The Grand Finale in Carmel

This past weekend we celebrated the nuptials of Anjulee and Ryan.  As Anj is the last of us to get married we started calling the wedding weekend the grand finale so it seemed only fitting that there were to be two ceremonies (a catholic mass in Mission Carmel on Saturday and a black tie dinner and reception in Carmel on Sunday night).  And like all grand finales, it was done up right.  We had two sets of outfits to wear (costumes if you will and definitely don’t call them bridesmaids dresses… we were dubbed VIPs for the weekend), a full day in the salon getting our hair and makeup done on Sunday and a wedding toast by yours truly (one that I wrote at 1am one weekend too excited to sleep).  

It was a beautiful weekend and the photos capture all of the glam that Anj had envisioned.  Below are some photos and of course, my wedding toast:

 A Wedding Toast to True Love

When Anj and Ryan got engaged we dubbed the celebration the grand finale as she is the last of us to get married.  But in this case last is definitely not least and leave it to Anj to go out in style.

At the request of the bride (and her matron of honor Lindsay) I have the privilege of representing the Cal Poly girls and giving the toast to celebrate the lovely couple today....I hope to do it justice and will know if I succeed if either Neff or Joanna cries.  So here we go: 

True love that magical and special thing and what people can search their whole lives for. 

The wonder and joy of finding someone you want to share your life together with, raise a family together with and grow old together with.

The security of knowing you have somebody to enjoy the simple pleasures of life including drinking a bottle or two of wine and sharing your biggest hopes, dreams and regrets. 

True love.  Found through the most unusual but likely places: a chance encounter at a mountain top bar or craps table in Vegas, an introduction through a mutual friend or family member or the cultivation of a friendship developed at work. 

Yes true love.  That once in a life time experience of finding your soul mate…. Which is what us Cal Poly girls, found when we met Anjulee. 

Five of us girls met our freshman year in the dorms and we quickly bonded over our love of Jell-O shots and late night runs to VG's.  My sister joined the crowd our senior year and we met Anj shortly after graduation. Which in hindsight is probably a good thing as I am not sure we would have graduated at all if we had met her earlier… The image of pouring gasoline on a party driven fire comes to mind...

Here was this petite blond woman with impeccable style and bright red lipstick, a woman with an un quench able thirst for life and champagne, a shared love of 80s big hair rock and country, and our immediate partner in crime.  It was a match made in heaven.  

Over the years our college style shenanigans evolved as we all matured and started careers and families. But as the years went by our love for Anjulee only grew stronger.  She became our confidant, the supporter of impulse shopping purchases, the token veil maker for all of our bachloertte parties and the favorite auntie to our kids.  We used to joke that it took Anj a few years of auditions and tryouts to officially be part of the crew but the truth is she was loved by us immediately.  

And we are a tough group of women... so much so that it takes an even more special man to win one of our hearts away... Because lucky for us we have already found true love with each other.  

Poor Scottie was the first gentleman to break into the group and win the heart and hand of Ange.  And since then he has been slowly building what we call his "support group" of fellow men to match our big personalities and crazy adventures.  I don't know about you, but for me there is nothing better than seeing your other half hanging out and enjoying his time with your best friend's husband.   And finding seven men that not only match perfectly with their spouses but also with the other men in the group is unheard of.  But I can honestly say that Ryan is that match.  

He not only brings a smile to Anjulee’s face every time she talks about him (even in their early years when they were still "just friends at work") ... But more importantly he also can hang with the boys all day, drinking whiskey and talking about traveling the world or possibly deep space exploration while us ladies catch up around a kitchen table.  Yes, I can't be more thankful for our friendship with Anjulee but also having Ryan be part of our life. 

So to Anj: on behalf of Ange, Erin, Neff, Dana, Joanna and myself thank you for being our soul mate and allowing us to be your friend 

To Ryan:  from all of us ladies and all of our husbands we are excited to have you officially join the family 

And to both of you on behalf of Lindsay, the matron of honor:  cheers to your true love.  We can't wait to see you two share a life together, raise a family together and grow old together.