March 4, 2008

The day of the marriage of Brandon Jepson & Shannon Kipp. Or as I call it, "Shandon Day."

Thus follows an account of the grand event of my brother's wedding. Click Here to see the Pictures!

First of all, they've been engaged since Thanksgiving, and planned for MayDay weekend some time ago. They've been avidly working out all the details for a couple months like bees at a hive. Our family had a feeling for a while that the two of them were going to end up together.

Now for the day.

I got up early, as I had volunteered to meet up at Brandon's house to help load gear. So I had to skip church (I asked 2 people to let the church community know why I wasn't there that morning), and my dad & myself met up at Bdon's at 11am to load up an entire van full to the top with stuff, mostly heavy. My back was hurting quite a bit, so dad gave me half a percocet. I rode with Brandon to the place. (Remind me never to own a van.)

The wedding was at a, hmm, what do you call it, Country Club type hall right on Lake Washington in Lake Forest Park (north end of the Lake). We unloaded the van (took probably half an hour). Then I went in to set up the hall. I got to give a lot of help setting up & hanging the paper lanterns. That was fun. There were big ones & little ones, in 6 differnet colors, and we had to spread them evenly across rows on lights going just over head height across the hall. Probably the only reall fun part of setting up.

Also were some large banners in the same colors as the wedding invitations. And each table for people to sit at had a centerpiece featuring some sort of "world" theme. There was a "space world", "dinosaur world", "'50s world", "insect world", and others. Brandon probably got all the little pieces from Archie McPhie. There were also to big wooden pictures of both my parents' wedding photo, and Shannon's parents', with the faces cut out, so that people could put their faces in & take pictures. There were even 2 books & a Polaroid camera for collections of such pictures as keepsakes. I saw one where the guy was putting his hands through the holes, looked like fingers were growing out of their ears.

After a couple hours some more family members started to trickle in to help, like my aunt Monica & her kids (The Becks), and my relatives on the Jepson side. Monica & cousin Loren put the appetizers (for lack of being able to spell the French word) together. I didn't have much because it lacked a cracker & cheese plate. But by the end of the night it was cleaned out.

I should point out at this point that this was a non-traditional wedding. It was at a country club(?), not a church. It was presided by an Officiant, not a minister. The bride wore a lovely red dress (nothing culture specific), not a white wedding dress. There was no best man, no maid of honor, no flower girl (though I thought I saw one listed in the program, but I can't verify). And instead of a big wedding cake, they had a collection on individual-serving cheesecake-cupcakes of various yummy flavors.

Anyway, more people arrived. Every family member on both my mom & my dad's side was there (except my Uncle Rick, who's separated from my aunt and lives on the other side of the world now). I believe every member of Shannon's family, which is just as big, was there, though I can't vouch for 100% attendance. Shannon has many siblings and nieces/nephews. Her sister Christie (am I spelling right?) is a geek, which is awesome, we like to talk sci-fi TV. She has 2 kids, a daughter & a son. There are 2 nephews named Alex & Andrew (I call them Andrewxander) that are around ages 8 & 11-ish, are very full of energy and like to run around. I played soccer with them at the rehearsal dinner the night before. S's sister Lisa has a son Raj (B & S went with her last year to India where she adopted him), he's about 3 and darling. Another sister (either Carrie or Shawn) has a 2-year old daughter Sasha, who is adorable. Both Raj & Sasha were the Ringbearers. I think it's Carrie who has 3 adopted chinese girls named Tessa, Maisie & Lily, that are beautiful, I regret not getting a picture of them as my camera burned out. Lily won a gold medal in gymnastics the previous day before coming to the dinner.

Many members of Jet City (Brandon's Improv group) were there, with their significant others (the first of them to arrive was Shauwnessee, who is also Brandon's ex-girlfriend, and I was excited to see her. She's one of those people that are just so loveable). Celene, from Jet City, who filmed the ceremony, had a boyfriend who looks just like David Tennant AKA the current Dr. Who. He's aware of this, but was delighted to hear that Tennant is the most handsom Dr. Who. Yay I made somebody happy. And as a surprise, one of either the bride or groom's friends brought their boyfriend, who happened to be Garrett Wang, who played Ensign Harry Kim on Star Trek: Voyager. I didn't recognize him with the long hair but Brandon pointed him out to me. He also asked me not to embarass him, so I made a point not to even talk to the guy, as I have a tendency to go all fanboy around celebrities, and didn't trust myself not to nerdgasm on him, so to speak. So I can only say that a Star Trek actor has said "Hi" to me, and I said "Hello" back.

The first official event, besides socializing, was pictures. There was a professional photographer, taking lots of pictures that we're free to buy reprints of, but while we were posing I had someone take some with my own camera. It was organized by family: with parents, with immediate family, with entire family; done both on her side and his, and each pic had boht bride & groom. I was disappointed we didn't get a shot of all the cousins in our family, I've really wanted one of those.

After that, people generally found there gathered their drinks and found their seats. There was an open bar tended by either Mike or Andrew of Jet City. Mike had his tuxedo-kilt on. Also Kyle Kizzier had an actual plaid kilt on, with a beautiful sporran. Brandon asked me to bring my kilt, which I did, though there was never an opportunity to wear it. Before the ceremony was a chance for people to make speeches. The bride & groom were seated on a little stage in the corner where everyone could see. The first speech was given by Brandon's old friend from high school & Jet City Doug Wilott. It was about Brandon's obsessions with Alf & other 80's/early 90's sitcoms, and how put his full attention and commitment into the details of every one, which predisposes how he's bound to put his full 100% into his marriage. Next was Dart London, who gave a similar speech, using Brandon's detailed knowledge of minor characters from Perfect Strangers as an example. A couple more speeches were given by women whose names I don't know, though I thought the one in the short hair & white/blue/black dress (see picture) was really pretty. Lastly was our mother, who gave the obligitory talk about how she "couldn't believe Brandon was here today." I wanted to go next because my speech would've followed well, but he wanted to save mine for the toasting section later in the evening.

