Weekend in Wash. (Mt. Rainier and Joe's wedding!)

Mt Rainier, 14,410 ft


We flew up to the state of Washington for Joe (FPOB residency friend) and Brittinee's wedding this weekend and, not currently being employed and not too excited about boards studying, had time to do some exploring.

While Kelvin and I have both been to Washington and the Seattle area, we had never visited Mt. Rainer National Park, and we were fortunate to have the whole day on Friday to spend there.
It was spectacular! We picked up the rental car from the SeaTac airport, and then drove about 2 hours on the "Mountain Highway" through small roadside towns to get to the west park entrance.

Here is the town of Elbe, which boasts one of the smallest churches in the U.S., a Lutheran church which measures 24 x 18 feet, and can hold just 46 parishioners :)



The interior (wouldn't this make a great wedding chapel?!) :)


Old railroads


The drive through the park was gorgeous! We passed through the areas of Paradise and through snowy areas which were still un-hikable, and saw beautiful vistas (and animals) along the way.





We spent a few hours hiking around the Ohanapecosh area, including Silver Falls and the Grove of the Patriarchs.






(can't wait to live by the redwoods next month!)



We loved spotting road-side fauna


I loved these little fawns





Kelvin was excited to see this "moose!" (Elk)


As we drove north through the park towards Sunrise, we had amazing views of the mountain... don't you feel that it is so close you can touch it?!



The Sunrise Visitors' Center just opened that day!






We drove out of the park to stay overnight in Enumclaw, WA, Joe's hometown, population 10,000.
Can you believe we found an Asian restaurant about a block from our hotel? :)
The pho wasn't too bad!




On Saturday, we met up with Ron, one of K's college friends, at the Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. It was a WONDERFUL park, complete with hiking trails, gardens, tennis courts, beautiful vistas, ponds, and a zoo/aquarium!

We walked around Owen's Beach, where we got more amazing shots of Mt. Rainier.


We meandered around the gorgeous gardens...




Ron, K, and the dog, Chloe



We played some tennis (good to get back into it!) and ate yummy sandwiches at a nearby sandwich shop (entitled "The Antique Sandwich Shoppe"-- K asked, "I wonder how old their sandwiches are!" :).

The Lees joined us and we went on the five-mile drive around the peninsula.

Raccoon!


Hiking


Bridge view


We took an alternate route back to Enumclaw, through the town of Sumner, which boasts the world's best rhubarb pie. I got a bit sidetracked by a used bookstore advertising 4 books for $1... but we tried some awesome shortcake with rhubarb and visited the downtown celebration of Rhubarb Days.



Mason enjoyed riding the tractor!



Saturday evening was Joe and Brittinee's wedding at Joe's family's farm outside of Enumclaw.
Thanks to Wai Kiu, my constant photo-supplier, for most of these great shots!

Sign welcoming us to the property


Bovine friends



Us with the groom-to-be before the ceremony


Hanh, Mason, me, and K on one of the many lawns on the huge property


Waiting for the procession... (of 9 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen!)



Flower girls (Joe's nieces)


The bride!


It was a beautiful and very personal ceremony officiated by Brittinee's grandfather.


Onto the reception....
Guests enjoyed finding their nametags and mason jars, the indoor gym (with tennis court and b-ball hoops!), shooting 22s, and playing croquet...



Josie (Amy's daughter) & Mason


The table signs


We got artsy with my camera!




Mason & Jo get down on the dance floor (reception was in the apple orchard)


First dance


Group shot!


It was a fabulous weekend and we were blessed with beautiful, sunny weather! I was tempted to change our Southwest return ticket to stay a bit longer in Washington, but K reminded me we still have a lot of organizing, errands [and studying] to do. Ok, ok...

Next trip: our own honeymoon!

The After questions... (advice needed)

So we are good and married... which means that life is awesome!
We both love going to sleep every night together, despite it being in my cramped 1-bedroom apartment (until we relocate to Arcata), waking up together as husband and wife, eating meals together (i.e. my cooking meals multiple times per day!), and studying side-by-side. I love having a live-in best friend.

However, there are some after-wedding questions I am now faced with:

1) The process of the name change
In case it was in question... as much as I love my maiden name, I AM changing my name. Our marriage certificate which was signed by the priest has my former maiden name as my middle name and K's last name as my own. I am now faced with the question of when to jump through all the paperwork hoops to get everything changed. I know this is obvious for those ones of you who are married and have had to do it already; however, it is a bit intimidating for me. This exhaustive list of "places to remember to go" to get the name change include (and yes, I am keeping a running list):

• Social Security
• DMV
• Banks/credit card companies/investment accounts
  
• Phone company/utilities
• Post office
• Voter registration
  
• Medical licensing board and DEA
  
• Insurance accounts
• Doctors' offices
• Passport agency
• Library
  
• Magazine subscriptions
• Frequent flyer cards

(Please let me know if I have forgotten any).

We are not going on our honeymoon until the end of the month and our tickets are under my maiden name. I have read that it is best to wait until after the honeymoon to go about all the name-changing (however, I had a panic attack one day wondering if I'd get stopped at security if my passport didn't match the Sacramento county records of me!). Nevertheless, I have quite a bit of free time now [there's only so much studying one can do at this point in life with the attention span of a first-grader], so I'd like to get a head start on all of the changing required above. Does anyone know if it is okay to start the Social Security/DMV process (except I don't have my new address) before the passport has to get changed? What complicates everything also is a) we don't know our new address yet because we can't get up to Arcata to search for apartments for another 2 weeks or so [which means I may have to do the DMV thing twice], and b) our boards on 7/19 require a form of ID which matches EXACTLY the name listed as the test taker, so I think I have to stay "my old name" for that, and c) we are also taking another domestic trip (Vegas in August! [long story, but it involved a very sweet airfare deal]) whose ticket is under the maiden name. Ugh. Now I see why people just keep their names :) There never seems a good time to "change things all at once."

