I'm a 2nd Assistant Director out in the Los Angeles area working in Film and Television production with a few secret obsessions...

1. I like to do crafty suff.  Fun for me, bad for the house until I get my own craft room.

2. I love weddings.  My job means I'm planning and organizing huge projects between tons of different departments and it's up to me to keep them on time and on budget.  This is similar to planning weddings, the difference being that there's a little more creativity that goes into the wedding process which makes it that much more fun.

3. I'm a closet nerd.  Shhhh... Don't tell anyone.

While I work in entertainment, my husband is a graphic designer/user interface manager by day, and a writer/director/producer for Indi projects and web series by night.

We met at of course one of the most ROMANTIC places on the face of the planet.... "El Torito Mexican Restaurant".  Ironic because I have a strong dislike for Mexican food.  However, at the time when we met in '04, I was a trainee through the Director's Guild of America Training Program, and my class typically met there for drinks after our seminar classes on Saturday for venting.  One of my classmates had a college buddy who lived right up the street and invited him out for drinks.

The rest I suppose is history.  We ended up lingering after, he asked for my number and I gave it.  Dating process was extremely slow for us.  Very casual for about 9 months before the "L" word was uttered.  But, once we made the leap, we never looked back.  1yr and 2 months into dating, we were engaged... 1yr and 4 months after that, we were married.  He is the best partner, husband and friend a girl could ever ask for.

Our bridal ended up being large... what can I say?  I'm the oldest with three brothers, and Andrew is the youngest with three brothers, add friends to the mix and things get crazy.

THE PARENTS - AKA Who Raised These Guys Anyway?

Below from left to right are the parents involved in raising me.  My father, John, my mother, Margaret, my ex-step mother, Linda and my step father, Jim.

Below are his parents, Hank and Judy, who are still together.  (A rarity these days.)

TEAM BRIDE:

My bridal party was awesome.  They included:

• My three half brothers who were honor attendants, Stephen, Christopher and Brian (From left to right)
  
• A friend from LA and wife of our Best Man, Lilas (Far left)
• A good friend from High School, Melissa (Center)
• A dear friend from 7th Grade and my Matron of Honor, Erinn (Far Right)
• The young lady in brown on the left is Andrew's Neice and my Jr. Bridesmaid, McKinlee.
  
• The little girl is another Neice of Andrew's, London and is one of our flower girls.

TEAM GROOM:

Andrew's party was no less amazing.  They were: (from left to right)

• Michael, 3rd oldest brother, groomsman
• Paul, 2nd oldest brother, groomsman
• James, best friend from Texas, Best Man
• Richard, oldest brother, groomsman
• Brian, friend from LA, groomsman
• Todd, frat brother from Texas, groomsman
• Emery (little boy) is Andrew's Nephew and our ring bearer
• The little girl in her daddy's arms is Fiona, Andrew's Neice and our other flower girl.

THE REST OF THE GANG:

Our ushers were some very close friends of ours.

• Brian is a dear friend of mine from college. (on the Right) 
  
• Matt is a good friend of Andrew's whom he met in LA. (On the left.)
  

Last of all is our Minister, Gordy.  I met Gordy when I was 9yrs old and convinced him to move out from Michigan to Arizona to come be our minister.  His family has always been very close with mine.  Even though he has since retired back to Michigan, I paid to fly him and his wife out to perform our ceremony... I couldn't imagine anyone else being my officiant.

It's all about the location.  For us we wanted a venue that was convenient with the ceremony and reception at the same place and housing nearby for guests.  Knowing that all of our family was from out of town, we wanted to find a venue with some great exteriors to showcase our amazing California scenery.

Ultimately, we chose Westlake Village Inn in Westlake Village, CA.  They had delicious food, and their site had several lovely photo opportunities around each corner.

For our ceremony location, we chose the "Wishing Well"which later became the "Tuscan Garden". On our initial tour of the venue, we were informed that the site would undergo construction, and basically signed our contract for the place sight unseen... a huge risk, but we were able to get the old price out of the deal

Before                                         After

Our reception was held in the "Lakeside Room" with a beautiful patio near the lake. This was perfect to have cocktail hour out on the patio and then eat inside. The huge fireplace out there was also a big plus.

