Take a vow.

We worked long and hard on our ceremony and vows, drawing from many sources, rewriting, and at times writing from scratch. Only a small handful of people got to hear them in person, so we thought it would be nice to share them with you all here in writing. We hope you enjoy.

* * *

Higher far,
Upward, into the pure realm,
Over sun or star,
Thou must mount for love.
Where unlike things are like,
When good and ill,
And joy and moan,
Melt into one -
There Past, Present, Future, shoot
Triple blossoms from one root.

There need no vows to bind
Whom not each other seek but find.
They give and take no pledge or oath,
Nature is the bond of both.

Not with scarfs or perfumed gloves
Do these celebrate their loves,
Not by jewels, feasts, and savors,
Not by ribbons or by favors,
But by the sun-spark on the sea,
And the cloud-shadow on the lea.

Is none so high, so mean is none,
But feels and seals this union.
The throbbing sea, the quaking earth,
Yield sympathy and signs of mirth;
Even the tell Furies are appeased,
The good applaud, the lost are eased.
Their cords of love so public are,
They intertwine the farthest star.


Dear family and friends: Today Jonathan and Melissa have invited you here to witness and celebrate the public declaration of the private commitment they have already made to one another. Let us support them with our hope, love, and respect.

Marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other sincerely, who honor each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share the future together. In this ceremony, they dedicate themselves to the happiness and well-being of each other in a union of mutual caring and responsibility.

As we gather here to join Jonathan and Melissa in marriage, it is fitting that you, their families and friends, be here to witness and to participate in their wedding - for the ideals, the understanding, and the mutual respect which they bring to their partnership are rooted in the love, friendship, support, and guidance you have given them.

Jonathan and Melissa have chosen to be joined in marriage on the vernal equinox, the first day of spring; a day when, in spirit, all things are equal. May the partnership that is solidified between them today be one governed by equality and balance, wherein the strengths of each of them will, together, form a more perfect whole. And like the new spring which awakens today, may their love grow ever stronger to weather the seasons of their life together.

Jonathan and Melissa, please face each other.

Jonathan, are you ready to enter into this marriage with Melissa, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things?

I am.

Melissa, are you ready to enter into this marriage with Jonathan, believing the love you share and your faith in each other will endure all things?

I am.

Will you please join your hands.

Jonathan, if it is your desire to become the husband of Melissa, then repeat these words to her:

I, Jonathan, take you, Melissa, to be my wedded wife and partner, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward. In this moment I promise to love you and care for you for all of our days. I accept you with your faults and with your strengths. I promise to support you when you need support, and to turn to you in times of need. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.

Jonathan, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife and partner in all things, to love her, comfort her, and honor her, and forsaking all others, keeping only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?

I do.

Melissa, if it is your desire to become the wife of Jonathan, then repeat these words to him:

I, Melissa, take you, Jonathan, to be my wedded husband and partner, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward. In this moment I promise to love you and care for you for all of our days. I accept you with your faults and with your strengths. I promise to support you when you need support, and to turn to you in times of need. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life.

Melissa, do you take this man to be your wedded husband and partner in all things, to love him, comfort him, and honor him, and forsaking all others, keeping only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?

I do.

Do you have a rings that you wish to exchange?

We do.

A circle, having no beginning or end, is a symbol of infinity, eternity, and wholeness. These rings which you give and receive, then, will from this day forward represent the infinite, eternal, and complete love you will share as husband and wife.

Jonathan, please place the ring on Melissa's finger with the words:

With this ring, I thee wed.

Melissa, please place the ring on Jonathan's finger with the words:

With this ring I thee wed.

Let these rings be given and received as a symbol of your affection, sincerity and fidelity to one another. Jonathan and Melissa, please step forward to sign your marriage license.

Signing of marriage license - Melissa and Jonathan approach table and sign, followed by Josh and Monica who sign as witnesses. All four then return to their places in front.

We know not what the future may bring into the life of this couple, but together may they be equal to the needs of their tomorrows. May they have patience in times of strain, strength in times of weakness, courage in times of doubt, and above all, a growing love to sustain them.

