Here Comes the Bride . . .

The purpose of our train excursion to Albuquerque was to attend our daughter's wedding.  

Photo courtesy of Carmella Chavez Lieberman Photograph

The ceremony was held at the Hotel Andaluz - a gorgeous, historic building in downtown Albuquerque.  

Due to a cancellation by the minister, Dave got to perform the actual ceremony - after a last minute scramble to verify the legalities.  What a blessing to hear him give a message on the scriptural instructions for marriage and then pronounce them as husband and wife!  Our grandsons were the wedding attendants.  Adorable!

During a brief receiving line in the lobby, the hotel staff reset the room with comfy couches and arm-chairs to host the reception.  Amy opted for a single small cake and cupcakes in various flavors.  

A side table was decorated in rustic fashion with mason jars holding family wedding pictures printed in black and white to look "vintage", and lit with battery-operated votives.  The jar on the far left on the bottom shelf is Dave and I circa 1982.  (Is that considered "vintage" now?  *groan*)  An antique suitcase and more hydrangeas decorated a table near the door to hold cards from guests.  (Can't believe I didn't get a picture!)  The bride also provided squares of heavy linen and Sharpies so guests could write a word of advice or congratulations, and the squares were hung from a clothesline with old-fashioned pegs.  That is, until the hotel Scrooge showed up and objected to the use of pushpins to hold up the line - but it was a cute idea any way.  I'm not sure what her plans are for saving the squares - a quilt wall-hanging would be adorable, or perhaps a scrapbook?

Although small (less than 30 people in attendance), it was exactly as Amy had hoped - intimate, casual and beautiful.