2) What to do with the dress?


I think this is a very valid and difficult question. What do most people do with their wedding dresses after the actual day? I tend to be a rather sentimental person-- I like cheesy movies/chick-flicks, love stories and chick lit, photos, and adore scrapbooks to keep memories alive; however, I am also really trying not to get bogged down/accumulate lots of "stuff." I loved my wedding dress and K has encouraged me to keep it; however, it was already recycled, and I don't really think I need to hold on to it for decades in order to re-live the wonderful wedding-day memories, hoping that any potential daughter of mine might want to wear it. I certainly don't like the idea of "trashing the dress," or "TTD" as it is referred to on the online discussions which I was perusing today; however, I am still stuck with the question: save it or not? There is an organization called Brides against Breast Cancer (where one of my friends actually got her dress-- with proceeds benefiting a great cause) which accepts dress donations... and I am leaning that way. Please let me know if you have strong thoughts either way.

Hitched!

taken by Andy

Those of you who know me know that our wedding was certainly the biggest milestone in my life thus far! I would say that neither college nor medical school was as challenging as finding a compatible spouse (many of you can attest to the many nights I spent lamenting that I would be an old maid...) and I am thankful to say that I am lucky enough to have found someone to take me "in good times and in bad" and am now happily (ecstatically!) married!

Kelvin and I tied the knot on Saturday amidst a wonderful weekend of fellowship and fun. Most family arrived on Wednesday or Thursday. I was blessed with a super relaxing bachelorette spa experience (with a salt rub and mud wrap, novel to me!) planned by my wonderful sister (and maid of honor, Vanessa), and enjoyed with my other awesome bridesmaids (Laura & Mindy from our music days in college at U of R, and Katherine [K's sister]) followed by a very tame dinner with good girlfriends, while Kelvin was busy finalizing our wedding details!

We had decided to have two ceremonies... a traditional Catholic mass as well as a more personal outdoor ceremony at Wilson Vineyards, the site of our reception, and thus Friday afternoon was busily spent rehearsing for all of those :). We had a fun evening of toasts and Thai food before hitting the hay for the big day.

While we hired a professional photographer, our good friend Brenden from residency was an angel and worked hard all day taking "unofficial" photos so we'd have snapshots as early as this weekend! He is to credit for virtually most of the following gorgeous photos, with some others from Michelle/Andy and Julie.... enjoy!

The day started with Katherine, K's sister, my bridesmaid, and now my sister-in-law, doing my hair and makeup (and assisting all others in beautifying themselves). She is amazing in more ways than I can articulate, but to have such talent at my fingertips for the big day was an unbelievable gift.

We headed to the church (Our Lady of the Assumption) in Carmichael to prep for the Mass.
I found that sitting was possible (but difficult) in the dress, and using the bathroom was impossible...

Bustle check


Touchup


Getting ready to line up.... fitting that we were in red, white, and blue for this fourth of July weekend.


The processional... I entered to Jeremiah Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary" which was played by Ovation Strings, a wonderful local string quartet.





The church was so pretty!


Unfortunately having contracted a upper respiratory infection from Kelvin, who was sick about 4 days prior, I was coughing uncontrollably during parts of the ceremony (thinking to myself "just don't cough on the priest!") and luckily was handed a cough drop and a water bottle before it was time for the vows.



Blessing of the rings


Husband and wife!


Recessional (to Handel's Alla Hornpipe)


A son gained


Vanessa and me


The Vus


Mindy, Laura, Kelvin, me, Vanessa, Katherine


After church photos, we headed to Clarksburg, on the river delta south of Sacramento, for ceremony #2 at Wilson Vineyards.





I love this one in black and white


We took some photos in my grandfather's old Ford which now lives in Lodi with Boni/Mike, friends of my MN family.





Lining up in the barn


The happy groom (despite the blinding sun and 100-degree heat!)



Chamreun, Mindy


I was escorted by my parents


Debbie, one of K's UCLA friends and a minister, presided over our vineyards ceremony








My cousin Jacky sang "I know you by heart" (Eva Cassidy) in her angelic voice, my sister read a passage from Robert Fulghum, we recited our own vows, we poured unity wine... and then it was really time to celebrate!



On to the reception...

Boarding pass guest cards



I changed into an áo dài (material from India, made in Westminster, CA) for the entrance to the reception...



Our bridal party competed for the "best entry"...


During our delicious dinner of tenderloin, veggies, and scallops, we did the traditional Asian "table greeting" to say hello to our guests!




Kelvin had to kiss and guess which fair maiden's hand was mine...


... which he did successfully (we must be made for eachother!)




We toasted with champagne...





My sister's speech made everyone laugh and cry...




We cut cake (which was decorated by my college roommate, Cathleen, to fit our travel theme)...




... and ate Mochii frozen yogurt for dessert (with memories of one of our first dates)


...while the children played



The sun set over the vineyards...







... and we danced the night away




What a fabulous time. I am so thankful for all of the support from our families and friends. I was thrilled with everyone who could make it. Marco, my sister's boyfriend, traveled from Albania to come, and K's grandma came from Vietnam. Thanks to an awesome now-husband who is a better planner than I am, I really had no stress and had to just show up to get married. I couldn't have asked for anything to go more smoothly (except for it to be about 20 degrees cooler :)).

We enjoyed a fabulous barbeque at John and Rocky's yesterday to wrap up the weekend... and now it is back to "real life" including lots of thank-yous and studying for the boards (ugh).
I must say, though, everything is better when you are married. I am loving life!