James and Tara spend quiet evenings at home during the first week of the month, sitting on the floor of their living room, watching food network shows and gluing 150 fake mustaches to cardboard index cards and labeling them appropriately. They labor over their song lists, their seating arrangements, and their vows. And finally, they question their food choices, their program design, and ultimately, their sanity. And this isn't even the week before the event. Imagine the chaos. Actually, don't.
Dinah avoids us by disguising herself as different delivery men. She steals a number of the mustaches and leaves the apartment for hours at a time. We suspect she's down at our favorite neighborhood watering hole, the Three Jolly Pigeons (familiarly, 3JP) hoping that someone will serve her a bird.
Tara and James head to the Berkshires the weekend before the big day and it is a whirlwind from here on out. All the guys (Tara's family, James's family and friends from Connecticut & NYC!) take James out to the Northampton Brewery and surprise him with an amazing Red Sox Jacket.The week following is a blur of ironing, gluing, printing, labeling, painting, sobbing and drinking. The DIY wedding is really...something. In fact, even more than P90X, it is the ultimate test of the strength of a relationship. If a couple can survive this week and still manage to limp down the aisle, all will work out fine.
In fact, it does, because...
TARA AND JAMES TOTALLY GOT MARRIED!!!
And here are some highlights...(It's alright to take a short break right now. Stretch. Grab a snack, what have you.)
Aerial shot of Tyrone Farm, where the whole shabang takes place.
Chestnut Barn,where a majority of the party happens.
Rehearsal bouquet and veil,
lovingly made by Tabitha McKown
Delicious rehearsal dinner, lovingly made by Nancy Barry.
Music with family and friends
Getting ready...
With some much needed help...
Feeling good...
Feeling better...
Greeting good friends...
Taking their places...
Taking a walk...
Hearing songs of love...
by Jessi Blue and Joe Jung
Mark and Jordan Franklin
David Franklin,
Dave Barry and
Jordan Franklin
Sealing with a Kiss....
Shawn McKown, with a little help from friends and kazoos,
The ever-popular bowling shot....
Making new friends...
Family Style...
And now it's time to party...
Tara and Grampa Jack
Replica of the Chestnut Barn, built by John and Matt Gottung. It houses all the cards,
and later, Dinah, when she has misbehaved.
Crazy Mustache Fauxtobooth...
posing with Jason "The Reverend" Stankowski
posing with Jason "The Reverend" Stankowski
Tara and her cousins Elisabeth and Kayla
And the winning shot of the evening...
Jeremy, Meyer, Cindy and Dan Franklin
James and his Mom
James and his Mom
Rachel and Jordan singing as part of her toast...
Gramma and Grampa Boudreau dancing the night away...
Everybody in the club...
Sweeping her off her feet...
Cake
Ready for the jouney...
FIRST STOP:
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands...
On their honeymoon, James and Tara discover that they are VERY good at doing nothing. However, when they are not doing nothing, they eat wonderful food, drink tropically, go on a sunset sail, play with the resident iguanas, snorkel, kayak and other honeymoon-related activities.
View from the hotel
All dressed up for dinner
Luxurious
Stan, the Iguana
Sunset Sail
Ssssshhhhhhh, Godzilla Drink.
Oceanfront dining at Blue Water
Love