Rehearsal dinner was in the "Fairway Room" which was located up above the "Lakeside Room" and a delicious farewell brunch was at the "Mediterraneo". A spectacular setting.

We also reserved a suite for us to stay at for Friday and Saturday night. (This way I had a place to get ready.) Several other guests stayed at the hotel. For guests on tighter budgets, we also reserved blocks of rooms at the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Renaissance Hotel, both on the same street as the venue only 2 miles east.

Invitations

Our wedding invitations was truly a labor of love.  Andrew is a graphic designer, and Marla is fairly "crafty" inclined and thus we wanted to make an impression.

Invitation kits were purchased from a great website containing recycled paper.  All graphics were created by Andrew.  This included: Invitation, Map, Hotel Info, RSVP Card and Monogram.  Card stock was printed at home, cut at Kinkos and then mounted on 12x6" chocolate card stock which had been folded in half.  Exterior paper was also edged with gold nail polish and then brushed with eyeshadow to create a shimmer effect.  Red paper was wrapped around the invitations and then lovingly tied with a chocolate satin ribbon.  Exterior envelopes were then crowned with a stamp that had been custom made, the photo being from our trip to Sundance Ski Resort.

We were thrilled with our end result, and received tons of compliments from guests

Vendors

Paper Kit:  http://www.invitesite.com - Ours was called "Carmine".  They also sell matching thank you cards, programs and guest books.  

Paper: Bazzill chocolate card stock - This paper was originally 12x12 card stock that we purchased from a scrapbook store.  It was then cut into 12x6 and folded in half to form small books for the invitation.  We loved the quality and price.

Graphics: http://www.istockphoto.com - Base for the graphics came from this website.  Search terms were "Vector, floral, grunge."

Design: Andrew Deutsch

Ribbon: http://www.jkmribbon.com - Fantastic price with several options.

Stamp: http://www.zazzle.com - We really enjoyed making our stamps, just make sure your image is light enough.

Font: http://www.veer.com - Declaration and Pabst

Printer:  At home.  HP Inkjet.

Paper Cut:  Kinkos

Programs

The talented and amazing fiancee, Andrew worked long and hard on these.  Graphics were purchased again from http://www.istockphoto.com  I particularly love our wedding quote in the front, and Andrew came up with a touching thank you note on the back.  Paper was again purchased from http://www.invitesite.com to match our invitations.  I love the mango leaf Mulberry paper and the recycled husk card stock.  Plus they were sweet enough to provide a shimmery brown ribbon to tie it all together.  I love them!

Inside Spread

Outside Spread

Save the Dates/Engagement Announcements

Our engagement announcement card, the photo was taken by a friend in the park.  We then created these through I-photo.  I was really pleased with the speed and quality of these!

Thank You Cards

I really didn't like any of the thank you cards I found out there.  So, I went to Papyrus, bought some blank parchment cards and scrap booked my own.  Orange, chocolate and gold marbled paper was also from Papyrus and hand ripped to create an edge to it.  Ribbon came from Michaels along with the thank you stamp and chocolate ink pad.  Ribbon for the bow was left over from our programs.  

Seeing as how most of our friends are either married or seriously dating, we opted to have a co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party.  And what better way than to partake in one of our favorite activities?  Skiing for 4 days at Mammoth Mountain Resort.  We rented a huge condo where everyone could stay at Snow Creek Resort, went skiing during the day, and then hung out and played games at night.  We had an absolute blast.

For me, personally, I really wasn't planning on having a shower.  However, my two girlfriends really wanted to throw something together.  

"What do you want to do?" they asked.  

"You know what I really need?  Help take me away from wedding planning for the day!" I replied.

And that's what they did.  Two weeks before the wedding, a few of us gals got together for brunch at my favorite place, Mi Piace in Pasadena.  Then we walked over to Burke Williams Day Spa for a day of beauty where I was forced to turn off my cell phone and relax.  (The horror, I tell you!)  The girls were so thoughtful and all chipped in as a gift for a spa treatment for me.  I always walk about of that place feeling refreshed.

Andrew is the youngest of four boys and remembers fondly growing up with them.  However, boys grow up, move, get married and have kids of their own.  Hence, the boys are pretty scattered and times when all four are together are extremely rare.  So, when they all made the trek for the wedding, Andrew really wanted to have time with his brothers and dad.  

