When I was about 12, my travel soccer team packed into cars and caravaned to our first out-of-state tournament in Needham, Massachusetts. For three days, we ran around the hotel in heated games of manhunt and hide-and-go-seek, cannon-balled into pools, gorged on fettuccine Alfredo in the strip mall around the corner. We won the tournament. And during the car ride home, I cried, sad to see my magical weekend go.
I thought of that experience last Sunday, as friends and family packed up their cars, swatting away their last mosquitoes, to return to their respective lives in New York, Chicago, Ohio, Boston, Boulder, and, of course, New Jersey. But this time I kept my (quite messy) tears at bay.
Our wedding was pure joy for us. From the moment that first case of Yuengling tumbled out my mom's car trunk to the moment I packed up the last Pop Tarts, the weekend was full of so much happiness and s'mores and love and bug spray. We feel thrilled, so thrilled, and warm in the very cockles of our hearts (yes, our hearts come with those) that we were able to share our wedding weekend with you.
Thank you for the campfire, for help setting the tables when I couldn't find the plates, for eating cold pizza with us in the afternoon, for holding our hands and dancing, for making us laugh, for laughing at our jokes, for indulging in our pigeon language, for serenading us under our window, for being our loved ones and confidants, our family both by blood and bond.
Michael and I have devised a partial code language (of very limited vocabulary) that we normally confine to in-house use but apparently leaked all over the camp last weekend. You might have heard us say things like 'tabes' or 'putes' or 'beautyl'. The arguably embarrassing cat is out of the bag. Thus, in the spirit of sharing, we bring you greetings from the Happsburg Empire because that's where we live together. Mostly because we're happy. And also because we're not part of a fallen dynasty.
I tend to over-share and over-write when I'm feeling emotional, so I'll try to cut this message short. Too late. Our point: Our wedding weekend was so satisfyingly fun for us. It would not have been nearly so magical without you. We thank you. We love you. We hope to see you soon.
Until then, please enjoy this pictures, courtesy of my awesome brother Stephen Green, a jack of many trades and a member of my tribe.
Wedding Photos
Much love,
Barbara and Michael
(who admittedly slip between first person singular and plural)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Final Camp Details
We are so excited that the wedding is only 72 hours away and cannot wait to spend time with everyone! We just wanted to cover payment options for those who are staying at the camp. For those staying both Friday and Saturday night the cost will be twenty-one dollars per person, which gets you a bed in an adorable rustic cabin. The payment can be made by either cash or check, these payments will be made to Barbara Green. If bringing cash, please bring exact change, as we will not be able to make change for you. A final reminder, the cabins are rustic, so if it is possible to bring your own linens and towels, that would be great. There is no need to bring toilet paper or soap however.
Check-out time from the cabins is at 1130am on Sunday morning.
The following weblink includes in-depth directions to the camp: http://www.campdarkwaters.org/
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Michal or Barbara via email or phone.
Check-out time from the cabins is at 1130am on Sunday morning.
The following weblink includes in-depth directions to the camp: http://www.campdarkwaters.org/
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Michal or Barbara via email or phone.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Three weeks out! Oh my!
Barbara's high school yearbook quote was something like, "If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done." Ack. Alas, it does seem that little last-minute things keep cropping up. And at least one of us is getting a bit nervous (about logistics, not the marriage).
HOWEVER... We are also getting really excited. If you have not already responded, please send your cards back as soon as possible. If you received a save the date but your invitation still has not shown up, that is troubling. Please let us know and we'll get another one out to you ASAP. If we somehow forgot to put a stamp in the response card (already happened once), a thousand apologies. Oops.
Now onto the fun stuff. We are getting into town a few days early, and will be at the camp starting on Friday.
THE NIGHT BEFORE..
We will be having a very casual pizza dinner on Friday June 3 around 7 or 7:30pm. If you will be in town, please let us know (so that we can be sure to have enough food and beverages) -- and please do join us. We would love to see you!
THE MORNING AFTER...
We will also be having breakfast/brunch at the camp the morning after the wedding. Start time is a bit unclear -- we're thinking maybe 9am or so. Thanks to Barbara's mom, who has very generously offered to cook!
THE DAY OF...
After our ceremony, we will have a cocktail hour featuring lawn games (and archery!), along with some snacks and beverages (which cocktail hour implies, we suppose). Dinner will start between 4 and 4:30pm. We will be partying until the break of dawn.
HOWEVER... We are also getting really excited. If you have not already responded, please send your cards back as soon as possible. If you received a save the date but your invitation still has not shown up, that is troubling. Please let us know and we'll get another one out to you ASAP. If we somehow forgot to put a stamp in the response card (already happened once), a thousand apologies. Oops.
Now onto the fun stuff. We are getting into town a few days early, and will be at the camp starting on Friday.
