AMALFI (Italy)
30th of June, 2017
Walking back to the reception area I could see that some of our guests were arriving and were already taking in the magnificent view of the coastline, which was not difficult from the terrace, perched some 80mtrs straight up the cliff side. Now this is the point in time where the Groom, i.e., (me) starts to feel just like a bit of a supporting act. Regardless of the 'suggested' time of the wedding, regardless of the schedule that has been devised, I, like the rest of the guests had now collectively become part of the waiting group, mere passengers in a vehicle being driven completely by the Bride, because lets face it, they are absolutely the lead in this show, the scene stealers, the show stoppers. All of us now operate to the beat of her drum!
Standing now in the Arabic Norman style cloister of the XIII Century, in front of our celebrant and guests, taking in the complete surroundings, that was time that my head space escaped to all those places, all those stops that got me (us) to this moment. Things like the first time we caught each others eye, the experiences, the laughter, all were momentary flashes as I waited stoically under the misguided commentary of my aunt who was suggesting that Inga may have changed her mind (not at all funny at the time)...but when the music started and the first notes of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major floated through the cloister, the emotional freight train started up and was well on the way.
...When Inga started walking towards me in a gorgeous champagne dress, beaming smile, her eyes lit up, I found myself having to catch my breath. Literally breathtaking - that's the way you make it happen!
Ceremonies tend to be somewhat of a blur. You remember snippets of facial expressions, who spoke when, the saying of vows, exchanging of rings and the kiss. Perhaps that's because the actual ceremony is only very short, 15-20 mins tops. And yet there you stand, committed to one another for the rest of your lives after a few words and signatures, all completed in a 20 min express conversion. I guess that's what the photos, reception and general celebrations post ceremony are for. For something that passes so quickly you can't just let it escape you as quickly as it arrived and was complete, so you endeavour to bask in its afterglow for as long as possible.
In this case I think we set the evening up perfectly. A lot of weddings are grand and enormous, they have a lot have people in attendance that are either distant relatives or somewhat strangely connected through the familiar six degrees of separation, that's not the option we went for. There was myself, Inga and twelve guests, that was it. Of the twelve, two were close friends of ours and one was the partner of Inga's sister. As they would say in Hollywood, this was our inner circle, so to be able to share something this wonderful in a magical location and have it as intimate as we had intended was to us an absolute blessing.
Post ceremony we had drinks and canapes on the Walk of Monks as a stringed duo played and we all took in the beauty of the coastline as the sun played with both the sea and sky, colouring it with its own inimitable palette. The weather for the day had been picture perfect and the locational set up supported the surroundings perfectly. I do specifically recall one couple walk up from the pool as they passed our reception area and hearing the comment, 'Oh my, this looks gorgeous'.
As the sun dropped away and the night took over, our venue took on a completely different feel as the draped lights provided another dimension to our surroundings. The wine flowed and I have to admit we were looked after exquisitely by the Convento staff who new exactly how to both position themselves and react so as to be available but not be noticeable. They were magnificent in their roles.
With a few tricks still up our sleeves, as the dinner came to an end, we pulled our guests away from the main table and took them to a confectionery table that we'd set up with multiple flavours of coated nuts. A major hit with all, and a diluted worry for me as I recall and off handed remark to Inga some months earlier where she believed it would be a waste - thankfully not. Off the back of that, and I think quite stunningly, we lit up the Amalfi sky with fireworks, which I think was the absolute pièce de résistance of the night. It's something that you really only see in movies but hell, how many times do you get to be married in Amalfi and have the opportunity to share it in this manner? At the end of the display we could here applause coming from other sections of the coastline, so we're glad that we were to share a little something with everyone else that was there on that night.
After the cake cutting, final toasts, the hugs and kisses, our day was over.
It was a magical experience, one that in our lives I'm sure that we couldn't replicate, and reality wouldn't want to. We simply had the opportunity and managed to do things as perfectly as we dreamed.
Of course wedding days are just DAY 1 of the journey that you have with your partner in this new definition of your partnership, I understand that, but to that I'd add, why the hell wouldn't you want to start in the best way possible? In that sense, I can say unequivocally, WE ROCKED IT!!