"Marla!  I have the PERFECT idea!!"  He could hardly contain his excitement.

"Um... what is that?" I asked.

"There's a place where you can learn take boxing lessons and then spend the day sparring against each other.  Doesn't that sound great?"

It did not sound 'great' to me.  All I could think about was black eyes and chipped teeth for wedding photos due to the fun and games.  Fortunately for me, the guys chose the convenient route.  We were after all staying at a place known for it's golf course for the wedding.  So, the guys got up early and hit some rounds of golf.  They even dragged their 6yr old nephew with them into the game.

The Bride's Dress

After doing some initial shopping and being ready to tear my hair out, I stumbled on Bride's Against Breast Cancer.  http://www.makingmemories.org  This is an event that tours the country, the dresses have either been previously worn, or are donated brand new from shops.  They all cost a fraction of what most stores sell them for, and the money goes towards granting wishes for terminally ill women.  It's a wonderful cause, and I had such a great experience with them, I re-donated my dress after the wedding.

I have no idea about the brand of my dress as the tags were cut out, but it's a soft ivory color, and I love the gold thread and yellow beading.  Cost of the dress was $350, and I got the dress altered for free courtesy of the wardrobe ladies of the show I was working on at the time.

Accessories 

Veil: Purchased from http://www.veilshop.com I loved how the edge matched the bead and thread work

Crinoline: Was also purchased from Bride's Against Breast Cancer and dyed in my washing machine by me.

Garter: Was purchased as a set online using search terms of "Bronze" and  "Garter"

Shoes:  The gold ones for the ceremony I already owned.  For the reception, I changed into a pair of dance sneakers from DSW.

Jewelry: -The necklace and earrings were purchased from http://www.smartbrideonline.com  The bracelet was my something borrowed from my sister in law.  The watch was a wedding gift from my mother in law, vintage wind-up belonging to her mom.  My rings are white gold and came as a set.  The larger diamond is a family heirloom.  His ring we got on sale for $55 from http://www.titaniumera.com and is engraved with "Mo Anam Cara" and our initials which means 'Soulmates'

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue:

• Old - The watch pictured above given by my FMIL
  
• New - My dress, veil, necklace, etc.
• Borrowed - Bracelet pictured above borrowed from one of my FSIL
• Blue - Toe nail polish!

Reception Dress

Being an avid swing dancer, I wanted something I could move in during the reception.  I fell in love with this silk little number from Hepburn's at the Westfield Mall in Sherman Oaks.  Our main colors were chocolate and orange, the bridal party was in chocolate, so having the bride in orange for the reception seemed appropriate.

The Bridesmaids

Bridesmaid dresses were from JC Penny, brand name Bisou Bisou and on sale for $54.  The purses were from http://www.myglassslipper.com and dyed to match the dresses.  They held their flower arrangements to carry down the aisle.  Jewelry was purchased for them from 1928

The Groom and Groomsmen

The boys wore these great chocolate brown suits by After Six called 'Summit'.  We rented the suits from a shop called LeTux in North Hollywood, and we got a great deal on them.  Groom wore an ivory tie instead of a brown one.  Ushers and fathers also wore brown suits.

The Ringbearer

Ringbearer's suit was purchased from http://www.everythingnicefinechildrensclothing.com/  The pillow was purchased from ebay, and I added the crystal square to the ribbon.

The Jr. Bridesmaid

Dress was purchased online and ordered in chocolate with latte trim.  I also got a necklace for her from 1928

Flower Girls

For the girls we found some great dresses on Ebay $13.  Chocolate baskets were also purchased on Ebay, and I beaded together some necklaces for them to wear.  My Matron of Honor also sewed some chocolate sashes for them to tie around their waist.

Flowers for me were a complete DIY project for several reasons.

1. Florists are expensive!

2. I'm a type A personality and really wanted to minimize my vendor list.

3. I like arranging flowers.

However, I'm not crazy, and knew I wanted to go the fake flower route so I could make things in advance and not kill myself with arrangements the night before and morning of the wedding. 

