The Groom

July 3, 2008

Talk about life changes … one month I’m graduating and the next I’ve been off for awhile … getting married!

I thought about blogging a more detailed piece about the newlywed life, but I couldn’t even begin to describe it or the process that brought us here. Suffice it to say the wedding went off beautifully and everything just went by way too fast. It was just a fantastic time with family and friends and there will never be another day, week or even month like it!

I have to say, I didn’t quite know what to expect: marriage certainly hasn’t changed Toni and I overnight, hasn’t radically “transformed” us in as much time as it took to slip our bands on each other’s fingers, but it has somehow made the commitment and the love we share just a little more special and a little more “real.” And surreal … it still hasn’t quite sunk in. I’m just now getting used to referring to Toni as “my wife.”

Any way. Like I say, I couldn’t begin to describe it all, so I thought I’d do what I usually do when I’m at a loss for words: post a few pictures.

I was a little bit torn between photographing everyone and everything in beautiful Lake Tahoe (and then Napa Valley) … and actually spending time with everyone doing everything instead of fooling around with a camera. I’m mostly happy to say that I didn’t do a lot of picture taking, and instead left that to our friends and the very capable Danny Heinlein. But here are a few of the shots I did come up with, in no particular order:

A woman and a lot of hot air … (not funny?)

In Napa, CA, there was this very interesting, colorful fountain …

Toni and her “three best friends” … I have no idea how the yellow+pink theme spontaneously happened …

We got up at the butt crack of dawn for a hot air balloon ride in Napa valley. The smoky haze in the air (nearby fires) aside, it was a beautiful experience.

Taking in a little of what Napa is famous for … wine with your woman, and a view.

On the drive from Sacramento to Tahoe, there were some really impressive trees … actually the drive itself was an amazing tour de nature. We stopped for a quick few shots.

The Oakville Grocery store makes Absolutely. Amazing. Sandwiches. We stopped here en route to our picnic.

There simply are no pictures or words that can adequately convey our experience together, but thank you to the family and friends who helped make it so special!