Or something.


Jessica & Abi


Ella & Jessica.


Cousin Marla, her daughter Mya, Kelly’s daughter Kate, Aunt Connie, Cousin Kelly


Cousin Kelly & Aunt Sue made these coasters for us using our engagement photos.


Margo with a lei!


Everyone was so generous with the presents!


My mom gave us this sculpture that looks like two pieces but really is one.


Ella & Tessa helping out.


Maureen gave us these personalized towels.


Abi and Ella helping out.


Abi and Ella helping out.


My cousin Erica and her daughter Ella.


Ella drawing.


Abi and her drawing.


Chocolate macadamia nut brownies.


With Aunt Sue and mom.


With all of my mom’s sisters: Alice, Sue, Wanda & Connie


With all of my mom’s sisters: Alice, Sue, Wanda & Connie


Jane’s Husband Gene and my dad


My Aunt Ali


Tessa trying to see how many leis she can wear!


Cousin Skyonna


Charlotte


Charlotte


Margo


Jessica


Sister-in-Law Amanda and Niece Jessica


Dad


Mike came to pick up Katrina. They are engaged too!


Jessica being crazy!


With my Uncle Dave

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, my mom hosted a Hawaiian-themed bridal luncheon for me. My parents really went all out on this one with the food and drinks. We had

  • Salted Macademia Nuts
  • Chocolate-Covered Macademia Nuts
  • Taro Chips
  • Fresh Coconut Pieces
  • Fresh Pineapple Chunks
  • Fruit Salad
  • Lettuce Salad w/ Toasted Macademia Nuts, Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, Bacon and a homemade Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Sweet & Sour Meatballs
  • Kalua Pig on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
  • Pistachio Pudding Salad
  • Orange Dreamsicle Puff
  • White Chocolate Macademia Nut Brownies
  • Hawaiian Party Punch (with or without Skyy Pineapple Vodka)

Amanda, Stephanie and Jessica were in charge of decorations and party supplies. They did such a great job with wall hangings, garland, plates, napkins, utensils, drink umbrellas and stir sticks, leis… so much fun Hawaiian/tropical party things.

Since my brother lives and hour and a half from us here in Chicago and my parents live about two or two and a half hours from my brother, many times we meet there and do things around the Milwaukee area. Or even just hang out at my brother’s house because it’s kind of a central location. This is great, but also means that I don’t see a ton of my family that lives farther away, farther north. It was so great to see so many of my aunts and cousins. I was so happy that many of them were able to make it to the party.

I did not want anyone to feel obligated to bring gifts, I just wanted to see everyone, but my family was so generous and brought gifts anyway. My aunt Sue even wrote a poem for Dallas and I. And she and my cousin Kelly handmade coasters for us with our engagement photos on them! And we received so many great things for the kitchen and bathroom. And new luggage. And a beautiful Kenyan wedding sculpture. And I could go on and on. A big thank you to everyone for being so generous!

Thanks so much to my parents, Amanda, and my nieces for planning everything. And to all of my aunts and cousins for coming out and making it a great day. We will be thinking of everyone while we are away in Hawaii and you will be there with us in spirit, I know!

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And Even Crazier

June 22nd, 2008 · No Comments


Maureen, Ross, Nancy, Matt, Kristen, Molly


Matt, Dallas, Ross


Dallas, Adam


Dallas, Adam


Tommy, Ross


Emily, Ross


Molly, Colleen, Anne, Janie


Nancy, Bo, Erin


Ross


Martin & Bo


Anne & Janie

From this to this and here we are. Believe it or not, there are some photos I held back on posting bc they were just too crazy.

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And Then Things Got a Little Crazy

June 21st, 2008 · No Comments


Kristen, Tom, Dallas, Maureen, Ross


Emily, Dallas, Ross


Dallas, Marinella, Colleen


Chris, Heather


Rachelle, Ross, Dallas, Kristen


Ross, Dallas


Molly, Anne


Katie


Martin & Nunny (Louise)

The bride changed into a fuschia party dress. You can see the ties getting looser. More drinks in hand, more mud on feet and clothes. What started out as a completely respectable night got a little crazy!

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Matt & Molly’s Wedding Dinner & Reception

June 21st, 2008 · No Comments


Nametags were hung outside the tent on a split-rail fence. When you located your tag you found out what what table you were sitting at. We were at lucky table #13.


Molly’s reaction to Matt’s dinner speech where he thanked everyone and especially honored Molly.