Stats in Pasadena (Located a couple places in SoCal) is a great place to get crafty stuff.  I went in there and abolutely fell in love with their soft touch orange orchids.  I knew in a second this would be my main flower.  All the other flower stuff I got from Michaels.

Orange Orchids

My flower to do list was huge it included:

• My bouquet
• Toss Bouquet
• 3 Bridesmaid Arrangements
• 1 Jr Bridesmaid Pomander
• 16 Bouts
• 3 Wrist Corsages
• 12 Centerpieces
• 6 Pew Arrangements
• 3 Barrettes
• Extra Flowers for the Gazebo

Making the Bride's Cascade Bouquet - Looking in various flower arrangement books, I fell in love with the photo to the left.  I loved the use of orchids and how it was so dramatic.  The photo on the right was my efforts and included a little bit of dogwood mixed in amongst the orchids.

Bridesmaid Purse Bouquets - I was completely inspired by the photo on the left and thought, what it was an adorable way for the girls to cary their purses.  Plus, after the wedding, the flowers could be removed and the purses used with the dress for future use.  The photo on the right is my version.

Jr. Bridesmaid Pomander.  - It's the one and only pomander I made, slightly longer to put together, but worth it.

Mother's Corsages - These were wrist corsages that I created for them using a bit of black elastic for the wrist and a bunch of patience.

Flower Girl Barrettes - I also created some barette arrangements to go in the FG and Jr. Bridesmaid's hair.  Also, I made some flower pins to go on the sashes of the FG Dresses

Bouts - These were the easiest to make.  A single corsage with a few rose leaves and some bear grass.  Chinese takeout boxes were a great way to store them!

Pew Arrangements - These were relatively small and simply tied to the sides of the chairs on the 1st, 3rd and 5th row.

Decorating the Gazebo - In the morning, we wrapped the pillars in the same fabric we used to make the aisle runner.  We then pinned orchids to the fabric.  Two centerpieces also were on either side of the gazebo.

Centerpieces!!! - This was probalby the most complex project.  The first photo is my inspiration photo.  I loved it so much, but I knew if I went to a pro to get it done, I'd be chared at least $65 or more per centerpiece.  So, I chose to make my own. 

Pots were bought from Stats.  A round styrofoam disc was glued in the middle and then plaster of Paris added to weigh it down.  Pots were also painted and decorated in our wedding colors, along with having our name and date on the bottom.  Curly willow tips came from Whole Foods and dried out a few days.  They were then inserted into the styrofoam and glued in.  Base was covered in moss and then decorated with orchids and a few river rocks on which we had painted key words about what being married meant to us... including "Love", "Trust", "Honor", "Friendship", "Cherish".  Flowers were then wired onto the branches.

Andrew and I put a lot of thought into our ceremony and music choices.  After much reading and consideration, we opted to write not only our own vows, but our ceremony as well.  Here is how it turned out:

Prelude Music: While guests were seated.
Harp & Chamber Music by Shawna Selline

Ushers then unrolled the aisle runner.
Processional Music:
Romance II Andante by Mozart - while the mothers were escorted.  They lit their candles before sitting down.

The Raiders March by John Williams - for the bridal party entrance.

Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke - for the bride's entrance.

Introduction:
Welcome family and friends.  We are gathered here today in the sight of God to celebrate Andrew and Marla's love for each other and to honor and celebrate their decision to make a life long commitment to one another.  They are happy that so many friends and family members are here to share and celebrate with them today.   

We rejoice with Andrew Deutsch and Marla Hudnall in the making of this important commitment.  There comes a moment in life when two people are drawn together by an irresistible attraction.  They want to never again be divided by time or space.  They choose to marry, to make a public statement of this love, this commitment, and to make public the vows they have already made within their hearts.  There are many kinds of love, but true love is unconditional.  They are both taking this union of marriage  very seriously, that is why their pledge to join and their confidence in the future brings them before us today to enter into this covenant.  A marriage is a holy covenant between two persons who love one another in a very special way, and who believe that their love will be strong enough to last a lifetime.  Marriage symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives, yet a sharing that does not diminish, but rather enhances, the individuality of each partner.
Thus, it becomes possible to share not only the joys and successes, but also the trials and disappointments that life may bring to bear.

