An Invintation and Introduction

If you are reading this, it probably means that you are invited to our (third) wedding.  Yes, our third wedding.  The first was last summer in the Bergen courthouse before we applied for a visa.  The second will be again in Norway, but will be the wedding my wife has been dreaming of since she could dream.  And the third is this one which will be in California for all my friends and family to witness.

We are not sending out written invitations because we are in Norway and so far away.  We thought it would be special if we made a blog and personally invited everyone.  So, if you got an email or FB message or phone call, please come.

Why are you having so many weddings?

So far, our relationship has been nothing ordinary – from the day we met in Australia to the plans we still make else where in the world – we are bringing a little piece of America and a little piece of Norway together to make a fun and exciting marriage.  Ideally we would have loved to have one BIG wedding that all friends and family of both sides could attend and celebrate with us, but for obvious continental reasons that just wasn't possible and the result was 3 separate occasions to focus on us getting married.  But don't be confused, I very much want this wedding that you are invited to, to be special as well.  

I have dreamed of my wedding day for sometime now, probably not in the extent and vastness as my wife and many other women have, but it still has been a desire I have held close to my heart since I was the privileged Best Man in my dear friends, Michelle and Shelden Flowers, wedding.  That wedding day made me realize how much I want to remember all my loved ones coming together on one day to see the woman I chose and who chose me.  So please come because I invited you on purpose.

But you are already married, so will this be a usual wedding?

We are going to have more of a party rather than a traditional wedding.  My wife will wear her wedding dress and I will wear a suit (and you can dress as formal as you would like).  We will not be getting married on that day, but we will have my pastor Rob Litzinger give a blessing and pray for us.  We will also read our vows to each other again before you in honor that you are our witness to not just our wedding day, but our marriage as well.

After the short ceremony we will have a more usual reception.  You will be served a buffet style cold dinner and sparkling cider for toasts.  We will have speeches from family and an open mic for guests who would like to share a fond memory or kind word about us.  It was my choice to have an open mic, so please take advantage of it and make the evening memorable for us. 

There will also be a DJ, music, dancing, cake and the garter/bouquet toss.

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