Spring at last! I kicked off wedding season with Jeni and JP at the Friendly Crossways Retreat Center in Harvard, MA. These two are so warm and genuine and were thrilled to welcome their guests, and that spirit infused their entire day. Jeni has the kind of smile that can light up a room, and on this day it lit up a whole wedding.
With bees buzzing outside amongst the flowers, it was a hive of activity in the house and on the grounds as everyone and everything was getting made ready. JP and his groomsmen were sent outside to finish their preparations, while the ladies took over the top floor. Jeni’s sister and cousins helped her into her dress, her aunt fastened the beaded belt she had made, and her mom clasped on her grandmother’s necklace and bracelet.
Jeni and JP had their first look in the small apple orchard, and then joined their families for portraits before their ceremony. The ceremony was led by JP’s sister, and filled with music as friends sang and played. They also continued a tradition among their friends, by including a popular reading from the ruling which legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts. This passage, by Judge Margaret Marshall, includes one of my favorite quotes “Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family…. Because it fulfills yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life’s momentous acts of self-definition.”
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour, before heading into the tent for dinner. A local soul and funk band, The Chicken Slacks, had everyone energetically dancing the entire night. The late-night crowd then moved to the campfire to continue the celebration with s’mores and conversation.
