Audra and Rob's Wedding 2008

It was lovely white wedding with snow! Audra and Rob got married while Audra is still attending law school with me at UVA, but they plan to live in North Carolina together after she graduates so they can start their married life there. We will always remember Audra's wedding ceremony, not only because one of the groomsmen locked his knees and took a tumble, but also because their ceremony was very personalized for them. The minister talked in terms of both religion and life practicalities, Audra's stepfather sang during the ceremony, and Audra and Rob read their own vows to each other. After Rob lifted Audra's veil and kissed her, their first married act was to pray together. And you don't need me to tell you because you can see for yourself in the pictures, but Audra was a beautiful and stunning bride.

Coming down the aisle together after getting married

A bunch of our friends from law school traveled to the wedding together. It was at the end of our law school Spring Break so we spent the whole week in North Carolina relaxing and looking forward to the event.

Roger, Brian, Kevin, me, Audra, Sarah, Donald, Katy, and Josh

We had a lot of fun at their wedding reception. After the first dance, Rob danced with his mother, and Audra danced with her stepfather who sang to her as well. She has the same sort of close relationship with her stepfather that I had with mine, which is to say that they are our real fathers.

Rob and Audra's first dance

 

Father-daughter dance

After dinner we had two flavors of cake, a white cake with strawberry coulis, and a groom's cake made of chocolate. I enjoyed the groom's cake so much that I dubbed it my birthday cake.

Wedding cake and groom cake decorated just for Rob

I like that the strawberry is dressed up

We spent the rest of the evening hitting the dance floor with Audra and Rob's friends and family. I spent a little time dancing with Audra's California friends who are as awesome as they are beautiful, and some time photographing and chatting with Audra and Rob's Charlottesville friends, who I already knew a little because of pre-wedding events. Brian made friends with every last person at the wedding and led a few line dances. I am not talking about the electric slide because it was already 2008-- I'm talking more along the lines of Cupid Shuffle and the Cha Cha Slide. There was even a conga line that basically the entire wedding got in. Even Donald!

Slide to the left, slide to the right!

Conga line with everyone!

Dancing!

Roger spinning Katy

Sarah and Donald being super cute

Valentine's Day 2008

We didn't specifically do something for Valentines Day, this year, but 4 days before Valentines we went to my 3L Barristers Ball. Then the following weekend, my parents hosted a little engagement party for me and Kevin in our apartment in Charlottesville. Kevin and I have been engaged for almost 3 months now. Woo!

At our place before Barristers Ball

Dancing! 2/9

Dancing?

 

Our engagement party at our place in 2008, 2/16

Charleston, SC 2008

I talked Kevin into taking a cruise to celebrate our engagement. Kevin gave into my ridiculousness. Our cruise home port was Charleston, South Carolina so we spent an afternoon there.


Charleston's Colorful Buildings


Walking along the waterfront
Waterfront


Canon Park

Beautiful gate

At Gaulart & Maliclet French Cafe

At Gaulart & Maliclet French Cafe
Charleston Church
Confederate Monument? Erected in 1891? (Civil War ended 1865.)

Kevin talking to Andrew about Andrew's job search

Charleston Outdoor Market

Christmas in Cape Cod 2007

Kevin and I went to Cape Cod to celebrate Christmas with his family. I'd met his mother and brother before but he was waiting to propose before he brought me to the big family Christmas.

Kevin's mom Kathy and his brother Andrew

Kathy's Christmas tree

His mother lives in an apartment attached to her friends Dave and Dolores's house, so we had Christmas Eve dinner with them and their son, also named Kevin) and wife Monica.

Kevin A toasting the engagement

Christmas Eve snuggles

On Christmas we went to his grandparents' house for some traditional Chinese food. His mother's side of the family is Grandpa Buff, Grandma Ruth, Kathy, Aunt Nesie and her husband Steve (not pictured), Aunt Mary, Uncle Dickie, Kevin, Andrew and cousins Katie and Chris.

Kevin's maternal side on Christmas Day: Grandparents, Aunts, Uncle, and cousins

Grandparent's Christmas Tree

Investigating the Chinese takeout

The day after Christmas, we went back to Dave and Dolores's for a family engagement party. Kathy's family was there again, as well as family from Kevin's side, and Kathy and Dolores's book club.

Kevin's father's side uncle, aunt, and cousins

Snacking

Ice cream cake is my favorite!

Cheers!

Since my grandparents also live on Cape Cod, about an hour away in Truro, we went to go visit them the next day.

With Grandma Catherine


Grandpa James

It was a wonderful holiday and visit full of wonderful people.

Our Christmas Tree 2007

We got our Christmas tree this weekend. Have I mentioned that I'm super happy?

Found the perfect one.

Got the tree home!

Assembling the tree stand

Holding it for stand tightening

Perfect spot

Nomar likes the tree.

Nomar helping me study Trusts and Estates

Thanksgiving 2007

The happiest of Thanksgivings! Kevin and I got engaged the day before. I think my parents love him as much as I do. My mom said he already seemed like family when she met him.

My parents' smiles are possibly even bigger than mine?

I'm eating this entire bowl. I really like stuffing.

Cute couple.

Engagement 2007

The day before Thanksgiving, Kevin proposed on the steps of the New York Public Library. He wanted to propose before the holidays; we were spending Thanksgiving with my parents and Christmas with his mother's large family. It wasn't our first holiday together, as we had already spent Thanksgiving together in Charlottesville in 2006 with his mother, brother, and cousin Katie. But it was our first holiday together since wedding magazines had suspiciously appeared in our apartment.

Proposing!

Kevin texting his friend Briggs right before proposing.

He proposed in New York, where we plan to live when I graduate law school because I have a job waiting there. Presumably, he chose a library because as the wife of a writer and writing professor, our home will be one? He made his high school friend Jon jump out and take pictures as it was all happening. Clearly, Kevin gets me.

I said "Definitely!"

This is the only time I have seen the planet spin while sober. It is really something.

Celebrating.

I am happy.

Super happy.



NYPL picture.



Popping some champagne!


Cheers!

We stayed overnight in New York and checked out just in time to miss the Macy's Day Parade. Ha! Actually, I think I saw one float. That totally counts right?

Macy's Day Parade (sort of)


Thanksgiving dinner with my parents the next day - very happy!
(More in next post on Thanksgiving.)