Jonathan and Melissa, you have exchanged your promises, and given and received rings in my presence and in the presence of these witnesses, your families and friends. You have made your marriage legal in the eyes of the law. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Jonathan, you may now kiss the bride.

So that's that!

We did it. We are officially Mr. and Mrs. Thanks so much to all who joined us in flesh and in spirit, from near and from far, with love and well wishes. We'll still be posting here with details from the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception, photos from all the events and the honeymoon, et cetera, for those of you who enjoy that sort of thing. ;)

The day has come!

The sun is shining, and we can't wait to see you all. If you run into any troubles or have any questions, please feel free to call. We can't promise that we'll answer, but we'll try!

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! And the next day... some important info...

Hello all! We can't believe it either, but we're down to the final countdown - in hours, not weeks or even days.

We thought we should alert you all to the fact that we've just been made aware of: the street sign coming from Metairie Road is apparently missing. For reference, it's the street between Rosa and E. William David... the one without a street sign. Hope that helps!

We also wanted to let you all know that we'll be at Morning Call on 17th Street (behind Lakeside Mall) in Metairie on Sunday. We'll be arriving around noon, and we'd he happy to see anyone who'd like to join us for a biegnet brunch...

BUT BE WARNED: down here, we love our parades, and apparently Mardi Gras just wasn't enough. The Irish Italian Parade will be taking place on Veterans Memorial Boulevard on Sunday, so if you're driving in from the city we highly advise taking the interstate to the Causeway and not considering any alternate route. From Causeway you can turn directly onto 17th. But it's possible, and maybe even probable, that traffic may be a little nutty!

Can't wait to see you all... and we hardly have to! :D

What's to do in the Crescent City?

Some of our out of town guests have wondered what's good to do while they're in town. And while it is all fine and good to take a stroll through the Vieux Carre, there is so, so much more to New Orleans than that little rectangular grid. We do advise renting a car, as public transportation is not too swift or far reaching, and having wheels will really expand your possibilities if you plan to come down for more than a day or two.

If you're in town on Friday the 19th, it's almost imperative that you check out some St. Joseph's altars. Regardless of your chosen religion, this is a major part of New Orleans culture that you won't want to miss - you can thank Melissa's Sicilian ancestors for this uniquely New Orleanian celebration. Jonathan and Melissa will be stopping by St. Joseph's Church on Tulane Avenue sometime during the day to pick up a lucky fava bean!

Of course, if you're in town for Friday evening and at loose ends, we'd love to have you at our rehearsal dinner at Ralph's on the Park. Speaking of City Park, it really is someplace you should explore! It's about the size of Central Park in NYC, populated with enormous live oaks draped in Spanish moss and other such southern wonders. Within the park, you'll find the New Orleans Museum of Art, the striking Besthoff Sculpture Garden, the Botanical Garden, and the fantastical playground that is Storyland. There really is enough to do to keep you busy for a full day - you can even get something to eat.

Travel a bit further north and you'll arrive at Lake Pontchartrain - it's hard to miss, as it forms the entire northern border of the city. The lake is so enormous that when Melissa was a child she thought it was the ocean - and who could blame her? The far side of the lake is only visible at night, and then only because of the twinkling lights of the Northshore. Strolling on the lake is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, but if you're looking for a little more excitement (or a little something to eat) you can give Landry's Seafood House a shot. Before the storm it was a Joe's Crab Shack; granted, it's still a chain, but at least it's now one that started in Louisiana. And more importantly, they have helped bring the lake scene back to life.

If you've got a sweet tooth, there's really only one place to go: Angelo Brocato's on Carrollton by Canal. Brocato's serves up the best gelato you will ever taste - even if you've been to Italy. They've also got a gorgeous array of Sicilian pastries and candies, some of which are even vegan friendly. Not to mention that their ices are out of this world. Melissa can't seem to get within eight blocks or so of this fine parlor without being drawn right in - like a bee to honey. (Was that one more for the entomologists or the etymologists? You decide.)

Those who are brave enough can spend a fascinating morning or afternoon at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. If you've ever wondered where all those amazing parade floats come from, wonder no more - they come from this studio! Yes, really, all of them. Tours are offered daily, every half hour from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Prices are somewhat steep, starting at $18.50 for adults with discounts for seniors, children, and military personnel. But really, you must admit, this is a once in a lifetime kind of tour. While you're there, you can enter a contest to win a place on a real Mardi Gras float in 2011!

