Weddings and Expansion


Domaine Meriwether Champaigne from Oregon's Willamette Valley, for a Honeymoon Send-Off Toast

This past weekend I was expanded, in the familial way. My Baby's oldest son was married to a most wonderful and vibrant young woman. The wedding was one you'd find in a magazine... The location was charming, the bride was an angelic vision, the bridesmaids and flower girls were fresh and pretty. The flowers were local and colorful, the ceremony sweet and touching. The food was delicious, the music was just right, the cake was divine. The toasts were eloquent and heartfelt, and the dancing was fun. It was a destination wedding for most of the people in attendance, including the bride and groom, but not for us. Mark and Michelle are living in Florida and wanted to be married here in Oregon where they met, where he grew up, and where nature provides beautiful backdrop. We enjoyed the company of an array of family and old and new friends. GranEbba's Shoes and Hat

The three-day party started on Friday night with a rehearsal night dinner at the home of the groom's mom. It was a great time of coming together and getting to know one another.

A Refreshing Cocktail Hour


This marriage not only expands our family in size, but in other ways, too. The Thesaurus declares that expansion can also mean to intensify, magnify, amplify and to add detail. Our new Michelle is Cuban-American and from a close-knit family. Adding a new cultural dimension to our already diverse family composition offers us a beautiful, new, exciting and welcome facet.



My Baby and I had the joy of hosting a post-wedding brunch on Sunday. Here's the menu:


A chard and proscuitto quiche; a scallop-artichoke quiche; a black-bean and mexican vegatable ricotta cheesecake.

Mango chicken sausage and garlic-herb chicken sausage, with grainy mustard.


A fresh fruit platter and a bowl of peeled clementines.


A potato-tomato gratin scented with thyme.

A cinnamon-walnut cake and a blueberry-vanilla bean cake.

It's a little challenging to take photos while entertaining 30 people, so these may not do it justice. I missed taking a photo of our huge pineapple punchbowl I lugged home from Mexico as a retirement gift for My Baby soon after we first met. We filled it with pineapple-orange juice for this event. I think it added a charming welcome.

The coffee we served was a blend of Cuban coffee and some from our local roaster. Just like our family... a terrific, interesting blend!

Comments

  1. Oh, Pam! That looks just heavenly! (Thought of catering?!?) Sounds like a wonderful wedding weekend.

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  2. Congratulations on the family addition and new blend. That just looks lovely! I must admit I skimmed through the photos before reading, and I completely thought it was a professionally catered brunch. The peeled clementines, lovely placards, and great looking food fooled me.

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  3. Beautiful words to describe a one's in a lifetime moment.
    A brunch to please gods and an outstanding manner to
    keep such harmony been around so many persons at the same time.
    Never food and feelings were together in so beautiful way, tasting the food and feeling love at the same time was something wonderful.
    I don't have to dream in paradise anymore, I was there this weekend...

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  4. How wonderful. Congrats :) btw a beautiful spread and peeled clementines? Such a great idea, it also shows how thoughtful and a gracious host you are :)

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  5. this looks so wonderful! I was recently at a more homemade wedding myself and I just loved it!
    great idea & presentation with the clementines! I am stealing that for sure

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  6. What a wonderful post! I almost feel like I was there. Looks like all went well and the day was a special one. Love the peeled clementines! Never thought of that... they were so pretty!

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  7. what a beautiful time you had. so lovely. thanks for sharing this! those cocktails look especially refreshing!

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  8. Ahhh! Maria Elena, the beautiful mother of my beautiful new daughter-in-law! Your sweet words make my cry all over again. I have already missed you, and am looking forward to our visit to Miami. And I'm especially looking forward to us being a part of one another's life journey.

    Our best to you and Jorge!

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  9. Congratulations! Sounds like a lovely wedding - great food. Many, many blessings.

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  10. What a stunning wedding...thank you for taking us along with your photographs. Warmest congratulations to the newlyweds! I just found your blog today and this offered a moment of brightness in my evening.

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  11. All lovingly done - such care, such beauty - nothing better than sharing food with family and friends. The photos invite you in to the party.

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  12. Congratulations! Your words and the beautiful celebratory brunch you prepared reflect your love and joy in welcoming your new family members. Everything is so garden fresh and I love the flavor combinations in your quiches and coffee cakes.

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  13. Congrats! I love gorgeous weddings :) My family always has a Sunday after party, and your menu would definitely not disappoint. It all looks delicious :)

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  14. Looks like a wonderful celebration. Congrats!

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  15. Thanks for the photo essay. Looks like it was a great wedding. Love the shot of grandmas shoes and hat. I can just imagine how long it took to peel all those clementines. Takes me 5 minutes just to peel one perfectly.

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  16. All the photos are gorgeous, but the tomato gratin made me say "ooooh" so it must be my favorite. :)

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  17. Congratulations on the expanding family...Lovely photos and food :) Wonderful!

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  18. Beautiful Beautiful,Congratulations to you and your family. What a fresh delicious feast! Loved the Clementines!!
    Thank you,
    Lisa

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  19. I have to agree with other commenters and admit that arriving at the brunch I thought it might've been catered, just because of how professional everything looked (and tasted!)

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  20. Congrats!!! The food looks delicious and I bet it tasted even better!

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  21. Justice was served. Looks delicious.

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  22. I see you take care of your family like wife and like to care for our own. These are days that make any hard work worth it.

    Congratulations for your expanded family!!!

    Jason

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  23. Looks like a beautiful feast. You did a wonderful job capturing it. Congratulations on your new family member!

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  24. That brunch looks heavenly! Congratulations on your now-expanded family :)

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