A Warm Night To Remember

The Bride And Her Older Brother

The Cassels And Their New Daughter, Ania

I am up early, at 7:00, and am sitting up in the living room, letting Evie sleep in some. It was a late night, as we didn't get back to our cottage until midnight and it couldn't have been much later if our bus driver hadn't agreed to take six of us back early. Most of the group wanted to continue dancing, staying on until 1:00.

We were in no hurry Saturday morning and left by 10:00, we had a plan for the morning, finally, in hand. We drove north along Traverse Bay, googling all the homes set along the shoreline, on both sides of the road. About 15 mi out, we reached Sutton's Bay, a destination town, both sides busy with foot traffic, the road lined with parked cars. We hung a left and drove another ten miles across the peninsula to the town of Leland, set on the west side of the peninsula, set on the shoreline. We parked, ran into two groups from the wedding, and walked down to the harbor, filled with small shops selling touristy things. At my nephew Pat's suggestion, we had cones of Moomers ice cream. 

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Glen Arbor Falls

Yum

Anchor Inn

Anchor Inn Beach

We then drove south along the peninsular to Glen Arbor, another tourist mecca, crowded with vacationers, and it seemed to be a great place to hire a kayak. We then drove to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and stopped briefly to watch hundreds of people attempt to walk up its slope. Since it was 88º out, we passed and decided to head home another half-hour drive. We covered close to a hundred miles in our drive and have a good sense of the peninsula and what it offers. I would love to see it in the winter.

We stopped at a drive-in near our cottage and I ordered a Polish Boy with the works, a coke, and chips, just right for brunch. We then relaxed, watched some TV, napped and around 2:15 I went for another swim, refreshing in amazingly clear water. We were being picked up by a shuttle for the wedding at 3:10 so we both showered and got ready for the afternoon wedding at 5:00, with dinner and dancing to follow. The bus was packed with guys in ties and coats, gals in long dresses. 

We had a half-hour drive up the lake to this beautifully restored mansion on a wooded lake lot, arriving at 3:30. It was a beautiful setting and enjoyable despite the 90º heat. We milled around getting to know the beautiful setting and enjoying ice water and an open bar. The service began at 4:00, set outside in the shade of the woods. It was lovely, especially the heartfelt vows from both Ania and Ian, bringing many to tears.

Before The Wedding

Our Good Friends And The Groom's Parents, Mike And Barb

Ian And His Best Men

Waiting For the Bride

Vows And Rings

We then spent a good hour, taking photos, catching up with old and new friends, and enjoying libations from the very busy bartenders. Dinner was on the patio, an interesting menu of tasty appetizers,  beef, chicken thighs, veggies, and salad, followed by sweets. A couple of us were sitting in the sweltering sun until all eight of us stood up and moved the table closer to the dance floor, out of the sun,  a smart move.

The Cassell Clan

Ania And The Reserve Group

Scott And Barbara

Four Good Men

Joe And Kim

After dinner, most walked down to the beach, to walk barefoot on the beach, and get some exercise on a beautiful evening after a great dinner. We lingered there for a good hour until the DJ began to play and all of Ian and Ania's friends descended on the dance floor, hardly missing a song for the next couple of hours. 

Beaching It

Girl Talk

The Stunning Bride, Ania

Uncles' Kicking Back

Dancing The Night Away

The LA Couple

The dance floor was even shaking as they were having so much fun. It was fun to watch. Around10:00, Ian's Dad and I escaped to a couple of Adirondack chairs on the beach and enjoyed the darkened sky. We then decided to head back at 10:15 and walked out to the bus but the driver said he could not be able to leave until 11:00 so we went back and sat at a table watching the kids dance until then. At 11:00, he agreed to take us back even though the bus had only six of us. That was the end of a wonderful night.

My Bride Of Almost Fifty-Seven Years

The Begining