Well, it finally happened. Not that I had been waiting too long. On June 23rd, John and I got married in Ives' Park, Potsdam, NY. This is the official trip report. I guess the trip started when John asked me to marry him in September as detailed below. Since the proposal then there has been planning and scheduling, etc. on and off over the months. The bulk of the work fell on my sister's shoulders but considering how much she harassed John about marrying me I think he felt it was justified. We had most of the normal wedding things - invitations (the dragons were drawn by my brother and I did the design), cake, catering, tent (it was an outdoor wedding), etc.. One thing that was different was the music. John decided that he did not want to pay for a DJ since they would just end up playing the music that we picked out anyway or worse would not play the songs we had picked. So he decided he would just burn some CDs and play them at the reception. The months went by and in December when we were back in NY for Christmas we met with all the wedding people and got most everything aligned. Then there was the dress hunting - my maid of honor, Nicole, went around with me to about 1/2 a dozen different wedding stores trying on dresses. It was fun but tiring as well. We settled on a cap sleeved, Italian satin dress with very little ornamentation other than some subtle embroidery - very stylish. If I did it again I would probably go with a renaissance gown - but I will save that for whenever we renew our vows. Then there were the bridesmaid's dresses. Working with women on the opposite sides of the coast and with very different taste proved to be challenging but the dresses turned out beautifully! There are a thousand little details which probably should be mentioned but I am missing somehow.. anyway, on to the actual trip.

I decided to head out to NY early to help my sister with the final plans and to be able to spend some time with my family. So on June 15th John drove me to the airport and the journey began. Since we had purchased the tickets so far in advance they had been changed 3-4 times since they were issued. This turned out to be a bad thing. When we got to the ticket counter the agent just looked blankly at my tickets and the supervisor had to deal with them (who incidentally was the guy who gave me a deal on my flight back to NY last year as I stood sobbing at him). There were several other people talking at the supervisor while he was trying to deal with this ticket and the woman next to us had a huge trunk on the luggage pass through. The agent dealt with our ticket and took my bag and set it behind him. This would prove to be a bad thing. Ticket in hand I was off. The flight to Toronto was very pleasant and I went down to the baggage carousel to wait for my bag. Now mind you I was carrying my wedding dress and to avoid carrying more than 2 items of carryon I checked my other bag. I wait and I wait and there is no Shawna luggage. My despair is great and I cry at the luggage agent and check my ticket for my baggage claim tag. No tag! I begin to think that perhaps my bag never made it on to the plane at all and I ask them to call San Jose to check but they will not. Finally, to make my plane I fill in some forms (customs) and head out to the gate. I call John just before I get on my plane and he says that he received and email from the finance guy at the real estate agency where we bought the house that the airline had our bag and to call them. John called and the person answering never stated who they worked for so he hung up thinking it was a scam. Thinking harder he called back and the person said they were with Air Canada. It turns out that my bag had not got on my plane with me and that after talking with three different agents - the bag was on a later flight and would arrive in Ottawa 11:00PM. I was just furious. The flight to Ottawa was painless other than the seething anger and I arrived safely. My sister and her husband were there to pick me up and we headed for home. We picked up pizza for dinner and at on the porch at home. The next day was taken up waiting for my baggage to arrive. If there is one thing I have learned is always pack a spare set of clothes and medication in your carryon baggage! Anyway, there were some helpful agents at the baggage claim and some not so helpful agents. My bags finally arrived at about 7:00PM delivered by a very nice couple who game my mom's dog a doggie treat. The next couple of days were filled with travel and wedding stuff. My dress was taken to the cleaners - we met with the wedding consultant who was also the floral designer, talked to the photographer and emailed the musicians. My sister took care of a million different things as well. John and I wrote our own vows and included the Navajo Blessing (read by my sister) and the Charokee Wedding Prayer (read by John and I) and a reading adapted from I Corenthians:13 (read by my Aunt Marilyn.) Getting the ceremony printed out was a challenge cause I had to email the doc to either my sister or JJ and Laurel does not have MS word so she could not open it... blah, blah. Eventually we got it printed out and in good form. Then there was the programs and the little cue cards that Laurel, John and I read from to be printed! We were doing this all the night before the wedding. But, I get ahead of myself. John arrived on Wednesday and Laurel and I drove up to pick him up at the airport. He arrived on time and unscathed. We stopped for dinner in Odgensburg and then got home around 8:30-9:00.