Melissa has always been a fan of the Audubon Institute establishments in New Orleans - namely the aquarium downtown and the zoo uptown. It just so happens that the weekend of the wedding, Audubon Zoo will be hosting its Earth Fest event. Jonathan and Melissa may stop by on Sunday after a breakfast/brunch/lunch of coffee and biegnets at Morning Call in Metairie. The white alligators in the Mississippi Gallery of the aquarium are truly awesome, and so is their rescue story - much like their bald eagle!

Now, we know you're going to hang out in the Quarter. But just listen to us on this one. Pop on over to Bourbon Street for a block or two, and then leave it for the tourists. Stick to Royal Street instead where you'll find stunning antiques shops and adorable cafes tucked away in garden courtyards. Or find your way down to Decatur Street and grab a muffalatta from Central Grocery - hopefully there will be at least two of you, because one human being cannot finish one of those sandwiches. Or head all the way down to the French Market, made up half of souvenirs and half of gorgeous farm fresh produce. Once you've made it all the way to Esplanade, why not continue on up Frenchman and see what the Fauburg Marigny triangle has to offer?

So that should get you started, at the very least. We'll be back soon with more restaurant suggestions, plus coffee shops and bars, as well as an itinerary (well, a loose one anyway) for what we'll be doing around town for the week after the wedding. That will be for you too, locals!

love and excitement,
m&j

Who wants a little cake?

We are extremely excited to tell you all that the wedding will feature cupcakes and cake from an excellent new bakery on the Northshore in Mandeville, KC's Babycakes. On the recommendation of a friend, I did a tasting with KC herself when I was in town last week. Not only was KC charming and delightful (and patient - she spent a full two hours with me!), but she also bakes some of the best darn cupcakes I have ever tasted. So you'll get to taste them too! We'll have several flavors, so make sure you choose wisely - we'll have plenty, but I'm guessing that they're going to go fast!


Love you all,
Melissa.

Oh, they're just sensitive.

Hello dearest guests! We're just three weeks out now, if you can believe it, and all of the preparations are truly beginning to come together into a tangible event. We've received response cards from many of you, and we'd like to get the rest! ;)

Now, to the meat (ha ha) of today's post. As we've mentioned, the wedding on Saturday will be all vegan. The rehearsal dinner on Friday will also have vegan options available for each course. So if you have any issues with dairy, shellfish, or the like, we've already got you covered. But if anyone has other food allergies or sensitivities such as wheat, soy, nuts, or less common triggers, please let us know! We'll be firming up menus with our vendors in the coming days, so the sooner the better. We want every one of our guests to eat to their content, so please feel free to speak up.

22 days! Not that we're counting. :)

The dress rehearsal: a pre-party!

As most of you already know, Jonathan's parents will be hosting a Rehearsal Dinner for us at Ralph's on the Park the evening before the wedding, beginning at 7pm. Our small wedding party, as well as any and all of our out of town guests who have traveled so far to celebrate with us, are invited and encouraged to join us.

The restaurant is located on City Park Avenue, just across from the main entrance to the park. If weather is on our side, we'll be able to open up the doors to the balcony and peruse on out to enjoy the view! If you haven't already done so, please let us know if you plan to attend.

Can't wait to see you!

RSVP!

We've already received our first couple of response cards, which is so exciting! Stamping those post cards was so much fun. Each one is different - you know me, I'm into visual effects. :) We can't wait to read the notes from all of you as they trickle in over the next month or so! My mom didn't want to send hers back - she said it was too pretty, ha. But I explained to her that they're becoming part of our wedding album, so she simply must. Sorry Ma!

Addendum: Some of our guests seem concerned that the post office won't get the postcards back to us with just the little address that's stamped on them. They will, we promise! Go ahead and write in the space on the right, above the address that's stamped. It's the only address there, and the USPS knows what to do. ;)

Invited!

Yes, at long last, the invitations are finally in the mail! We hit more than a few technical difficulties along the way, but no matter now. Or, well... just keep your fingers crossed that nothing silly happens in the mail! And keep your eye out, because they're coming! :D