And after that, we get to the ceremony!

First they made sure that the immediate family members got to sit in a row of seats right up at The officiant was a large friendly man named Wayne. Him & his wife came from Los Angeles, and he started off with a little intro, saying that he doesn't normally travel far from home to do this kind of thing, but Brandon was a good cause and he "could really use the $12." He regailed us all with a little backstory on how the Brandon & Shannon met & fell in love. Forgive me for my memory is a little fuzzy on how events proceeded. When it was time for the Rings, the two Ringbearers, Raj & Sasha (both toddlers & children of Shannon's sisters) were ushered forth to the stage, to give forth the Rings awkwardly, yet adorably. They then decided to stay up on stage, prompting everyone to take pictures. I refrained as my camera was telling me it was low on battery power. Then came the vows.

I tell you, this couple's vows were the most original of any I've ever heard. They were hand written specifically by and for the two of them, and really showed just how alike these two are. They of course talked about loving each other, and being faithful & serving one another, but they also worked in their silliness, dramatism, and pop cultural sense. The only vow I actually remember was (words reproduced as best my memory can): "Do you promise to always update your silly voices, to keep each other interesting and emotionally stimulated?" To which Shannon replied "I do" in a very muppety voice. Brandon just laughed and said "I'm not gonna top that. I do" in a normal voice. When all the vows were complete (and the audience was wiping away tears of both sentiment and laughter), Wayne said "You are now married!" It was abrupt, and unexpected (not "I now pronounce you Man & Wife"?) to me, but they kisses and the house cheered their heads off. Next followed a nice poem, read by Andrew McMasters and a woman I can't identify (his wife?) called "I Like You". I was from the point of view of a person listing why they like the person it's written to, very in-depth, very sweet, and sounded like it was written by an innocent yet wise child. I very much wish I had a copy of it that I could post. The new married couple then walked hand in hand past the bar & out the back door.

Well. There you go, they were married. People got up, milled around, generally were elated. A lot of people were wondering where the newlyweds had went so oddly. Obviously I investigated. They were just outside talking to friends and getting some photos taken no big deal, but it seemed set up so they could come back in by the main entrance. I've got an idea! I walked just in front of them into the hall and blew a very loud, makeshift trumpet made out of my bare hands, to the tune of a page heralding a king. What followed, now THAT was cheering.

As many went up to offer congratulations, it was apparent the time had come to socialize again. I took this opportunity to go to the open bar (tended by either of Jet City's founding fathers, Mike Christensen & Andrew McMasters) to get a drink. (Now you have to realize the significance of this: I had not tasted alcohol, possibly excepting communion wine, since June of last year, making this my first drop in 11 months. And had not this joyous occasion warranted it, I would soon be celebrating my first whole year alcohol free since turning 21. It's not that I had to quit drinking for any reason I "just lost interest in it.") I opted for The Couple's own invention, which was being showcased, called "The Shandon". It was a mixer made with vodka, pomegranate juice, and I forget what else, but alas the recipe had been gotten wrong and thus we'd run out of pomegranate, so the barkeep substituted with cranberry juice and called it a "Crandon".

Soon it was out to the yard to mingle with my neighbors, improvisors, and some family, while we watched the caterers set up shop for the BBQ buffet dinner. Once they were all set up, my dad & I figured it was time to go ahead and get in line, which we did, thus signalling to the whole community that dinnertime was starting. There was one girl catering that I thought was so gorgeous, I just had to get a picture of her; I tell you she looked just like Luna Lovegood only older. That ended up being my last picture before my camera literally died. I don't even recall if I got her name. After dinner was dessert... a wedding cake you ask? Well no, not technically. Remember, this is an unconventional wedding. Rather there was a wedding-cake-shaped display of individual serving cheesecake-cupcakes, of various colorful flavors. They were yummy, but the little menu/guides that were on the table with them were somewhat useless in identifying which flavor was which.

During dinner they moved some of the tables to make room for a dance floor. After settling the food in my stomach, and not the least bit buzzed from my *one* drink, I started getting into the groove, as my family members danced to the casual rock&roll music break-your-eardrums volume. Now when I "get into the groove", it's like saying an atom bomb "gets warmed up". Basically I step onto the floor, and start moving, fast as I can, and don't stop until I pass out heaving & panting. I've been doing this for years; I have moves that are basically random but have a style that looks pretty darn good, and a lot of people were eyeing me approvingly. But over the years my endurance has steadily dropped so that where 4 years ago I could dance for 3 hours before getting tired, this time I did 2 songs before the customary heart attack set it, and that was it for me. Sorry, ladies.

I was rather beat up settung up in the morning, and exhausted from dancing, and I had to work in the morning, so I wasn't able to stay through the whole thing. I chartered a ride home with my neighbors. After the dancing was over there was a slideshow set up, which I am dreadfully sorry to have missed. Please somebody tell me you filmed a copy of it that I can see!

And that's the story. I now have a real-life sister-in-law. Pretty much the next day they were off to Maui for their honeymoon. Who knows what more will come with time? Well in any case, may the Lord bless and keep them. Amen.

Thus follows an account of the grand event of my brother's wedding. Click Here to see the Pictures!

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