On Thursday John and I toddled down to the village offices and applied for our wedding license and that went smoothly. We stopped by the reception hall and all was well there. We met with Mayor Ruth Garner, who was a friend of my dad's, and went over the ceremony in detail. She is 87 and quite a little firecracker. She had little bits of advice and strongly suggested we pick up a sound system - otherwise none of the guests would be able to hear us. (I think they would have heard John - he projected well). All this time everyone was watching the weather. Day to day there would be a change and we would all stare at the Doppler radar to see how the weather would unfold. Thursday night we finished the le poufs that are those little netted bags of candy which are set out at the tables. Late on Thursday night the girls and Patrick arrived! They were starved and we fed them a little then they were off to bed.

On Friday morning John took his college friends and Nicole and Sarah all down to the river for some canoeing. There was pretty high wind and threatening rain so the girls just lurked about on the shore while the guys paddled around. In the afternoon Nicole, Sarah and I went to the salon and got our nails done a beautiful shade of blue provided by Ms. Nicole. We finished up with that just before the rehearsal so we just walked from the salon down the block to the park. The weather around 4 looked ok but as it got closer to 4:30 the clouds opened up and just dumped torrential rain down upon us. I really wanted to practice the walk once so we doggedly stood out in the rain and walked the walk to the gazebo. The funniest thing was my niece Devon, who was the flower girl, drenched in rain, steadily walking and tossing practice petals on the sidewalk. After everyone got soaked we decided further practicing was just out of the question. We called it a day - went home and changed and headed over to the rehearsal dinner. I thought it was kind of odd that Justin was not there yet so I called him and it turns out he was in Phillidephia and the airport was closed so he rented a car and drove up. Trains, planes and automobiles! The rehearsal dinner was good and not too expensive and the weather was beautiful after dinner. Since it was the night before the wedding we had to roll and tie all the programs and print the index cards - which we did over at my brother's house. I knew there were chocolate chip cookies there so it made the chore less painful. After rolling and printing JJ, John, Nicole and Sarah and all John's college buddies went downtown to Maxfield's for drinks.

The wedding day started dark and overcast and my wedding consultant called and advised that we should move indoors. I slunk downstairs and stared out at the sky, willing it to clear up. Eventually John woke up and the consultant called back and he told her we were going to have the wedding in the park. That was that! I puddled around in the morning then headed over to Patrick's room where I watched the weather channel and stared out the window. Patrick was out running last minute errands. He was totally Johnny on the spot - being sent hither and yon for all kinds of things. My mom and sister were just smitten with him. Nicole, Laurel, Devon and my mom were all over at the salon getting their hair done. I just took a long shower and blew dry my hair - there is not much that can be done with it. After that I sat around until the girls arrived from getting their hair done with my flowers. The headpiece was beautiful. For my tail my sister thought we should sew pearls into it. Since Laurel was still at the salon Sarah begin the 45 minute process of hand sewing little pearls into my hair. I am awaiting the pictures to see how it looked but everyone raved. Once the pearls were done I hopped into my all over body snugger and waited. Laurel, Devon and Nicole got dressed and they all looked so cute. Nicole had brought champagne but my throat was too tight to get much past it. I made my last minute shoe decision - which was to wear knee high socks and Sarah's shoes. I had tried on Sarah's shoes and wore them for the rehearsal - I also walked home on them from Maxfield's and they were comfy. The sneakers I had bought for the occasion hurt my pinky toe so I did not want to wear them. I finally slipped on my dress and we waited outside the Clarkson Inn for it to be time. We all packed into my brother's mini van and he drove us over to the park. When we got there the consultant, Karen, handed us our flowers. The string trio was playing some music and Karen asked me if that was the right music to begin walking. My mind blanked. I had no idea. I had sent the music to Lorie the first of June and I just blanked out. Since we did not get the chance to listen to the music at the rehearsal no one else had heard it either. It did not really matter since I was the only person who knew what it should have been. Laurel/Joe and Patrick/Nicole walked down the sidewalk and up into the gazebo (I did not get to watch since I was wedged into the back of the mini van). Then it was Devon and Duncan's turn. Devon walked like a perfect little lady. Duncan did not want to carry the pillow with the rings and he just held onto it by the corner and my brother-in-law basically pushed him down the sidewalk. Finally it was my turn. My brother and I did, what I consider, a stately walk pausing for photo ops and then up into the gazebo. Then there was the ceremony.

Good afternoon! We are gathered here today, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is! We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however, celebrate with Shawna and John and their friends and families the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives.

So let the ceremony begin! (The Celebration Of Marriage)

Marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, and an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyous union of two people whose friendship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance. Today Shawna and John proclaim their love and commitment to the world, and we gather here to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they now undertake together.

To make this relationship work it takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both. While love is our natural state of being, these other qualities are not as easy to come by. They are not a destination, but a journey.

