Our Wedding

Trip Start Jul 23, 2005
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Trip End Aug 25, 2005


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Flag of United States  , Michigan,
Saturday, July 16, 2005

Family was coming in from Mexico, Chicago, and other parts of Michigan. Everything was set to be outside. Fifty friends and family members were ready for the ceremony to be take place in Charlene's garden and our backyard for a reception. Maru, Diana's mom, had flown in a week early to help us pick out flowers and get everything in order. It had been raining most of the week because of tropical storms down south. For the first time, we considered the possibility that it could rain. After all, Kalamazoo has fewer days of sunshine than London.

The rest of the Rayas family flew in on Friday just in time for a rehearsal and family dinner. After all who would really know what to do and what is expected at a ceremony created by Derek and Diana with suggestions and spice from Charlene. The much needed practice run answered a lot of questions and cleared up a bit how the English/Spanish mix was going to work. The Blue Dolphin provided the aftermath respite and place where planned turned to dining and wining for a pre-wedding celebration. The Chicago family crew was in full force and made the time for us extra special 1) decorating the garden
1) decorating the garden
 . A lot of details still needed to be resolved as the wedding was less than 24 hours away.

The morning of the wedding took Diana and her mom off to get pampered and styled while somehow Derek, Fred, Uncle Steve, and Diana's brother Raul and father Pepe were left in charge of decorating the house?!?! Fred and Steve everyday since have talked about going into business to plan outdoor wedding decorations. The wedding was not until 4:30pm so Derek had plenty of time to organize slides that we never saw. No worries the slide show revealing the history of Derek and Diana's relationship will be shown (date to be announced).

Our friends and family really helped pull everything together on this day and without them the outdoor ceremony/reception in the rain would not have been as wonderful. The decision to pack up and head inside or suffer through a slight drizzle was given to the bride. At 4:30pm, the call came down, "let's do it outside." A flurry of towels and rags to wipe down the seats, and the ceremony began. It was memorable and intimate. From special readings selected by family, offerings from friends, kind words and thoughts from everyone in attendance, and even an extra water blessing from Charlene, the day will not be forgotten.

Racing back to the house for a celebration, the rain continued but seeing everyone with a drink in hand and getting ready to eat an impossible mountain of food, all was right in the world. We heard toasts from our brothers and sisters 2) getting ready
2) getting ready
 . My mom made a special wedding cake and we cut it with the same knife that they used at their wedding. Dancing, telling stories, laughing, there was nothing else we wanted to make the day special. Our wedding night, we spent at the Radisson and breakfast the following morning at Cosmo's Cafe topped it all off and brought a close to the weekend.

O O O O O O

Las familias Rayas y Fraizer llegaron a Kalamazoo justo para reunirnos y practicar la ceremonia. Mi mami llegó una semana antes para ayudarnos con los preparativos. En todo momento tuvimos a Moni presente, que por el embarazo de Rodrigo no pudo acompañarnos. La práctica de la ceremonia en casa de Charlene fue muy divertida....bilingüe como tenía que ser, eso nos ayudó a integrarnos. Le dimos el toque final al contenido de la ceremonia con la ayuda de Charlene, nuestra Maestra de ceremonia. Por la noche fuimos a cenar -una costumbre de Estados Unidos antes de la boda, el Restaurant Blue Dolphin.

El día más emocionante llegó. Todas las mujeres nos fuimos a embellecer. Mi mami y yo salimos muy temprano para lograr todas las citas, por cierto el masaje y pedicure fueron lo mejor!, pero el regreso lo peor con todas la uñas frescas. Mientras, Derek y todos los hombres se encargaban de la decoración, muy linda y colorida con ese toque varonil! Yo me vestí en casa de Charlene -donde realizamos la ceremonia. Mi mami me ayudaba con los popotitos y flores en mi cabello, los colocó uno por uno con mucha paciencia 3) friends before the wedding
3) friends before the wedding
 . A pesar de la lluvia, decidimos hacer la ceremonia en el jardín y eso le dio un toque muy especial. El momento más emotivo fue cuando encontré a Derek con mis ojos y lo vi vestido de novio. Derek me seguía con su mirada mientras yo caminaba y me acercaba a él vestida de novia con música de Counting Crows de fondo. Sin duda nuestras promesas fueron enternecedoras al grado de partir mi voz.

Directo a casa para celebrar bailando, brindando y comiendo platillos típicos de Kalamazoo preparados por nuestros amigos, claro! comida mexicana cocinada por Maru y no podían faltar los postres de Dale y sus hermanas. Brindamos con palabras de nuestros hermanos Raul, Heather, Gis y Brad. No podremos olvidar nuestro pastel de bodas cocinado en un hotel y partido con el mismo cuchillo con el que Dale y Fred partieron el suyo. La fiesta se acabó con nuestra partida a la noche de bodas uhuhu!. Y esa historia nunca la sabrán. Un desayuno por la mañana para despedirnos de las familias y empezar nuestra nueva vida juntos.
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