Oregon Wedding

Bend, Oregon: Dave and I flew from Los Angeles Friday morning to Portland International, rented a SUV, and drove to Bend to attend our nephew’s wedding. Taylor is our eldest nephew, a year older than Lisa, and the only child of my #2 brother, Rick, and his wife, Ali.

Mt. Hood was out in her full glory on our drive around Mt. Hood (via Highway 26) to central Oregon.

We checked-into our accommodations at Tetherow Resort. We had a beautiful room, overlooking the driving range. Our suite had a living area, King bed, gas fireplace, mini-bar, safe, and a large balcony. We didn’t have much time after settling-in before departing to the rehearsal dinner.

My brother and his wife hosted the rehearsal dinner at the famed Deschutes Brewery Bend Tasting Room. Guests were shuttled to/from the brewery from the hotel. With so many out-of-town guests and family, the party was quite lively... only to be topped by the after-party at the members lounge at the Tetherow Resort. Still, we were early to bed (long before midnight).

We were left to our entertainment the day of the wedding. My nephew, the Mother of the Groom, my brother (Father of the Groom) and my Dad (My Dad), were supposed to be dressed and positioned for snow-themed photos early in the afternoon. Dave and I went to brunch at the resort.

The food at the brunch spot at Tetherow was wonderful. The views over the golf course (okay, it was a bit barren in January) were so pretty with all the snowy mountain tops off in the distance, and Red Tailed Hawks cruising for their own brunch items over the golf course. Service was wonderful and they serve mimosas in pint-size glasses. What is not to like?

We dressed and arrived to the ceremony at 3:30p. Though the temperatures were in the 30s, the vows were recited in a marquee behind the resort ballroom. Our teeth were chattering, but we witnessed our wonderful nephew marry his bride with 225 others, surrounded by a background of pine trees (cut and positioned by My Brother especially for the occasion). The bridesmaids, in black sequins, held bouquets consisting of greens and pheasant feathers. The groom and his attendants wore black tuxedos and black shirts.

Lexi and Taylor are married!

Who would get married in Bend in January? A smart woman who knew her husband (a very popular fly fishing guide) would always be off the river on January 4th, and always home for their wedding anniversary.

I wish you could see Lexi was wearing red silk heels!

The three eldest (of five) at the wedding. (Not all were present for this photo.) Rick (#2, and Father of the Groom), me (#1, and always Number One), Renee (#3, and the one this weekend in charge of getting our dad from Yuma to Bend).

Renee (#3) & Rick (#2), in their wedding finery.

Terry and Dave, in their wedding finery.

A shot of the wedding venue before the shindig went down. So simple and elegant. Dinner, dancing, toasting, cake-cutting... all the usual wedding finery, but so well presented. The bride’s dad is a Parrothead, so the father/daughter dance was to Jimmy Buffett’s Little Miss Magic. Perfect!

The only thing not perfect about this perfect wedding was the weather on Sunday morning. Lexi’s family hosted a brunch at the resort for out-of-town guests. Dave and I were seated with our backs facing into the building, so did not notice the little snow flakes falling were beginning to stick. By the time we finished brunch and saying goodbye to family, the entire resort was coated in a powder sugar dusting of the white stuff.

Time to get outta Dodge Bend.

We still had to drive over/around Mt. Hood to reach Portland International Airport in our rented SUV.

I will admit, most of the drive was fine with clear roads, but the 70 miles we had to drive over ice and snow-covered roads was not fun and another great reason to never be in the mountains in the winter. We only slid a few times, and were greeted with snow plows on the opposite side of the highway. We happily made it to the west side of beautiful Mt. Hood (11,239 feet, which last erupted in 1865) in plenty of time to return our SUV and check into our flight to Burbank.

Worse than driving through ice and snow was the flight this evening from Portland to Burbank. Dave and I take this flight very often. Never have we experienced even a bit of a bump. Tonight the plane was suffering from awful turbulence. The poor air hostess tried to serve the passengers, but the pilots insisted all service cancelled in all sections of the plane. The plane shook, jumped, rocked, and rolled. It was a very awful situation... but we landed safe and sound in Burbank and Ubered directly to Lisa and Lenny’s house. The grandkids were already in bed, and we went to bed (supper-free) soon after.

Odd ending to a wonderful wedding weekend. Three of Mom and Dad’s six grandchildren are married!

Until my next update, I remain, your “love is so wonderful” correspondent.