G + E Wedding

Six months+ of planning for this one weekend. Glen's parents Richard & Marcia will fly in Wednesday night. I am taking Thursday off from work to unwind (the calm before the storm). We'll drop off the puppies at camp around 3:30pm then run home to change. We need to be at the Court House for our 5 p.m. appointment. Dinner at Jak's.

Friday is a travel day. We have get up pre-dawn to catch 7:40a.m. flight. Then maybe lunch with my family, so our parents can finally meet. Then we check into the hotel.

Saturday, oh Saturday! Meet up with Mel. Get the restaurant set up. Then the big banquet.

Sunday is dinner with Joanne and Will at Kirala. Time permitting, maybe we'll squeeze in a quick trip to Monterey. Dinner with Neil and Stacy on Monday... Then we head home on Tuesday.

No problem, right?!

Posted by E at 8:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Glen's parents, Dick & Marcia, Glen & I piled into the car at 4:45pm, to get to the district court for our 5p.m. appointment. This was to be Glen's shining moment, getting us there on time!

Needless to say, we were late. The Judge, Fred Yeatts, was calling to see if we stood him up.

Posted by E at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Judge, Me (with the silver velvet shawl from Stacy), and Glen

Our judge, Fred Yeatts.. He is a great guy, very easy going, relaxed, and maybe a bit long winded (Hurry up, JaK's is waiting!). He was great. He even let us take a picture with him.

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After the ceremony, we had dinner at JaK's in Issaquah. Mmm.. it is a great steakhouse with unbelievable potato pancakes (and great steaks. It is a steakhouse afterall). If you haven't been there, you are seriously missing out.

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We were up at 4:30am ( isn't that illegal?) We stowed the cars, did the airport thing, and experienced the joy of car rental. Then off to lunch at my parent's place. Then check-in at the hotel. Thats the plan ....

Posted by E at 4:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We arrived at Oakland airport. We hung out and waited for Byron and Cami, and then on to my parents for Dim Sum lunch.

On the way to rental car, Mel called. Unexpected travel joy visited her. I gave her direction to find BART and station name. And asked her to call me when she is on this side of the Bay. I couldnt find the BART station. It has been ten plus years since I've been to that BART station. One hand on the wheel, one hand on the mobile phone. .. I gotta get there. QUICK.

I found her alright. She came to lunch with my family and met everyone.

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Left to Right:
Dad, Mom, Uncle Wilson, Auntie Kay, Uncle Hing Kwong, Aunt Connie, Aunt Janet, and Aunt Heidi. and Glen and I in front.

I really enjoy being around my family. Janet & Wilson, Connie and Raymond both live in Oakland and Piedmont. My aunt Heidi lives in Vancouver, and Hing Kwong & Kay are in Kitmat, BC (that's 18 hours north of Vancouver.) Mel asked if they live in the Artic Circle :)

The last time we gathered, it was for my brother's wedding. So much fun! My dad made noodles, my mom got dim sum take outs ... before long, Glen's dad Richard was taking a nap on the sofa! Mmm.. comfy sofa.

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Here it is, our room with a view. On the 11th floor of Holiday Inn in lovely Emeryville. We had a panoramic view of the Bay Bridge, the Port of Oakland, and the Golden Gate...not that we ever got to enjoy it.

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October 11 is Richard's birthday. Since we were heading to Chevy's for dinner ... he got the usual Chevy's birthday treatment. One waitstaff sung birthday song later and one sombrero richer, we were all done for the evening.

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I woke up at 7am. Hungry. So Glen got to wake up too. We headed out and found a little place called the Emery Bay Cafe and had a quiet breakfast. Hey, with three police cars in the parking lot, the food can't be all that bad.

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Left to right: Karin, Eugene, Jess, and Nick

We met for coffee after breakfast. It was a glorious California day. Jess & Nick, Eugene & Karin, Glen and I sat outside and chatted. Many, many lattes later, we parted company. They went off to sight-see and I had to return to important matters on hand... Where is Mel?

Posted by E at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mel's cousin Betty delivered Mel to the hotel. Betty had these crazy cool sunglasses on! Off we go, Mel and I had important things to do. Shopping! I decided the shoes I brought just wouldn't work .. (I tested them on the carpet. No way! There's no way I can wear those for the evening)

Mel and I headed out to Bay Street. We were efficient little shoppers. Mel kept track of time and gave me sound advice on everything from fragrance to shoes, to ... time to go. We had to be at the restaurant at 4:30pm!

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Many months ago, I had an idea. A Chinese banquet is 10+ courses and for those who have not been to one, it might be good to have a preview of dishes to come. So, the menu was born. It is also a good guide to help pace the ratio of food vs stomach space.