First Dance


A backlit DJ Joe Cool


Sarah, Adrian, Rachelle


Adrian’s Fiance Charlie, Sarah


Tom, Maureen


Bo, Sarah


Outside Looking In


Under the Big Tent

As everyone gathered into the tent where the dinner and reception was to take place, it started to rain. And then pour. And then DJ Joe Cool had to unplug all of his equipment because it was thundering and lightening so much that he thought he was going to get electrocuted. Still, no one was really freaking out. They put some flaps down on the tent, threw some mulch down to soak up the rain and wiped off the soaked dance floor. The heavy rain only lasted for maybe 15 minutes, but it was enough to drench a lot of the ground for the whole night. One good thing that came out of it was that it wasn’t just the really drunk people who fell down, everyone was slipping and sliding and had mud on them. There was one particular stretch of grass under the tent that was referred to as “Woodstook.” Unfortunately, that’s where my seat for dinner was located! The most muddy were the guys who decided to try to break dance. And probably Bo who tried many times to do a head spin.

I don’t want to put too much emphasis on the rain, though. It was a part of the night, sure, but no one was really too bothered by it. We all drank and sang and danced the night away without a care. DJ Joe Cool played until 1 a.m., an hour longer than most weddings go, I think. Which could explain how sloppy things got at the end.

I heard that DJ Joe Cool was well known in the area as being the best DJ. A lot of people at the wedding love him. In fact, Anne, one of the bridesmaids, lives in France and got married there.. and she flew DJ Joe Cool out to play at her wedding. Apparently people in her circle of friends in France still talk about him and what a great time they had. I thought DJ Joe Cool was pretty good. Kind of old school. Playing CDs. There was one part of the night where people were kind of annoyed because things like The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B should have been played at like 7 pm, not 11 pm, when a lot of the older folks had already left, but overall we had fun. He played a really diverse selection of music, although I think a lot of people would have preferred some more modern tunes. Then again, people were going crazy when he busted out 80′s. Also when he played Pour Some Sugar on me at like 12:30 am, people went ballistic. Followed up by some Guns n’ Roses? Joe Cool knew how to read and please a crowd.

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Matt & Molly’s Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

June 19th, 2008 · No Comments


Rehearsal Dinner :: Sharon Country Club, Sharon, CT


Dallas & Zach accidentally both wore off-white suits with pink shirts and striped ties. They thought they were Crockett & Tubbs.


Bill, Matt, Dallas, Ross :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT


Colleen & Rachelle :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT


Maureen & Nancy :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT


Marinella with George & his wife :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT


Ross :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT


Tommy & Matt :: Boathouse, Lakeville, CT

Matt & Molly’s wedding rehearsal dinner was held at the Sharon Country Club in Sharon, CT. It was lovely. We had cocktails before dinner then we were all seated. A big delicious crab cake occupied the salad for the first course (and you know about my crab cake obsession). For an entree we were to choose chicken or halibut. I chose the fish and it was delicious. Dessert was strawberry shortcake.

The seating at the wedding was non-traditional. .. or maybe very old-school traditional? I’m not sure, but I’d never seen it before. We were all shuffled up. I sat at a table with 7 people I’d never met before. I thought it would be awkward, but it was actually kind of nice because then in the following days they were friendly faces for you to talk to. At each place setting there was a gift of Hilliard’s Chocolates. In addition the groomsmen each got a snazzy tie for a gift and the bridesmaids all got beautiful emerald necklaces and earrings. Of course the ties and jewelry were for them all to wear the next day, but then to keep forever.

Before and during dinner there were many speeches and well-wishes and toasts by the parents and wedding party. Dallas was asked to make one and I was worried that he would stand up from his seat and say congrats and sit back down. I didn’t know what to expect, but he actually did a really great job up in front of everyone. He thanked Matt’s family for their kindness and hospitality. When Dallas lived in Boston he was far from his family and friends and Matt’s parents and brothers were somewhat of an adopted family for him where he could hang out and spend holidays. Seriously, though, Martin and Luanne are the nicest ever. At the end of Dallas’ speech he spoke about his Hawaiian upbringing and his Japanese heritage and had everyone do a Kanpai toast. People were coming up to him all weekend telling him how great his toast was, which made me really proud. There was also a beautiful slide show set to music of Molly & Matt’s lives and how they’ve come together. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room after that aired.

After dinner we went to the Boathouse in Lakeville, CT where we met up with more friends who were getting into town and had some drinks with them for a few hours.

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