The snow clad mountaintops glistened silently, overlooking the Bavarian themed hamlet of Leavenworth, WA: the setting for the marriage of our daughter Rachael and her soon-to-be deployed soldier, Brandon.
Marc and I arrived a day early to meet up with son Neil and his wife Hillary, also attending. After dinner out and a nightcap from Coldstone Creamery we retired to our room in the Obertal Inn, featuring a nice mountain view.
Rachael and Brandon arrived early the next morning so we would have the day together since it was a 4 o’clock ceremony at the Wedding Haus, a quaint home built in 1906 and having served as a wedding venue for the past twenty years.
Once we got everyone else rounded up in late morning, all the guys and Hillary decided to visit the fish hatchery just out of town, while I took Rachael first to pick up her bouquet and then wine-tasting to calm her nerves. Leavenworth, being the tourist town it is, has over ten tasting rooms and three wineries. Sufficiently relaxed, we found out the group was at Ducks and Drakes Pub having some brews and lunch so we joined them for the fun. Shortly thereafter, Rachael’s two bridesmaids also joined the group.
The girls decided to all get ready in the honeymoon suite of Rachael’s hotel while Marc and Brandon used our room. Shortly thereafter, Brandon’s side of the wedding party arrived and we all met one another and then it was time for the ceremony.
An intimate group of thirteen witnessed Rachael becoming Brandon’s wife, and as they said their own vows to one another, she was on the verge of tears. (So was Mom). Brandon was solemn until it was all over and he was told he could kiss his bride.
Cake and champagne followed, with the group mingling and taking photographs for an hour before we ushered the newlyweds out to their waiting carriage, for a horse-drawn ride through Leavenworth’s streets before dropping them at the downtown German restaurant they had picked for their wedding dinner. Congratulations, kids! You make a beautiful and glowing couple; may your future be bright and happy!