30th of June, 2017
Welcome one and all to the wedding day of Inga Kelpe & Henry Robert Elisher.
Location: NH Collection Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi
Time: 18:30
Every single marriage has a story, their beginnings, in that first instant, are more often chance encounters that when created set off a chain reaction of events through time and space that bewilderingly get them to the now.
Somehow, whether it be through intuition, luck, or divine intervention, I happened to capture all the big moments within this blog, Life in a Year Full of Saturdays. Of course there was no knowing right at the beginning that our story would be the one that would stand out in the end. Chance encounters or divine appointments, however you want to see them, happen amongst the myriad of new introductions and meetings that a person will have in a lifetime. Over a life you may meet anywhere up to 80,000 people, and yet it's only one of those meetings that will end up here, at this point.
To find out how we got to the now, let me start with the major stops along the way;
This is literally the moment when it started. 11th of August, 2010. I walked into a random bar named the Shot Cafe in Riga and 7 years later, we're family.
In four years after our first meeting we'd kept in contact loosely but somehow, at this time, urgency manifested from somewhere on both sides and we constructed a first date opportunity in Paris.
3. Paris - Vivid dreams of colour in the brightest of black and white
Our first date
4. Buenos Aires - I'm going to take you to a tango show
Travelling through South America together. Three months together, day in, day out and this was day 1
5. Buenos Aires - The Proposal - (Part III)
Getting engaged in the coolest city on earth
Our first date
4. Buenos Aires - I'm going to take you to a tango show
Travelling through South America together. Three months together, day in, day out and this was day 1
5. Buenos Aires - The Proposal - (Part III)
Getting engaged in the coolest city on earth
Residence Villa Rosa - Atrani - Italy
Good morning to the future Mrs Elisher - Residence Villa Rosa - Atrani - Italy
In actual fact, we have travelled so frequently that this in itself has prevented Inga from becoming an 'Elisher'...the wait continues ;)
View of Amalfi from the terrace of the Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
...And all those stops therefore brings you to a sunrise in an apartment clinging to the cliffs of the Lattari mountains, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Waking up on a day like this one is more than just exciting, there's a nervous energy that fills you with anticipation, expectation and hope. All the planning, everything that you've being cobbling together in bits and pieces through hundreds of emails, conversations and actions, they all culminate on this day, and now you're actually there, its appeared right in front of you. The reality of catching up to your plans is exhilarating.
Waking up to a fantastic morning and heading out onto the terrace, we opened up a bottle of champagne and I gave Inga her wedding present, which was basically the framework for another few weeks of travel under the name moniker of the Magical Mystery Tour, a holiday that I'd put together for October which would take us to all the cities we'd discussed as being our current favourites, i.e., Marrakech, Lisbon & Dublin.
Post breakfast was time for a transfer to our new location, for this evening we were going to stay at the location of the ceremony and reception, the Grand Hotel di Convento. So after doing all the necessary checks and making sure that Inga had all things critical for the day, we drove down to the hotel in the early afternoon. The idea was that Inga would get prepared in the hotel room during the course of the afternoon, and I'd take the best man, or should I say, the best woman, Janelle Jordan, back to our main location at the Residence Villa Rosa for her role in assisting the Groom in his own fundamental preparations.
For the unlearned let it be known, the way a Groom prepares for his wedding is very different to that of a Bride. Hair styling usually takes place in our own capable hands, grooming means having a shower and making sure that for today at least, we smell reasonable. We make sure that our clothes are clean and then we add a glass of champagne or two into the equation. Let me say, Janelle took on her best man duties with aplomb and complete competence, every time my glass was empty she was ready and more than happy to fill it right back up, and of course to also jump into the odd 'selfie' for posterity.
When 4:30pm came around I was finally set to go.
JJ asked me: 'Are you ready'
Me: 'Absolutely I am'
JJ: 'You look ready, lets get you married then'
Driving out of the Residence Villa Rosa, hitting the small winding roads of Ravello and then Atrani, the sun beaming through the windshield, the gorgeous azure sea making the sunlight glint & sparkle, I couldn't help but think that at this moment everything had come together ever so perfectly. The weather was a treat and damn, I felt like a bit of rock star with my shades on, motoring along Amalfi Drive as it hug tightly to the coastline. These are the type of days that come along so rarely in your life that you really need to try and be as present as possible, take in as much your can because these are the moments that are both so priceless and short lived.