Marriage is an extraordinary event.  Andrew and Marla present a relationship that has been challenged by time and personal change.  Their love has prevailed by virtue of it's strengths.  Yet marriage adds a new dimension, which they approach with enthusiasm and deepening love.  Today Andrew and Marla start a new life together, different from the togetherness they have shared so far.

Candle Ceremony:
At this time, I ask both Andrew and Marla to step forward, to light the center candle.

The two outside candles have been lit by their mothers to represent their lives to this moment.  The lights, representing the faith, wisdom and love they have received from their parents, are distinct, each burning alone.  Please light the center candle to symbolize the union of your lives.  As this one light burns undivided, so shall your love be one.  From now own your thoughts shall be for each other rather than for your individual selves.  Your  joys and sorrows shall be shared alike.  May the radiance of this one light and your journey together be a testimony of your unity.

Homily:  At this point, Gordy, our minister said a few words.

Ceremony of Rings: 
Traditionally, the marking of the passage of title 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 receiver for each is the giver and the receiver.  May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken.
Exchange of Rings: ___ as you place the ring on ___'s finger, repeat after me:

I give you this ring.  Wear it with love and joy.  As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you.  I choose you to be my wife/husband this day and all the days  before us.

Invocation:
In this sacred and joyful moment we call upon you, Lord, to bless this couple, Andrew and Marla to help them to strive to be the best partner they can for one another.  Andrew and Marla, for you we ask every blessing of this moment: a confirmation of the wisdom of your choice, great happiness on the path that is set before you, discretion, kindness, and care as you walk upon it; strength to live out your purpose; grace and peace through each step of your journey; and beloved friends to support you.  May you be filled with joy; may you keep your promises with ease; may love abide with you always.

Expression of  Intent and Sharing of Vows:Andrew and Marla, please join your right hands and declare your intentions in the presence of God and this gathering.

Vows:
Marla,
So here we are, finally, at last we've made it.  We've both been through many trials and challenges in our lives and, I know, before us lie many more.  But I'm here today, in front of our friends and family, to let you know of my purpose.  Because when telling a story a hero must go through many stages.  One in particular is a stage that every hero must go through: its name is "Crossing the Threshold". 

This stage signifies that he is finally committed to the journey before him.  This event raises the stakes and propels the story forward and the hero has to make a choice on how he wants to proceed.

Well, I plan to enter this stage of our lives whip cracking and guns blazing.  I enter it with clarity and confidence.  With desire and passion.  You are everything to me.  And you need to know that you have given me purpose beyond anything I've ever done before.  The purpose that no matter what challenge lies ahead, I will be there, everyday, by your side, hoping to be your hero.  I love you.

Andrew,
Throughout life, you are told to "chose the right partner."  I believe the other side of that coin is to BE the right partner.  When you asked me to marry you, there was no hesitation, no doubt.  I enter this marriage with clarity and confidence that you are my dearest love and my best friend.

I will always strive to help us to grow and change for the better.  I look forward to the joy we will find in our successes both separate and shared, and I welcome the challenge of whatever obstacles we encounter, knowing we face them together.   

I pledge that I will always be there for you, to listen, to laugh, to comfort, to encourage, to be your refuge of strength and to love.  I will be faithful to you all my days, honest with you always and will cherish and adore you every moment of my life.  I love you

Rose Ceremony:
Andrew and Marla, you will remember this day for the rest of your lives.  Those of us who are already married know that marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges.  We also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. 

There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another.  It is my hope and prayer that the two of you will set aside a special place in your home for roses, ancient symbols of love.  When words fail you, or when the challenges of life or marriage begin to weigh on you, go out and get a rose, and put it in that special place in your home, so that the other will be reminded of this moment, and of the love you feel for one another. 

As a token of that love, I would like to ask you to make these roses your first gifts to one another as a married couple.

The couple would also like to present roses to their parents, a public acknowledgement and thanks for all they have given them.. Without them, they would not be the people they are today.

While we gave roses to each of our parents as a way of thank you the DJ
played Bouree by Handel. 

First Kiss and Presentation of Bride and Groom.

Recessional:
Throne Room & End Title by John Williams.

Ceremony Elements: There were a few things other than writing out our ceremony and vows that we had specifically for the ceremony.

