the wedding part 3

the BIG DAY has arrived -

At 8 AM we go to see Angela in her hotel room getting hair and makeup done before heading off to Central Park for some photos - and then we return to our hotel to dress for the ceremony and head off to the Central Synagogue -

then the folks in the wedding party begin to gather - most of the following photos are from the Uncle Neil collection-

then on to my cell phone photos of the ceremony- the attendants are shown how to carry and hold the Chuppah (the wedding canopy.) The single cloth under which the couple are joined symbolizes both the new household they are forming and represents the public recognition of their new status as husband  and wife.

relatives awaiting the start of the procession

the Chuppah in place after arriving via the main aisle carried by Lee's father and brother and two female friends of Angela who were in the wedding party

the bride arrives

they enter their symbolic home

then blessings are exchanged in a more lovely and loving approach than vows- rings exchanged as well-

then the Ketubah is signed by witnesses and witnessed by all as the entire intimate gathering came up on the bima to affirm the marriage contract- - - Rabbi Angela Buchdahl explains the Ketubah and witnesses from the wedding party sign in their Hebrew and English names-

Angela signs while Lee "patiently" waits his turn LOL

Lee signs and things are almost complete but first - the glass-

Lee balances carefully before breaking the glass - - - apparently there are many explanations for the ritual but my favorite of what I read was this one -

The fragility of glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. Since even the strongest love is subject to disintegration, the glass is broken as a kind of incantation: “As this glass shatters, so may our marriage never break.”

then time for lots of photos in the sanctuary - the official photographer I am sure has these in much better form but I have my own as well LOL

so off we went to an ice cream parlor the wedding couple liked near the Synagogue - and then to hotels to change to more comfy clothes and on to lunch on McDougal street and then to the Frying Pan on the Hudson

So at dinner folks went their separate ways and we had a Friedman dinner at Gotham Bar & Grill with Sue and her four sons and two daughter in laws and one granddaughter.

The evening was late and we were headed to Roxbury in the morning where Lee & Angela have a country home in the Catskills. A large gathering of their friends was scheduled for an informal celebration of the marriage up there.  The remainder of the photos are ones taken by their friends and posted on a photo site for the celebration so I take no credit for some of these spectacular pictures -

four fires at various locations for cooking and heat and bonding

several campsites were scattered around the property

a substantial number of the group went to the nearby "airstrip" to watch the sun set over the mountains just as we left for the three hour drive back to NYC.

 I know everyone in the world thinks their kids' weddings were the best ever LOL but seriously - this was the most relaxed and most beautiful and loving wedding I have ever attended.  It was elegant but simple, open hearted and welcoming at every event during the week.  Truly perfect!  The formal reception will be held in about ten days in North Carolina - a champagne brunch - which will no doubt only add to the great memories.  THANK YOU SO MUCH to Angela, Lee and all the family members who made this week so special and memorable for us!  #bestever 

the wedding part 2

So we have made it to Thursday night of wedding week in NYC in celebration of Angela & Lee!

here is the happy couple on the evening before the ceremony at The Smith where the Stimmels hosted a dinner for the wedding party members and out of town company!

Brad & Susan Stimmel - Lee's parents and the hosts for the dinner on Thursday evening-

the Stimmel siblings - Brent - Libby - Lee

Other guests-  Linda Kruhmin (MOB) and bride Angela-

Jeremy Friedman (brother of the bride)

Sue Friedman and sons Phil (father of the bride) and Steve Friedman

Suzanne Friedman (Aunt of bride)

bride's cousins - Jack and Lauren Friedman

cousin Lauren Friedman and Uncle Sandy Friedman

and the man of the week - Lee Stimmel the groom!

up next the wedding day arrives - with lots of photos and then on to the food tour LOL

the wedding - part 1

So finally the wedding week arrived and we went off to NYC for all the festivities! Lots of fun- seriously - I can't remember enjoying a wedding more. It was beautiful and loving in every way.  A sneak peek at the bride and groom to give you a reason to read along LOL

this is how our week went- our flight took off pretty much on time and we arrived to The Benjamin at 50th and Lexington before 6 PM and checked in- the wedding ceremony will be held at the Central Synagogue  on Friday morning at 11AM - it is just four short blocks north.  The rehearsal dinner (for out of town guests and wedding party members- despite no actual rehearsal) will be held on Thursday night nearby at The Smith.  Meanwhile many family members start to arrive- all the Friedmans are staying on the same block of 50th between Lex and 3rd... Steve & Suzanne and Jack are on the corner of 3rd and 50th and we are on the corner of Lex and 50th and Larry, Sue, Sandy and Lauren are in the middle of the block at The Kimberly (LOL- note everything is called THE in NYC apparently)

On our first night we are without family plans so we go to the nearby Sen Sakana... a sort of strange experience in a nearly deserted restaurant- where we were told they were closing at 10PM (in NYC?) food was good but overpriced for what it was which may explain why it didn't seem to be doing so well.

after returning home to the hotel we had this wonderful city view up Lex...

then on Wednesday morning - brother Larry arrived and checked in a half block away and we went off to the Oyster Bar at Grand Central for lunch-

We shared two dozen oysters and then Phil has a lobster roll and Larry a lobster salad and I had a shrimp and burrata salad

of course we ate all the oysters before we remembered the photo LOL

that night when Grandma Sue and Sandy and Lauren had arrived we had dinner at Shun Lee Palace- an old favorite from the days when we would be in NYC 6 or 8 times a year... and very close to all the 50th street locations for Friedmans...

we did the Peking Duck and the soupy dumplings and BBQ ribs and potstickers before three sizable entrees which were shared.  We liked the crispy dried beef with chilies the best but all were very good.

this part of the menu was laughable - totally going back to the early days of Chinese food LOL

The next day -  Lee and Angela arrived from London and North Carolina respectively and texted this photo from the cab into NYC while the current group of Friedmans had lunch at Sarge's for the old time deli food....

Jack had arrived from St Louis and so we ordered him a sandwich from Sarge's to go- and checked in with Steve & Suzanne who were close to arriving from Portland OR.... and we would all gather at the "rehearsal" dinner

and so we get to the first photo of this post!

Brother Brent and Sister Libby and the groom Lee - the Stimmel siblings the night before the wedding!

Lee and Angela - leaving the Lotte Palace before the rehearsal dinner -

the extra scrumptious menu for the dinner!

all the food was fabulous and the company was just as good! so we will start off  part 2 with photos from that dinner and go on to the wedding- come on back for more!