We left North Haven, CT at around 9:30 in the morning and we estimated that we would reach Virginia before 5 in the afternoon. I braced myself for the 7-hour drive because it can be really boring and exhausting as well. Ok, I don’t drive, it was my brother-in-law behind the wheel but sitting for a long time can really be tiring too!
I took photos while we were travelling and some of them, I posted here but most of the photos are, again, posted in my FB account.
Wedding, Sept 18, 2010, Hartford, CT
September 18, the BIG day! I woke up at around 5 in the morning to prepare because the hair and make-up person was set to arrive at 7. Everything was such a blur. I had my make-up and hair and then dressed while every member of the bridal party prepared as well.
We were running late and so we hastily came down the hotel lobby as the limousine arrived. We were at the church in 15 minutes or so. The ceremony was brief and we had our photos taken outside the church.
The bridal party then proceeded to Hartford City Hall for more photo shoots while the guests proceeded to the Society Room of Hartford for cocktails. And then at around half past noon, the program commenced. There was dancing, drinking, photo booth and costumes galore, and of course the garter and bouquet tossing.
At 4 in the afternoon, the reception ended but there was an after party at a nearby pub. Again, drinking and eating! But at around 8, my mom, my sister and I were dead tired and so we headed back to the hotel.
Sunday, we checked out of the hotel and headed back to North Haven. While resting, I had the time to upload all the photos taken while on this trip on my Facebook account. For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant because my brother-in-law promised me that he would introduce me an Italian dish called Gnocchi and boy, it sure was delicious!
After our trip to Yale University yesterday and after dinner, the whole family went full force in making the flower arrangements for the wedding. Actually, my mom was the chief florist. She was the only one who arranged the flowers together. We were there just to assist her in the preliminaries – the cutting of floral wires, cutting of leaves, stems, and thorns, among others. We had so much flowers, which my sister ordered from New York. When most of the team went to bed, the only remaining members were myself, my sister and my mom. But I went to bed at 3:30 in the morning because I was so sleepy while my mom and my sister went to sleep at around 5:30 in the morning. That morning, the product consists of 12 floral bouquets, 1 floral wreath, and 8 boutonnieres. Before lunch time, we were able to make 8 floral arrangements, which were equally distributed to the church and reception area.
My Mom's masterpiece, CT, Sept 17, 2010
After lunch, we all went to Crowne Plaza at Hartford where most of the bridal party and other guests will stay for the weekend.
Bouquets, CT, Sept 17, 2010
The wedding rehearsal was held at 6 in the evening at SS. Cyril and Methodius. All members of the bridal party were there as well as the readers for the Liturgy of the Word. The rehearsal was pretty short. We were done before 7 in the evening.
SS. Cyril and Methodius, Hartford, CT, Sept 17, 2010
We then proceeded to a suite in Crowne Plaza for the Rehearsal Dinner where some members of the family and close friends were already waiting. It was a cozy and relaxing evening but by 9, my mom, sister and I were already tired and ready for bed.
We have to wake up early tomorrow for the big day! Good night!
* More photos are posted in FB.
The title caught you, didn’t it? Well, I certainly went to Yale University. I wish that I could study there but I only went there explore the place together with my mom, my aunt and her family. However, with the limited time that we have, we only covered only a small portion of the whole university.
It was such a great feeling just to walk around the campus. I was so amazed with all the structural designs of the buildings. I also liked how the campus had trees; it made me remember my alma mater, UP. Again, I so wanted to discover other parts of the University but I didn’t have the luxury of time again.
* More photos are posted in my FB account.
After our long walk in New York yesterday, we’re back to wedding preparations again. The whole day was spent in ironing the pew bows; checking and double-checking the accuracy of the place cards; printing and rolling the scrolls (programs) and putting the tags on the goodie bags.
After dinner, the family discussed that plans for tomorrow. While the flowers are going to be picked up in the morning tomorrow, the family decided that we would go to New Haven to explore Yale University.
Yes! Another adventure!
My sister, her fiancé and I went to Hartford to do two things: 1) to file their marriage license; and 2) to meet with the officiating priest for an interview.
We arrived at the Hartford City Hall at around 9 in the morning and were fortunate that there were no people in the records section. We were attended to immediately and the process took about 30 minutes or so. However, the officiating priest informed my sister that he is moving their interview after lunch and so, we decided to go to the hair and make-up person. By the way, I took some photos while we were driving around Hartford.
Hartford, CT, Sept 13, 2010
Keri Anne Shea, the hair and make-up expert, was so amazing when she did my sister’s hair. She actually finished it in about 10-15 minutes. I tagged along because she was going to do my hair and make-up too for the wedding.
My sister's hair, Sept 13, 2010
After lunch, we went to SS. Cyril and Methodius Church for the interview with the priest. We were early but the priest had to go out for a prior appointment with the doctor. After an hour, I found myself sitting with the couple while the priest gave a talk about marriage as a sacrament and about building a family. It was an interesting day.
Saturday morning: We went to the Asian store (Yes! Again!) to buy ingredients and other stuff which we will use for the duration of our stay in Connecticut. We will cook Filipino dishes for my future brother-in-law’s parents to introduce them to Filipino cuisine. We plan to cook sinigang, ginisang munggo, afritada, caldereta and pancit.
manzanita centerpieces, Sept 12, 2010, CT
Saturday afternoon-evening: After lunch, we went to different grocery stores to buy stuff which will be put in the goodie bags for the out-of-town guests. After getting what we need, we headed for home. We started tweaking and ironing the pew bows; preparing the orchid and manzanita centerpieces; arranging the wedding favors; stuffing the goodie bags; and double-checking the guest list and their preferred food/dish. We also had a wine tasting too because we still have to choose the white wine for the reception. Too bad, we (me, my sister and her future mother-in-law) were outvoted as our choice didn’t get the deciding vote.
orchid centerpieces, Sept 12, 2010, CT
Sunday morning: We went to attend mass at St. Rita. Since it was a day after the Sept 11 attack, the priest’s homily centered on the countless of people lost their lives in the said tragedy. However, he also stressed that some of the people he knew were already making a notable contributions while they were still alive. It was such an inspiring homily. After mass, we then walked from the church going back home. My sister thought that it would be a short walk but we realized that it was not short at all because it took us about 30 minutes to reach the house. The walk was a welcome exercise for me but it was an entirely different matter because we walked while it was freezing cold.
Sunday afternoon: Back to the wedding preparations. I printed some sticker labels to be put at the back of the wedding favors so that the guests will remember that the wedding they attended were my sister’s and her husband’s. We packed some of the stuff which was ready to be brought to the reception area.
wedding favors, Sept 12, 2010, CT
It was indeed a busy weekend for all of us.
This is going to be a rather short post since I am very tired. We left Virginia at around past 2 in the afternoon and arrived here in Connecticut at 10:00 in the evening. The drive took approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes; of course with 2 stops for dinner and restroom break. It is said that the distance between Virginia and Connecticut is about 513 miles. As far as I can remember, we passed by Washington DC, Maryland, Baltimore, Delaware, New Jersey and New York.
It was such a long drive indeed!
JOURNEYS AND DESTINATIONS. 