Here's a parental report on the Love Fest!
Kyle & Kelly's one year celebration of their wedding was truly beautiful and impressive. There were 250 people present for the 3-day festivities. I can't believe it was so well planned, and went so smoothly. Kyle led the canoeing, as his friend who was supposed to lead it had an appendectomy 3 days before. Kelly led the swimming trip to the swimming hole. Then there were games of skill with obstacle courses (slow-motion biking with live obstacles and texting), air gun shooting, wood chopping & knot tying, each led by a friend. There were mushroom and mountain hikes, basket making, and a farm tour. Gourmet breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners were served for 2 1/2 days. A friend who owns a restaurant in Philadelphia left his business to his staff (for the first time), and came to do the meals for one day. Andrew of the Gregory brothers' fame (who do snippets that appear on TV like the Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show) did the projections (complete with beautiful music) of the guests' wedding photos that Kelly had requested. The town folks shared their talents with lectures about Cheat Mountain, mountain folk music, and an evening of square dancing that everyone, even Solomon & Beatrice enjoyed. The square dancing was to a live band with called dances, prefaced by dance instruction. A friend played the bagpipes before Sunday dinner, and was soon joined by another friend dancing the Highland fling. I had to miss dinner Sunday night so I could have all kinds of pies, fruits and desserts that the town folks brought in. I cannot believe how close-knit the community is, and how they love Kelly, Kyle & his family. The father is a retired engineer from Penn State and his mother still works as a Nurse Practitioner. Additionally, 15 of Kelly's friends from the United Kingdom came. There were people from Germany, India and all over the U.S. Her friends from the accordion orchestra in New York performed, and her classmates from Groton School came. Kelly & Kyle took the people Monday morning for a tour of his parents' farm. Her friends from the United Kingdom & India stayed till Wednesday. What wonderful friends they have. So heartwarming to know this.
It was amazing that everything was home-grown and locally prepared by their friends: breads, maple syrup, sausages, yogurt, root beer/ sarsaparilla. There were home-raised meats: beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and fish dishes, plus all kinds of vegan dishes and salads. There were a variety of desserts: Fruit, dark chocolate Grand Marnier, and brownie cashew desserts, cookies constantly everywhere, potluck pies, including blueberry, rhubarb, apple, peach, all a la mode or not; there was the requisite leche plan. This is only a sampling of some of the foods which were shared that long weekend.
Everyone got favors, even the 7- & 8-month-old babies. The older children, such as Beatrice and Solomon, received an age-appropriate hobo bag on a bamboo stick, replete with a recyclable camera and creative instructions for these young paparazzi to catch candid shots of the guests. Handmade maps with directions to various activities' locations were very specific; Kelly had them all made and each guest received one with their favors.
I know you all were busy or had other plans. I think, however, you would have enjoyed it. I know I did, and everyone there seemed to share the feeling.
posted by Grace @ 6/01/2015 12:47:00 AM
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