• Candles - I was worried about the flame blowing out since it was an outdoor wedding.  I didn't like any of the hurricane lamps I saw.  Hence I chose to purchase extra fat candles in our wedding colors from Urban Home at the Sherman Oaks Galleria.  I burned these candles down in advance and dumped/carved the melted wax out so that the flame then sat about half way down the candle and was protected from the wind.
• Fresh Roses - These were the only fresh flowers used for the rose ceremony.  I picked them up the day of.  Two red roses for us to give to each other.  6 Salmon colored roses for us to give to our parents.
• Orange bud vase - Also from Urban Home to use as part of the rose ceremony to hold our two red roses.
• Aisle Runner - Created by me using curtain panels from IKEA and fabric from JoAnns
• My Rings - They came as a set.  White gold with mini diamonds.  The larger diamond belongs to Andrew's family and used to be in a necklace setting belonging to his grandmother.
• His Ring - Purchased on sale at http://www.titaniumera.com for $55.  Brushed finish, wide band, titanium.  Inside is engraved with our initials and the line "Mo Anam Cara" which means 'soulmates' in Gaelic.

Vendors:  I think we can all agree that a little help goes a LOOONG way.  These were the guys that helped make the ceremony so awesome.

• My DJ - Christopher Gauntt.  He is a fellow swing dancer and we met while dancing at Joe's American Bar and Grill in Burbank.  He was so increadibly patient helping Andrew and I pick out songs.  He also went to rehearsal with me on a tech run for his music and custom edited several songs to make them the proper length.  In adition to playing songs for the cremony and reception, he had a great lighting package setup, AND danced with the guests.
• My Day of Wedding Coordinator- Colleen.  She works with Westlake Village Inn (My venue) and was great for making sure all the elements and things I wanted on the day were there.
• My Photographer - Kerry Corcoran.  We found Kerry through David Michael's Photography in Woodland Hills.  He's a great artist and wonderful to work with.
• My Minister - Gordon Nelson.  I've known Gordy since I was 9yrs old when he moved out to AZ preach at my church.  Even though I moved away 3yrs later, I still couldn't imagine any one else officiating the wedding.  Gordy had since retired to Michigan with his wife.  I flew them both out to attend the wedding and was so glad they could make it.

Friday, the day before the wedding was extremely busy for us.  This included packing up the car with all our DIY projects, and schlepping over to the venue which is an hour away from us and checking in, then meeting with our officiant, and REHEARSAL!!

Rehearsal went smoothly.  Dad kept making faces, only because he didn't want to get all mushy, which I thought was sweet.  We kept cracking each other up while walking down the aisle and getting instructions from Colleen, our day of coordinator, on how he was supposed to hand me over to Andrew.

For rehearsal I wore a little number by http://www.stopstaringclothing.com as pictured below, only in reverse, so white with black polka dots and black bows and belt.

My DJ, Chris was also there to work out the music, and make sure his equipment was going to work smoothly on the big day, which I thought was fantastic..  The day was warm, and everyone was in good spirits as we all lined up in the Tuscan Gardens at Westlake Village Inn.

Then it was off to the Fairway Room for some rehearsal dinner.  In addition to inviting the members of the bridal party and their significant others... we also invited all of our family members who had come in from out of town to celebrate with us.  The meal was a Mediterranian theme buffet, and was delicious:

• Whole slow-roasted chicken rubbed with herbs du provence
• Baked whitefish with tomatoes, basil, olives and capers
• Parmesan Risotto with porcini mushrooms
• Grilled asparagus spears with blue chease in a red wine vinaigrette
• Vegetable ratatouille with eggplant and zucchini
• Marinated imported olives with feta cheese and artichoke hearts
• Seasonal greens tossed in parmesan balsamic vinaigrette
• Caramel napoleons and vanilla creme brulee

We also took that time while visiting with family, to present our bridal party with gifts and to show a dvd Andrew put together of photos of us growing up and being together.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGNHuzdtV3o

While after ceremony photos were being taken with the bride and groom, we had cocktail hour for our guests.  The reception was held at the Lakeside Room of Westlake Village Inn, and it has a perfect outdoor patio next to a pond.  It was here a bar was set up along with several chairs and tables for guests to mingle while hor d'oeuvres were past around.  