We arrived at the reception area of the Grand Hotel di Convento a little early. In that time I headed down to the Monks Walk to see with my own eyes what had been created only in design via email with our wedding planner - and wow, what an impression, what a sight and what a relief. The arches of the walk were now filled with a brilliant bright purple coloured bougainvillea, with the crisp white linen of the table lined beautifully with bright yellow sunflowers and yellow wall flowers, broken up with white and champagne coloured roses. The light bulbs that I'd asked to be hung over the table were there too, placed in a manner better than I expected and our wedding guests gifts (beautifully painted bottles filled with limoncello), added another element of colour. The space was fragrant with a hint of lemon coming from the terraced gardens, but the star, the real star in this scene was the sea. The view from this area of the hotel was nothing short of spectacular and I imagined that as the light dropped away into the early evening the colours of the sunset would make this feel almost ethereal.
Waking up to a fantastic morning and heading out onto the terrace, we opened up a bottle of champagne and I gave Inga her wedding present, which was basically the framework for another few weeks of travel under the name moniker of the Magical Mystery Tour, a holiday that I'd put together for October which would take us to all the cities we'd discussed as being our current favourites, i.e., Marrakech, Lisbon & Dublin.
Wedding gifts - Residence Villa Rosa - Atrani - Italy
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Janelle Jordan bringing in the protein pack - a big thank you!!!
Residence Villa Rosa - Atrani - Italy
Do we look cool enough to head to an Amalfi wedding?
We did anyway
Post breakfast was time for a transfer to our new location, for this evening we were going to stay at the location of the ceremony and reception, the Grand Hotel di Convento. So after doing all the necessary checks and making sure that Inga had all things critical for the day, we drove down to the hotel in the early afternoon. The idea was that Inga would get prepared in the hotel room during the course of the afternoon, and I'd take the best man, or should I say, the best woman, Janelle Jordan, back to our main location at the Residence Villa Rosa for her role in assisting the Groom in his own fundamental preparations.
For the unlearned let it be known, the way a Groom prepares for his wedding is very different to that of a Bride. Hair styling usually takes place in our own capable hands, grooming means having a shower and making sure that for today at least, we smell reasonable. We make sure that our clothes are clean and then we add a glass of champagne or two into the equation. Let me say, Janelle took on her best man duties with aplomb and complete competence, every time my glass was empty she was ready and more than happy to fill it right back up, and of course to also jump into the odd 'selfie' for posterity.
When 4:30pm came around I was finally set to go.
JJ asked me: 'Are you ready'
Me: 'Absolutely I am'
JJ: 'You look ready, lets get you married then'
Driving out of the Residence Villa Rosa, hitting the small winding roads of Ravello and then Atrani, the sun beaming through the windshield, the gorgeous azure sea making the sunlight glint & sparkle, I couldn't help but think that at this moment everything had come together ever so perfectly. The weather was a treat and damn, I felt like a bit of rock star with my shades on, motoring along Amalfi Drive as it hug tightly to the coastline. These are the type of days that come along so rarely in your life that you really need to try and be as present as possible, take in as much your can because these are the moments that are both so priceless and short lived.
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Reception area on the Monks Walk - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Reception area on the Monks Walk - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
We arrived at the reception area of the Grand Hotel di Convento a little early. In that time I headed down to the Monks Walk to see with my own eyes what had been created only in design via email with our wedding planner - and wow, what an impression, what a sight and what a relief. The arches of the walk were now filled with a brilliant bright purple coloured bougainvillea, with the crisp white linen of the table lined beautifully with bright yellow sunflowers and yellow wall flowers, broken up with white and champagne coloured roses. The light bulbs that I'd asked to be hung over the table were there too, placed in a manner better than I expected and our wedding guests gifts (beautifully painted bottles filled with limoncello), added another element of colour. The space was fragrant with a hint of lemon coming from the terraced gardens, but the star, the real star in this scene was the sea. The view from this area of the hotel was nothing short of spectacular and I imagined that as the light dropped away into the early evening the colours of the sunset would make this feel almost ethereal.