Mel and I worked diligently and set up the name cards, the menus and the chocolate... oh, the chocolate! How many ways can you stack 70 boxes of chocolate?

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From Stacy :)

The menu, the favors, and place setting. The favor boxes and menu had our name and date.

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I made four flavors and dark chocolate truffles. I put one flavored truffle and one traditional chocolate into each into two-truffle boxes. It was a labor of love... and it was well worth it. I did a final count and I made 340 truffles. I wonder where the extras went. Hrmph.

Posted by E at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The three tier cake from Marjorlines - Margaret's French Bakery link to their website.
A close up of the cake.

The bottom layer was Lemon Torte (vanilla genoise filled with lemon curd and vanilla whipped cream and frosted with vanilla buttercream) for me! The middle was Strawberry Grand Marnier Cake (vanilla genoise filed with fresh strawberries and Grand Marnier whipped cream) for Glen! The top was Caramel (vanilla genoise filled with carmel and frosted with Caramel buttercream) for the people who doesn't like fruity cakes!

Oh and after much debate the Puppies was placed facing the cake! They want cake too!

Posted by E at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Margaret did a great job with the flowers. Dark Burgundy Roses with Silver leaves. And matching flowers on Marcia, my Mom and Mel.

Posted by E at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I took some pictures before the carnage began.

Byron, Cami and Mitch.
Richard and Marcia.
My aunt Connie and uncle Raymond. and my sister Irene.
My aunt Janet and Uncle Wilson with my cousin Brian.
My aunt Heidi, Uncle Hing Kwong and Auntie Kay.
My brother Tony, Meichen, Lawrence, and Christina.
Glen's brother John and sister Debbie.
My cousin Kay and boyfriend Kevin.
My sister in law's sister and their Mom Mrs Lai.
The Bischops.
The Mackeys, Chris and Sophia.
The Firsows, Jess, Nick, Karin, Eugene.
The Laughlins, Neil and Stacy.
Shannon & Vylar and Randy.

Some of Mom's friends:
Noy Sisa-at and Foune Chan
Lai May- lai, June Wong , Sui Kwong and Peter Olds
Sui Kwong, Peter Olds and Jason Chan.

Some snapshots from Will & Joanne:
Mel, the Cow, and I.
Glen and I. ohouie, camera flash.

From Stacy:
A shot of the headtable and the kids table.
I went around all the tables and poured tea for everyone.

Posted by E at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wow. A wonderful picture of my mom and dad. Thank you Cami for capturing this great moment.

Posted by E at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lawerence signing the guest book.

A tired and sleepy Christina.

Mitch and Duane oblivious to the festivity.

Posted by E at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mid-way through the meal, we extended our thanks to all the guests and went to visit each table.

Marcia and my parents, Byron and Cami , my aunt Janet's table, Joanne and Will's table, my uncle Hing Kwong, My mom looking very happy. And my brother Tony, aunt Heidi. And Randy.

Posted by E at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Time for cake!! I selected the lemon layer for the bottom to ensure that I got some of that wonderful lemony goodness! :)

We had a lot of cake! (oh wait, They had a lot of cake! I tasted all the flavors).

And the top tier went to our friends who, miraculously, still had room for EXTRA cake after the 10+ course meal including lobster-shaped mango pudding and a first serving of wedding cake! Here is a picture of Glen waiting for a slice.

Posted by E at 7:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Did you know you are required to do origami during a wedding reception? These were boxes for the extra cake.

Posted by E at 7:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A huge Thank You to all of our friends, many of whom traveled 20 to 20,000 miles to come to our reception. I am thrilled that we shared the evening together. Here's to friendship! By the way, [removed Will's comment]

Posted by E at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Fine Print. The Credits. The Thank Yous.

To my Mom. Who helped me with the preparations, the invites & menus, the banquet, etc. Who made the dress that I didnt have time to finish.

To Glen's parents. Who bared witness. Thank you.

To my aunt Janet. Who helped us with the hotel reservation.

To Mel. Who kept me on track and gave me sound advice.

To Ron. The wise one with all the valuable advices. From organization ideas, to cake, to chocolate flavors.. I will remember to leave it to the profressionals.

To Shannon. Who proof read the English banquet menu.

To Stacy. Who gave me the velvet shawl and saved me a lot of headache a week before the ceremony.

To Will. Who proof readed the drafts of the journal and yes, I do read the changes and yes, I will take out that unprintable comment.

And to Glen. Who spent hours after hours, days after days making this software work.

Posted by E at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)