We Did It
Friends, it has been a long time. But I’m back to report that on a sunny mid-September day just over a month ago, Sam and I made it official. We got married on a farm on Whidbey Island, just off the coast of Seattle with friends and family beside us from near and far. There are so many details I want to share with you, but the one thing I’m most proud of when I think back to that Saturday is that we both managed to stay present and really experience the day together. It was my one request of Sam, of each other: that we not let any concerns about family, friends, seating charts or how the dessert table would look come into our minds that afternoon. I wanted to trust that with all of the planning behind us, the rest would come together behind the scenes somehow. And magically it did (I will never forget watching out the upstairs window of the house as I was getting my hair done while our friend Molly was running up and down the farm road setting up signs and balloons with our friend and officiant, Ben. I believe Sam and Brandon were down the road a bit, too, doing the same. I was stuck inside at that point, smiling and thinking: Yes! Gooooo, Team)
I’d heard that the day itself goes by in a blur, and you’re lucky if you have a chance to truly talk with even a handful of your guests. I’d also been advised to elect someone to make sure that we had dinner and a drink because it’d be impossible to facilitate that (we had a family style dinner so that wasn’t a problem BUT we joke in looking back that we were more sober that night than on an average weekend and that we hardly remember about 50% of the food). But in the midst of all that blur — the hugs and tears and toasts — there was so much true, true clarity that I’ll be ever thankful for.
When I think about the moments that stand out for me from the day, it’s the time before all the guests arrived when I went out to meet Sam in the yard with no one else around: Just us and that late summer sunlight that felt practically amber all afternoon and evening. My mom and sisters using the hot shower in the tiny farmhouse bathroom to steam my very wrinkled veil. My Dad giving me bits of bread before the ceremony when I started to feel (very) faint. His epic toast. The gorgeous flowers on the table, overflowing in their white milk glass vases. Looking down the long, long dinner table at people from all parts of our lives — talking, laughing, meeting one another for the first time. My grandfather getting down on the dance floor with Sam’s friend from Southern California. Like, really getting down. Making it through my vows. Laughing and crying through Sam’s. Drinking beers at Toby’s later into the night and falling asleep with pins still in my hair. Eating cake for breakfast the next morning.
In addition to feeling a great sense of clarity, I’ll be forever grateful that everything about the day felt very much like “us.” And this is actually a bit of a feat if you know us as a couple because we’re both very different in many ways. In truth, this made pieces of the wedding planning pretty difficult (read: there were some tennnsssse moments. Also read: we won’t miss you, wedding planning!) But both Sam and I place importance on many of the same things: the meaning of place and home, friends and good company, family, and good food. The decision about the place — the wedding location– became easy when we saw the farm for the first time. Whereas most couples apparently really fall for the picturesque red barn, we fell in love with the old Southern-style farmhouse. There was a wrap-around porch and rocking chairs and lace curtains; there was a roomy backyard with a big, majestic tree. We decided that we wanted the day to really center around the house, so the ceremony was right in the backyard and the dinner was on one big, long table along the side yard. Cocktails were out by the barn — as was dancing.
And that dinner? We had our friends Matteo and Jessica at Ciao Thyme do the food and they truly outdid themselves. Because the house felt decidedly Southern to us (and because we both like Southern food), we decided to veer in that direction with the menu. So for appetizers we had fried okra chips, fried chicken sliders on homemade buttermilk biscuits, hush puppies and homemade ketchup, and three kinds of deviled eggs. For dinner, there was slow-roasted pork with cheesy grits and roasted padron peppers, a delightfully light late summer succotash, roasted yams and figs, and a fried green tomato salad topped with fresh crab and zucchini slaw. Oh, and the greens and cornbread, the sweet tea and rosemary lemonade, the strong (!) cocktails and ample wine. It was a feast that we’d thought long and hard about and chosen months before; everyone ate very, very well that night and that made us very, very happy.
As for cake and dancing, there is a little building off to the side of the big red barn called the Grainery and that’s where we all headed after dinner. I’m not sure if it’s because the Grainery was a bit on the small side or if people really brought their dancing shoes, but it sure felt like the floor was packed the whole night. Instead of a towering wedding cake-type cake, we ordered cakes from one of my favorite Southern spots in town, The Wandering Goose. The owner, Heather, does these (very) large, generous Southern layer cakes and we tasted all of them the months before the wedding (by far the best part of planning), ultimately deciding on the Coconut, Lemon, and Brownstone (much like a caramel cake but with a bit of cocoa, and a boiled brown sugar icing). We all ate cake outside the Grainery with the music still playing, many barefoot — some still dancing.
On our wedding program, we included a quote from one of my favorite novels by Wallace Stegner, Crossing to Safety: “There it was, there it is, the place where during the best time of our lives friendship had its home and happiness its headquarters.” It’s safe to say that we stood in that very moment and that very place last month. The day after the wedding, I kept tearing up and crying on Sam’s shoulder and he became concerned, asking me what was wrong. I looked at him each time and told him I just wanted to go back to yesterday and see it all again. He turned to me and said the perfect thing, as he usually does: “We already are there. We carry that day with us now.”
Notes: Sam and I have just returned from our honeymoon in Morocco and Italy, and I can’t wait to share photos of the trip with you and some details on what we were up to for those of you who may be interested in visiting sometime. I found myself inspired by much of the food, too, so I’m hoping to get into the kitchen to play a bit and share a few of our discoveries in future posts. Also, our wonderful wedding photographers should have photos back to us closer to the holidays and I’ll be sure to share some here with you, too. And as for the photos included in this post: the very bottom panoramic of the ceremony was taken by Lenny Ferreira. And the photo above of the dinner table — as well as the lovely one of Sam and I — were both taken by our friend Molly Wizenberg. Thank you both for sharing them.
