The Day of the Rehearsal was an Auspicious Start to the Weekend
Note: pictures are at the bottom of each page
Practice makes perfect, they say. Our wedding rehearsal was scheduled for Friday, April 24th, because Lauxmont Farms was already booked for a wedding on Saturday (tradition says the rehearsal is the day before the wedding). In the morning Andrew and I visited my parents' house to collect my brother, and took some photos of the prep work for the post-rehearsal luncheon. It was a mad house of flying kitchenware, ingredients, and people. Everyone was pitching in and it looked like everything was coming together.
A quick stop at the Brooks' house and soon I've got the rest of the wedding party: Josiah (best man) and his father Tom (guitarist). With Hannah (Josiah's girlfriend) and Tyler (honored compatriot) in tow, we booked it over to the venue. The rehearsal went off without a hitch, just like the wedding would, right? It doesn't matter, because the point of this day was not practicing the wedding, it was practicing the reception.
The groom's parents are in charge of the rehearsal dinner. But as we were having the rehearsal so early, it was decided that a lunch would be more appropriate. To make things even better, we called it a "luncheon," which drips of gentility and flair. The luncheon was at Whistle Brew Coffee Shop, a new cafe in Red Lion which we've already made our favorite local hang out. My parents brought such a mass of food it was amazing, I can't even remember it all. I remember lunch meats, pretzel rolls, and decadent caramel-laden rice krispy treats, and crab soup, and rice krispy treats, and more rice krispy treats!
One problem, however, is that the front door of the cafe remained unlocked, so somtimes strangers would wander in off the street in search of coffee. They were quickly booted from the establishment, but it got to be annoying after awhile. So when *two* women walked in, followed shortly by another man, I was ready to kick them out and lock up the door. But I paused when I realized who these people were, and my goofy, angry scowl turned into a goofy, happy smile at Mad Agnes, our favorite folk trio.
My mother had gotten them to come play a set for our luncheon, and they had been hiding out at Tom's house after we left for the rehearsal! The set was fantastic - they played all my favorites, I think all of Jen's favorites, as well as some requests. It was so much fun, and such a surprise. Mom had played her cards close to her chest, and not even Dad knew what was going to happen.
Got a Hold On Me
As we left the coffee shop, I worried, thinking "how could the wedding top this?" Perhaps this was a foolish thought. The wedding certainly did top the rehearsal, at least as far as memorability goes.
With two bridesmaids staying at our apartment and both arriving late Thursday night, I was thankful to sleep in a bit on Friday and be exempt from rehearsal luncheon prep.
My maid of honor, Julie, reminded me to bring my practice bouquet - a little posey with four wooden roses - to the rehearsal and we headed out to meet the rest of the party at Lauxmont Farms. We made a few introductions, had a little practice, and headed back for the main event: FOOD.
The bridesmaids and I made a quick stop at the apartment so I could give Julie, Bethany, and Amber their gifts and we headed down to the Whistle Brew coffee shop with new wedding coffee mugs made by local potter Jill Moodie-Pellegrino.
Soon, all were there and we got down to the business of eating. We had sandwich fixins, minestrone soup, veggies, and my favorite chocolate ganache cake. Sometime during dessert, I noticed a couple women walk in and try to order some drinks. I frowned and was about to fuss to my bridesmaids about the nature of a private party when one of the women turned and I saw her in profile. Lack of sleep, too much junk food, I don't know, but I couldn't really talk or move. All I could stutter was, "That's Margo Hennebach, Mad Agnes, that's Mad Agnes, they're supposed to be in North Carolina, Mad Agnes. . ." while shaking and crying in a total state of shock.
And my bridesmaids kept asking in various states of alarm, "What's wrong, Jen? What happened, WHO IS THAT?" I promise I couldn't have explained it any better than my previous stammering. I mean, Mad Agnes?!? WHAT???
I used to think if I ever met a celebrity, I would be so chill. They'd get a break from the usual starstruck-fan behavior and we'd all go out for drinks or something. But that's the second time I've unconsciously disconnected my brain from my mouth with the same band. It brings back memories of meeting them in Bethlehem, PA, where I made a fool of myself once before with my gape-mouthed stuttering. And while Mad Agnes merits my top playlists, I realize at least half the people in the room had never heard of them and for the first few seconds couldn't understand how I could be crying and not be upset at all.
But really, that was the most tremendous thing that ever could have happened to make John's and my rehearsal perfect!
One Wild Dove
And they played my top all-time favorite Mad Agnes song first - One Wild Dove. Dang skippy doo dah! Wow. Props, Bridget, for hopes and dreams fulfilled!