THE NIGHT BEFORE..
We will be having a very casual pizza dinner on Friday June 3 around 7 or 7:30pm. If you will be in town, please let us know (so that we can be sure to have enough food and beverages) -- and please do join us. We would love to see you!
THE MORNING AFTER...
We will also be having breakfast/brunch at the camp the morning after the wedding. Start time is a bit unclear -- we're thinking maybe 9am or so. Thanks to Barbara's mom, who has very generously offered to cook!
THE DAY OF...
After our ceremony, we will have a cocktail hour featuring lawn games (and archery!), along with some snacks and beverages (which cocktail hour implies, we suppose). Dinner will start between 4 and 4:30pm. We will be partying until the break of dawn.
Monday, February 14, 2011
More about our wedding...
So, I've obviously resisted the urge to blog about random things.... Now onto the wedding!
If you're here, that means you've probably received our save-the-date cards. The photo is from our spring break trip to New Mexico. The beautiful backdrop is Bandelier National Monument, a very cool place with Pueblo archeological sites and cliff dwellings one can actually climb up and explore.
Having chosen the date of June 4, we know we're not exactly giving you all tons of notice. We apologize. We really, really hope you can make it, though. It's not often that we get to have our friends and family in one place. And it's been way too long since we've seen some of you!
We are pretty casual people. While we like to get dressed up sometimes, our 'nights on the town' often involve a trip to our neighborhood Nepalese place or a brewpub that serves awesome brisket sliders and fresh beer. We love going to hikes in the Boulder area, visiting national parks, and just hanging around outside. We want our wedding to reflect our preferences and everyday life together.
Thus, we've chosen to get married outside at a Quaker-run camp and conference center in Medford, New Jersey. While neither of us is actually Quaker, Barbara did have a fabulous summer internship experience at the Newark office of the American Friends Service Committee and admires some Quaker values. The camp is quite beautiful in the summer -- lots of tree shade and foliage with a small creek running through where people can boat.
Our ceremony will probably start between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, with a casual BBQ reception (brisket, smoked chicken, mac-n-cheese, corn bread, etc.) under a tent immediately following. While that means we'll start eating dinner around 4pm, we figured that kind of timing might work best for those with early bed times or long-ish drives home that night. Plus, it means we get a few hours of sunshine-y warmth for badminton, croquet, and general outdoor lounging, weather permitting.
That being said, everyone is welcome to keep the party going and join us for a giant slumber party that night. (No pressure.) The camp offers rustic (and very affordable) accommodations -- we're talking camp cabins with bunk beds and shared showers and restroom facilities. BYOSB or BYOL, meaning you would have to bring your own sleeping bag or bed linens. As the camp can accommodate quite a few people, it's possible for families/small groups to arrange for private cabins. We'll have music, s'mores, a campfire, board games. What else could you need?
Of course, if the answer to that question is 'a private bathroom and a bigger bed' (a very reasonable request), there are many hotels nearby -- some just a few minutes away (like the Flying W, for instance). As we continue to work on this site, we'll post more info on hotel options in the coming weeks.
The most important thing for us (aside from actually getting married) is that we get to spend time with the people we love. In the past few years, we've sort of bounced around a bit, from South America to Syracuse to Florida to Colorado. We've gone from seeing some of you all the time to wistfully looking at photos of you on Facebook. We know that New Jersey is a trek for some of you. If you can come, however, we would love to see you.
If you have any questions or need any help with trip planning, please let us know. If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know. If you want to come a day early and hang out, please let us know. In short, we're desperate for human contact. With you. And are super excited about the prospect of seeing you. You can email us at either barbaragreen@gmail.com or michaelcburch@gmail.com. You can also call Barbara at (941) 387-5417 or Michael at (941) 323-1820
Love,
Barbara and Michael
If you're here, that means you've probably received our save-the-date cards. The photo is from our spring break trip to New Mexico. The beautiful backdrop is Bandelier National Monument, a very cool place with Pueblo archeological sites and cliff dwellings one can actually climb up and explore.
Having chosen the date of June 4, we know we're not exactly giving you all tons of notice. We apologize. We really, really hope you can make it, though. It's not often that we get to have our friends and family in one place. And it's been way too long since we've seen some of you!
We are pretty casual people. While we like to get dressed up sometimes, our 'nights on the town' often involve a trip to our neighborhood Nepalese place or a brewpub that serves awesome brisket sliders and fresh beer. We love going to hikes in the Boulder area, visiting national parks, and just hanging around outside. We want our wedding to reflect our preferences and everyday life together.