Welcome to A Sweet Spoonful, my blog devoted to seasonal cooking, whole grain baking, and casual gatherings in our Pacific Northwest home. My name is Megan Gordon and I'm so glad you're here.
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Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
Megan, this is a beautiful post - I almost felt like I was there. Huge congrats - looks very much like it was exactly as you'd hoped it would all turn out! Much happiness to you and Sam XOX And I can't wait to read more about your honeymoon - loved following along vicariously through Instagram.
eric G
Many many days and years of happiness to you both! Love M+E
megang
Hi, Katy-
We were in Sardinia and Amalfi Coast, actually ... so looks like we're not overlapping. But the weather has been wonderful there. Enjoy your trip! ~Megan
katy dolesh
congrats!! such a fun story. we are going to italy tomorrow. any recommendations on anything? we'll be in venice, florence, cinque terre... restaurants? hiking?
Susan
That was the most wonderful read, Really! Congratulations and all the best for EVER!!!
Thank you for letting us see your wonderful day.
Karin Carlson
Such a wonderful and beautiful post. I feel like I was actually there! Can't wait to hear more about the honeymoon trip (especially the food)! And you were a stunning and glowing bride! Best wishes to you both now and forever.
Nicole S.
Congrats! You both look so happy and beautiful! You will carry that day forever. I felt much the same the day after our wedding. It was such a special day and I enjoyed it so much that I was sad I couldn't go back to relish it more. Having the photos will make it that much sweeter. And easier to remember the details that start slipping away! Best wishes in this new episode and thanks for sharing!
Erin
Lovely news, lovely bride and groom, lovely aesthetic! Congrats!
Abby
Congratulations! I can't wait to see your honeymoon photos (I'd love to go to Morocco someday). Your wedding looks lovely and personal, and sounds like it was a beautiful day.
Jacqui
Megan! I loved following along on your wedding day and your honeymoon via Instagram. The magic and love just oozed out of those images! Glad to see you back in this space and looking forward to more stories about your honeymoon and what comes next.
Ashlae
Welcome back! What a beautiful, beautiful day and I'm happy to hear that you both managed to stay present because everyone I've talked to says its impossible.. but I don't believe it. ;) Can't wait to see what kind of inspired eats you cook up.. and I need to get your recs on Morocco - I'm heading there in December! So much love to you both.
Kate
Megan! Congratulations!! I've been checking your blog every couple of days to get an update from your wedding and so happy to finally read about it today. (And to see the gorgeous pics on Orangette from Molly too!) Best wishes to you both!!
Sara L
Congrats from Boston! The day looks so lovely, and I think the idea of a big family-style table setting is so, so wonderful and more intimate than the standard multi-table layout!
I've loved following your Instagram photos from the honeymoon - each one was absolutely magical - I found myself double-tapping so many of them!
Can't wait to see what you're cooking up next!
kickpleat
Huge congratulations! You both look so happy and the day sounded like the best party ever. Whooooo hoooo!
burt kozloff
Of all the many bright moments on that day, the one I will remember most is your mom's speech, which was about the best advice from a mom I have ever heard, other than from my own, who told me too take no crap from anybody.
Alyssa
Warmest wishes and brightest blessings!
ashley, stationer at inviting
Congratulations! It looks like such a beautiful, happy day. Best wishes to you both, and thank you for sharing with your readers.
Mary
Mazel tov! Congratulations! You look stunningly beautiful and incredibly happy. Best wishes to you both!
Megan
Such a beautiful day to celebrate with beautiful people in a beautiful setting! Thank you for sharing glimpses of it on this space. Congratulations to you and Sam. May this be the beginning of rich years of living ahead for you two.
Kathleen
Many, many congrats, Megan! (And Sam!)
I saw you in the weeks prior at the Wallingford market. I had my boys in tow but stopped to say hello and re-introduce myself. You looked so stunning that day: a pre-wedding glow! Anyways, it's lovely to see that you were able to treasure and soak in the most meaningful details of your day.
lori
Congratulations, Megan! I am so happy for you and Sam. Best wishes to you both for a long marriage filled with perfect moments and lots of happiness.
Francesca
A big congrats to you and your mister. Looks like you both had a beautiful day :)
thelittleloaf
I've been following your honeymoon on Instagram (in friendly fellow food blogger, not stalker-esque fashion!) and it looks like you had just the most wonderful wedding day. Enjoying every moment is so important, I feel like we achieved that too and our wedding is a day I'll never forget. As for those hair pins, I decided to take all mine out before going to bed and there were about 500 of them! x
Kate @ ¡Hola! Jalapeño
Congratulations! It looks like a very memorable and beautiful day!!
Sara
Congratulations! Absolutely gorgeous photos. I loved reading about how you promised each other to soak it all in.
mcs3000
Gorgeous, Megan + Sam! So thrilled for you two!! XO, Mary
CC
Congratulations, I've been a devotee of the blog for many years and blog-witnessed your romance for a few - very happy for you both! Enjoy newly married life it's a sweet and savor-y time. Best wishes to you both!
Monica
Congratulations! The pictures are beautiful and it looks like a very magical, romantic wedding. All the best!
kristie {birch and wild}
Congratulations! I got married last year and it was the best day of my life. So much love, and so much to be thankful for.
The setting of your wedding looks lovely!