We weren't able to leave Vermont until the late afternoon so we didn't get to see the signs along the way.
I knit desperately for the entire 6 hour trip. We stopped at Golden Corral because the kids wanted to eat there. It will be okay with me if we never go to another Golden Corral again. They liked the chocolate fountain, though.
We arrived at 10 pm, after the pig roast but before the campfire hangout.
There were greeters waiting at the gate with brochures with a camp map and schedule of activities, on which they marked our assigned cabin. Everyone had a button waiting for them with their first name, color-coordinated based on their relation to the bride and groom. We were also provided with plastic cups with the couple's crest (yep, they made a crest) labeled with our names to use for drinks, and ear plugs, though we found the cabins were so quiet we didn't need these.
I was still knitting my shawl and bound off around 1 am, went back to the cabin and blocked it out as quietly as possible. Yes, I brought mats and pins. The next morning I made the tassels over coffee.
They had asked everyone to dress in their favorite colors - you may still be able to see the instructions at boltfest2017.com. The result was amazing.
We were greeted with bags labeled with our names, instructed not to open them until we were instructed to do so.
Eric and the rest of us in the close family entered to Ceremony by New Order.
Then we all sang A Little Respect by New Order together. Mary Ellen helped us. That's Scotty, the officiant, on the right. He had an ID tag labeled CLERGY so no one would be confused.
Katie came in to Music for a Found Harmonium by Penguin Cafe Orchestra. She's actually that beautiful. Every day.
Lauren read I am much too alone in this world, yet not alone by Rainer Maria Rilke. She read it twice so it could settle in.
Their vows started and ended with the same words and were more individual in between, and both promised to join together to build friendship, community, art, and love.
The rings were delivered by drone. I am not kidding.
We also sang The Crane Wife 3 by the Decemberists and Manchester by Kishi Bashi.
Katie and Eric were adorned with capes.
We were then instructed to open our little red bags, in which was a cape, in our favorite color. They knew our favorite colors because it was a question when we RSVPed via Google Forms.
Much rejoicing!
We went down the hill for drinks and tacos. Dad led the way playing his bagpipes.
Here's the crest:
My parents' speeches were just perfect. My mom was so funny and my dad blew everyone away with his philosophizing, and spontaneous quotation of more Rilke. This is Dad in his kilt, with his friend Amy.
And me and Eric with our lovely parents. I had replaced my shawl with the cape as it was too warm for that much alpaca. (Miranda Lace, yum!)
Then there was an afternoon of hanging out by the lake and dancing.
Dinner was hot dogs and burgers, and blue bug juice! It felt like camp.
Saturday night dance party was 18+. Katie wore her shawl and was stunning as always!
My speech was during this part, and it was well-received, though of course I didn't manage to say everything I meant to say, or everything I felt. I was dead on my feet and had to go back to my bunk, sadly, before the party moved to a mysterious woodland location to continue all night.
There were so many DJs at this party. My brother's set started at 4 am and greeted the sunrise. He has a great aesthetic for sunrise.
People took off gradually over the morning on Sunday. We were among the first, because we had to get back to Vermont for Will's All Star baseball practice. It is Thursday and I still want to be back there. I am so blessed to have Katie as a sister and to be among this amazing group of people. Thank you Eric and Katie for touching so many lives. You make the world better every day.
Photos collected from various sources: camp photographer, Facebook, other family and friends. Everyone is awesome.
