We stayed close to much of the rest of the extended family in some rental cabins near the wedding site. Our cabin had a swing, which was a hit.
It was great to see Aaron and Karis and so much of the rest of the family as well.
We also had a hot tub, which was a magnet, especially for the under-7 set.
Ranier got up close and personal to some of the local fauna.
We got to see the wedding site the day before the actual event as part of the rehearsal... it was a sunny, warm day, with great views of Shenandoah National Park out the back. The site itself is a working goat farm. It was very, very green.
Joanna's nephews, Evan and Carter, were also in attendance, and the four boys immediately formed a posse, which lasted the entire trip.
Megan was really excited about the whole affair!
In theory, the wedding was to take place in front of the hitching post. The warmth reminded Megan and myself of our own wedding in Tucson, where the day before it was really warm and sunny and we were worrying about shade. Like then, the forecast for the wedding day showed some potential for rain. Ha! They should be so lucky!
It really was a goat farm!
Inter-species communication.
After the rehearsal, we all went to a grand BBQ at a local county park. Megan and mom, Anne-Marie, both looked lovely and festive.
Lots of Halls and Kinds and friends present. Dinner was a whole roast pig, among other goodies. Yum!
Jeremy, always in style.
Megan, Ahrash, Jeremy, and Erin managed to get away for a hike the morning of the wedding. Shenandoah was lovely, with a late-Spring feel. We couldn't get too far given time constraints... just off the ridge and down a bit before turning around. But we did spot a toad and took time to check out flowers, trees, poison ivy, etc.
Well, in fact, their luck held and it DID rain! At times, quite hard. Here are Joanna's parents heading to the ceremony.
The cake was topped with a custom wire-art piece. Awesome.
Megan looking beautiful.
Karis looking beautiful as well.
The decision was made to hold the whole event in the covered area, which was very colorful and airy (literally, being wide open on all sides). It was a good call... the increased closeness livened things up, I think, and it still really felt like we were outside, if not wet.
Proud dad and groomsman.
Ranier found ways of keeping himself entertained until things got going in earnest.
The ceremony itself was really lovely. The backlighting made it hard to get good photos with a small camera. This shot wasn't bad. There were many smiles and tears over their self-written vows and chosen readings.
A post-ceremony cuddle was in order.
Aaron and Karis, no longer the "new couple."
Megan and dad, Phil, ready to dance!
Joanna making the rounds with attending Hall family members.
Joanna giving her feet a break, shows off her wedding shoes.
The kids table is always the place to be!
Dancing, dancing! Turns out ALL of the kids were wildly enthusiastic, and quite good, dancers!
Ranier taking a turn.
Everyone wants to dance with Joanna!
We found a brief moment when we were all in one place...
The day after the wedding, many of us stuck around for the remainder of the weekend, so we got to enjoy (another) hike in Shenandoah National Park, this time along a stretch of the Appalachian Trail. It was a misty day, sometimes wide open and sunny, and sometimes closed in and foggy. Great hiking weather.
A view from the trailhead.
Another view.
Where there are rocks and uncles, climb and clamber!
We miss everyone already!
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