Walking back to the reception area I could see that some of our guests were arriving and were already taking in the magnificent view of the coastline, which was not difficult from the terrace, perched some 80mtrs straight up the cliff side. Now this is the point in time where the Groom, i.e., (me) starts to feel just like a bit of a supporting act. Regardless of the 'suggested' time of the wedding, regardless of the schedule that has been devised, I, like the rest of the guests had now collectively become part of the waiting group, mere passengers in a vehicle being driven completely by the Bride, because lets face it, they are absolutely the lead in this show, the scene stealers, the show stoppers. All of us now operate to the beat of her drum!
Ceremony arrival update (t minus 2 hrs) - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Ceremony arrival update (t minus ?? hrs) - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Ceremony arrival update (t minus 5 mins) - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
.Standing now in the Arabic Norman style cloister of the XIII Century, in front of our celebrant and guests, taking in the complete surroundings, that was time that my head space escaped to all those places, all those stops that got me (us) to this moment. Things like the first time we caught each others eye, the experiences, the laughter, all were momentary flashes as I waited stoically under the misguided commentary of my aunt who was suggesting that Inga may have changed her mind (not at all funny at the time)...but when the music started and the first notes of Pachelbel's Canon in D Major floated through the cloister, the emotional freight train started up and was well on the way.
...When Inga started walking towards me in a gorgeous champagne dress, beaming smile, her eyes lit up, I found myself having to catch my breath. Literally breathtaking - that's the way you make it happen!
Ceremonies tend to be somewhat of a blur. You remember snippets of facial expressions, who spoke when, the saying of vows, exchanging of rings and the kiss. Perhaps that's because the actual ceremony is only very short, 15-20 mins tops. And yet there you stand, committed to one another for the rest of your lives after a few words and signatures, all completed in a 20 min express conversion. I guess that's what the photos, reception and general celebrations post ceremony are for. For something that passes so quickly you can't just let it escape you as quickly as it arrived and was complete, so you endeavour to bask in its afterglow for as long as possible.
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
My wife (in a few mins), on her way - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
I've waited for this moment 6 years, 10 months and 20 days from the first day I met you, finally we're here - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
In this case I think we set the evening up perfectly. A lot of weddings are grand and enormous, they have a lot have people in attendance that are either distant relatives or somewhat strangely connected through the familiar six degrees of separation, that's not the option we went for. There was myself, Inga and twelve guests, that was it. Of the twelve, two were close friends of ours and one was the partner of Inga's sister. As they would say in Hollywood, this was our inner circle, so to be able to share something this wonderful in a magical location and have it as intimate as we had intended was to us an absolute blessing.
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Our 'first kiss' - The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The exchanging of rings - The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Rocking it with supporting band 'The Enzo brothers' - The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The Cloister - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
How about that for a view!!
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Post ceremony we had drinks and canapes on the Walk of Monks as a stringed duo played and we all took in the beauty of the coastline as the sun played with both the sea and sky, colouring it with its own inimitable palette. The weather for the day had been picture perfect and the locational set up supported the surroundings perfectly. I do specifically recall one couple walk up from the pool as they passed our reception area and hearing the comment, 'Oh my, this looks gorgeous'.
As the sun dropped away and the night took over, our venue took on a completely different feel as the draped lights provided another dimension to our surroundings. The wine flowed and I have to admit we were looked after exquisitely by the Convento staff who new exactly how to both position themselves and react so as to be available but not be noticeable. They were magnificent in their roles.
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
The well received Confectionary Table - Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Light up Amalfi - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Fireworks over Amalfi - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Light up Amalfi - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Our gorgeous wedding cake
Our wedding cake and celebratory drinks - Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
End scene - Walk of Monks - Grand Hotel di Convento - Amalfi - Italy
After the cake cutting, final toasts, the hugs and kisses, our day was over.
It was a magical experience, one that in our lives I'm sure that we couldn't replicate, and reality wouldn't want to. We simply had the opportunity and managed to do things as perfectly as we dreamed.
Of course wedding days are just DAY 1 of the journey that you have with your partner in this new definition of your partnership, I understand that, but to that I'd add, why the hell wouldn't you want to start in the best way possible? In that sense, I can say unequivocally, WE ROCKED IT!!