Thus, we've chosen to get married outside at a Quaker-run camp and conference center in Medford, New Jersey. While neither of us is actually Quaker, Barbara did have a fabulous summer internship experience at the Newark office of the American Friends Service Committee and admires some Quaker values. The camp is quite beautiful in the summer -- lots of tree shade and foliage with a small creek running through where people can boat.
Our ceremony will probably start between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, with a casual BBQ reception (brisket, smoked chicken, mac-n-cheese, corn bread, etc.) under a tent immediately following. While that means we'll start eating dinner around 4pm, we figured that kind of timing might work best for those with early bed times or long-ish drives home that night. Plus, it means we get a few hours of sunshine-y warmth for badminton, croquet, and general outdoor lounging, weather permitting.
That being said, everyone is welcome to keep the party going and join us for a giant slumber party that night. (No pressure.) The camp offers rustic (and very affordable) accommodations -- we're talking camp cabins with bunk beds and shared showers and restroom facilities. BYOSB or BYOL, meaning you would have to bring your own sleeping bag or bed linens. As the camp can accommodate quite a few people, it's possible for families/small groups to arrange for private cabins. We'll have music, s'mores, a campfire, board games. What else could you need?
Of course, if the answer to that question is 'a private bathroom and a bigger bed' (a very reasonable request), there are many hotels nearby -- some just a few minutes away (like the Flying W, for instance). As we continue to work on this site, we'll post more info on hotel options in the coming weeks.
The most important thing for us (aside from actually getting married) is that we get to spend time with the people we love. In the past few years, we've sort of bounced around a bit, from South America to Syracuse to Florida to Colorado. We've gone from seeing some of you all the time to wistfully looking at photos of you on Facebook. We know that New Jersey is a trek for some of you. If you can come, however, we would love to see you.
If you have any questions or need any help with trip planning, please let us know. If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know. If you want to come a day early and hang out, please let us know. In short, we're desperate for human contact. With you. And are super excited about the prospect of seeing you. You can email us at either barbaragreen@gmail.com or michaelcburch@gmail.com. You can also call Barbara at (941) 387-5417 or Michael at (941) 323-1820
Love,
Barbara and Michael
Monday, January 10, 2011
The beginning...
Michael and I met on a grad school recruiting trip. His first words to me, literally, were, "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?" He insists that he was not hitting on me, that he really -did- think he knew me... In his most sci-fi of moments, he claims that this was because of the non-linearity of the space-time continuum. We already knew each other in some moment... Or something like that.
We spent that glorious recruitment weekend together talking literature and film (Me: I, Claudius... is that the crazy Roman film?), pondering the future (Michael: You should come here, and we should live together and be best friends who always blame each other for our terrible decisions to come here!), and laughing really hard. I liked Michael so much I called him from the airport on my way out of Colorado. Afterward, we continued to speak almost daily, even when he was in Colombia for two months.
Even though I chose a different grad program, Michael and I decided to spend that first summer together. We drove from Florida to NJ, stopping at various points in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. We got caught in a convenience store during a thunderstorm and blackout. We drove the Natchez-Trace Parkway, visited the birthplace of Lincoln, hung out in a cave, listened to music in Nashville, rode a really tall roller coaster in the rain, and refinished my mother's deck. Oh. And I went to Waffle House for the first time. Big trip, people.
.
After two years of long-distance, we now live together in Boulder, CO. This June, we're getting married! We wanted to start this blog so that our friends and family could find out a bit more about our upcoming nuptials, ask questions, let us know if/when they're coming. Thus, this will be a largely informative blog. That being said, it's surprisingly hard to resist the temptation to just start writing about random things. We'll see how I hold up.
Welcome to our wedding blog/site!
We spent that glorious recruitment weekend together talking literature and film (Me: I, Claudius... is that the crazy Roman film?), pondering the future (Michael: You should come here, and we should live together and be best friends who always blame each other for our terrible decisions to come here!), and laughing really hard. I liked Michael so much I called him from the airport on my way out of Colorado. Afterward, we continued to speak almost daily, even when he was in Colombia for two months.
Even though I chose a different grad program, Michael and I decided to spend that first summer together. We drove from Florida to NJ, stopping at various points in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. We got caught in a convenience store during a thunderstorm and blackout. We drove the Natchez-Trace Parkway, visited the birthplace of Lincoln, hung out in a cave, listened to music in Nashville, rode a really tall roller coaster in the rain, and refinished my mother's deck. Oh. And I went to Waffle House for the first time. Big trip, people.
.
After two years of long-distance, we now live together in Boulder, CO. This June, we're getting married! We wanted to start this blog so that our friends and family could find out a bit more about our upcoming nuptials, ask questions, let us know if/when they're coming. Thus, this will be a largely informative blog. That being said, it's surprisingly hard to resist the temptation to just start writing about random things. We'll see how I hold up.
Welcome to our wedding blog/site!
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