Now there will be a reading by Shawna's Aunt, Marilyn LaPointe:

"Love.is patient and kind; Love is not jealous, or conceited, or proud, or provoked; Love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, But is please with the truth. Love never gives up: its faith, hope, and patience never fail." Adapted from I Corenthians:13

Relationships are based on love, respect, and a determination by both partners to adjust to each other and support one another, in health and in sickness, in joy and in sadness, in ease and in hardship. Through this co-operation, we give ourselves, our lives and love into the hands of the one we love. We do so trustingly and generously. And so, each of us receives a gift: the life and love of the other. We receive this gift, not only from the one we love, but also from the parents who brought us into the world, and from our friends and families.

And so as Shawna and John's friends and family, we are here to share with them this joy and hope, and to see them off on the path they will walk together. May it be a path of blessedness, bright with flowers of prosperity and spiritual awakening, a path of ever deepening, ever broadening love that they will travel, arm in arm, throughout eternity. (Vows)

John, will you have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, and honor her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, so long as you both shall live?

I Will!

Shawna, will you take this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Will you love him, comfort him. and honor him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, so long as you both shall live?

I Will! (Ceremony of the Rings)

Traditionally, the passage to the status of husband and wife is marked by the exchange of rings. These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken.

(Each places the ring on the other's finger and repeats this simple vow:)

"With this ring, I thee wed."

Now the matron of honor will read the Apache Blessing:

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for each other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before. Go now to your dwelling to enter into the days of your life together. And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Shawna and John, remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves. When frustration, difficulty or fear assails you as they threaten all relationships at one time or another remember the reasons why you are making this commitment today. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives, your days together will be marked by abundance and delight. Now Shawna and John will read the Cherokee Wedding Prayer.

"God in heaven above please protect the ones we love. We honor all you created as we pledge our hearts and lives together. We honor mother-earth - and ask for our marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons; We honor fire - and ask that our union be warm and glowing with love in our hearts; We honor wind - and ask that we sail though life safe and calm as in our father's arms; We honor water - to clean and soothe our relationship - that it may never thirst for love; With all the forces of the universe you created, we pray for harmony and true happiness, as we forever grow young together. Amen." (Pronouncement)

Inasmuch as you have consented together in this ceremony to live in wedlock and have sealed your vows in the presence of this company and by the giving of these rings, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you Husband and Wife.

You may now kiss the bride.

May I now present Mr. and Mrs. John Cornell.

That was more or less how it went. The mayor added a little bit just before the pronouncement that was very beautiful as well. We exited to the Entrance of the Queen of Sheba - which is a very cheerful little tune. We sort of formed a receiving line then started the pictures. Just as we were wrapping up the photos the heavens opened up again - drenching the park in rain - but it was too late! Then we were off to the reception.

The reception was held at Sergi's Banquet Hall just down the street from the park. Since my brother had driven us to a nearby church for one last picture he drove us over to the hall. There had been lovely finger food and people seemed in a good mood. John and I had a quick bite of lobster bisque and Joe, John's best man gave a short speech that was very touching. After that we began socializing. Once most folks were done eating we cut the cake and started the dancing. Our first dance was In your Eyes by Peter Gabriel it was actually a thrilling moment. Then it was mostly a free for all with dancing and visiting. Towards the end of the reception we went back to my mom's house and changed and swung back to the party where John gave his obscure hint for the location of our honeymoon. He put on a cowboy hat. After that we went to my mom's and unwrapped the gifts that were left at the wedding we got some just fantastic stuff! From there we were off to Ottawa. Patrick graciously agreed to give us a ride to the hotel. All went well until we got to the border crossing. The whole situation was tough for the border guards the plates on the car were from Ohio, Patrick is a UK citizen and we were all from California. To top that all off when the border guard asked us where we were flying to John told them it was a surprise. So we were asked to pull over and step inside to clarify some things. We sat in the border patrol offices for about half an hour while the border guard ran our ids. We finally got the all clear from the border folks we were on to our hotel. There we had a couple hours of sleep then we were off on the surprise honeymoon. John decided to keep the destination of the honeymoon a secret and did not tell ANYONE much to the irritation of his mom, aunts and my sister. I think I was the least concerned about it. John selects fun trips so I knew wherever we went it would be fun. We hopped onto a flight to Calgary and we worked on our thank-you notes on the flight then transferred planes to Kamloops (I did not know this). This plane was much smaller and a turboprop. The flight was good and we landed safely. There we met up with two of the staff from our destination who packed us up into a SUV and we were off for a two and a half hour drive through the wilds of British Columbia. We ended up at beautiful Echo Valley Ranch. John will be writing the trip report for the honeymoon.