Menu included:

• Goat Cheese and Carmalized Onion Tartlet
• Seared Ahi Tuna on Crisp Won Ton with Ponzu Sauce
• Marinated and Grilled Lamb Pops with Mint Chutney
• Provence Bruschette with Roma Tomatoes, Fresh Basil and Greek Olives.

 

 

  

Dinner was held in the Lakeside Room at Westlake Village Inn. 

Schedule was as follows:

• 6:30p Guests were encouraged to make their way to their seats.
• 6:45p Bride and Groom were introduced and did their first dance while champagne was poured.
• 6:50p Toasts from Best Man, MOH, MOB and FOG were given while food was set out.
• 7:00p Eating!
• 7:30p ish Parent dance
• 7:45p Dancing
• 8:30p Cake Cutting
• 9p Garter and flower toss
• 12p Reception ends.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Our cake was an amazing creation by Let Them Eat Cake in Costa Mesa, CA.  The bakers and artists there were outstanding.  http://www.letthemeatcake.net  From the moment I saw their portfolio, I knew I wanted to try them.  The tasting confirmed it.  

Our cake was the Pistachio Pear Fizz - Batter marinated in pear liqueur and with layers of champagne, pear and pistachio mousse. 

For the design, we gave them a copy of our invitations and the flowers and photos of our centerpieces and said "make something that incorporates that stuff."  They did that and more.  It was an extremely tasty cake with flowers made from pure sugar and hand painted.  I love how they used the graphic from the invitation and our monogram.  In addition, we got a free cake for our 1yr anniversary!

Initial concept design:

Finished Product:

Because we knew this would be one of the rare occasions in which all of our family and out of town friends would be in the same area, we wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.  For this reason, we had a no host farewell brunch on Sunday at the Mediterraneo located onsite at Westlake Village Inn.

Brunch was a huge buffet style with absolutely anything and everything you could possibly wish for.  We had the whole back patio to ourselves.  It was nice to hang out with people casually before they had to head off to the airport.

Weddings also involve giving gifts to bridal party members, family, those that help etc.

OOT Guests:

Knowing most guests were checking in on Friday afternoon or evening, I wanted to put something together some snacks to help them get through the day without spending a pretty penny on the hotel mini fridge.  Snacks varied from healthy to not, and I also included a welcome note with an itinerary about the weekend including info about the rehearsal dinner and farewell brunch.

Contents:

• Welcome note
• 4 mini bottles of water
• 1 mini bottle of red wine (screw top), 1 mini bottle of white wine (screw top)
• 2 plastic wine glasses
• Assorted crackers
• Hummus spread
• Wine infused cheese spread
• Summer sausage
• 2 Cliff bars
• Trail mix
• Girlscout cookies (our two favorites)
• Chocolates
• Popcorn (either cheddar or carmel)
• Pack of gum
• Mini can of Pringles

Bridesmaids:

For the girls, I purchased their purses which held the flower arrangements I made for them.  After the wedding, they were able to remove the flowers and re-use the purse with their dress.  I also got them a set of earrings and a necklace to wear on the day from 1928.

Groomsmen/Ushers/Honor Attendants:

For the boys we wanted to get them something interesting and fun.  We opted to go with pin up girl cufflinks by Simon Carter.  They had about 6 different designs, so everyone had something different.  This way they always have a pretty lady on their arm.

Jr. Bridesmaid:

For her I wanted to get something that a young lady would appreciate, something sparkly and pretty, yet still had a touch of whimsy.  I settled on this necklace from 1928.

Flower Girls:

I got this great bag of fun stuff for them from the Oriental Trading Company.  In addition, I hand beaded some necklaces and bracelets for them to wear on the wedding day that was similar to the necklace style above, but made of glass vs crystals.

Ring Bearer

I got him this great bag of toys for him to play with also from the Oriental Trading Comapny

Parents:

I'm working on this!  I promise!  EVENTUALLY I'll get an official wedding picture book thing together. 

Anne:

She was not part of the bridal party, but she really should have been.  She was one of my most amazing friends during this process.  She helped dress shop, she burned her fingers helping put together the aisle runner, and she spent a good weekend with me putting together OOT gift bags.  I love her.  Anne is obsessed with pirates, so when we saw the game "Pirateology", we KNEW this was the right present for her.

Bride & Groom:

While I wrote him a love note and sent it to him on the day, we chose not to get gifts for each other until the honeymoon.  We wanted something that would be totally awesome and help show off our trip.  His we got at a great shop in Kyoto.  Mine, we picked up in an antique shop on Miyajima Island.  They are displayed on dress forms purchased from JoAnne's.  Here's what we got:

When it came time to register for items, we looked around and realized that between the two of us, we had 3 knife sets, tons of pots and pans, and every kitchen item known to man.  We had too much STUFF.

What we really wanted?  A honeymoon to create memories for a lifetime.  Japan is some place I've wanted to be since I was a child, and it was pretty high up on hubby's list too.  So that's what we registered for.  Funds towards airline tickets and Japan rail passes, guided hike up Mt. Fuji, formal tea ceremony.  Best thing?  Sumo wrestling tickets!!

For those that wanted to give actual items like his parents, they got us these amazing travel backpacks for our journey.

http://www.travelersjoy.com/members/hudnalldeutsch/

It was by far the best decision we made.  And the best part is?  Our honeymoon registry covered 100% of our trip.  So, we went on an amazing trip with zero debt.

For our honeymoon we spent two weeks in Japan.  It was an amazing journey, and one I'm not likely to forget anytime soon.  First 5 days were in Tokyo, then 2 days in Hiroshima, 3 days in Kyoto and 2 days in Osaka.

Full photo group is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolland72/sets/72157600270891239/

We also created a honeymoon website to sort of blog about our trip.  Alas, about half way through the trip we realized that I-Web still has some bugs to work out and kinda freaks out when you upload over 500 pictures to it.  http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/

Day 1 - May 3rd:  Take Off!!

http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/iWeb/Andrew%20And%20Marla%27s%20Japan%20Honeymoon/Takeoff%21.html

This was the day we took off for Japan.  Flight was very nice and easy going.  We landed at the airport and rented a phone for emergency purposes.  (This is where I learned my name was spelled wrong on the passport... YAY!!)  We then hopped on a train and bus to make it to our hotel in Shinjuku, a suburb of Tokyo.

From our honeymoon blog, as told by Andrew:

"A perfect haze settled upon the city around 6 am. I, of course, was still awake from the 17 hour time gap between LA and here. We showered, Marla curled her hair, put on our walking shoes and were off to find some breakfast. We decided to try one of the hotels restaurants called “The Coffee House”. It looked like just any other buffet place you might see in Las Vegas. We had to wait for a table so we got in the queue with everyone else which consisted of some chairs along the wall. The host would greet you and take you to your table one party at a time. Therefore, people would scuttle from chair to chair as parties were removed from the line. This resembles an odd linear form of musical chairs. Everyone getting up and sitting back down as they move up the line. We had a table within minutes and proceeded with a great breakfast of a combination of Western and Eastern meals. The scrambled eggs were a bit on the scary side but everything else was awesome. There were no giant portions like you might see in the states, but little compact portions about half the size of your fist for everything. They have translations into English on the labels, so we were pretty confident in our choices. I got pretty risky with a bottle with a Jersey cow on it, turned out to be yogurt. All in all it was pretty enjoyable and the service was excellent with everyone saying, “O-hayo-go-zai-mas” as you left which means “Good Morning!”. With a small bow were we on our way to the post office.

The post office was a few blocks away in walking distance, just on the edge of small shopping district. Brightly colored and no lines made this quite different than ours. Also, everyone was extremely helpful with the limited English and Japanese going back and forth. Marla wanted to send our thank you cards via international, adding a little extra love on them for ya. We paid ($14) for 13 cards, they gave us stamps. There were little stamp application places behind us so we sat down and hand-did each envelope. Due to price and the work involved, we will not be doing the rest of the thank you cards this way. :) So, whomever gets these special Japan-sent thank you cards, consider yourselves super super monkey special. A-ha!!!

From there it was important for us to retrieve a power converter for Marla’s Macbook. Luckily, just down the street, was a Tokyo version of “Fry’s” whose looks very deceiving on the outside but turned out to be a massive 5-story store that pretty much had anything we could have needed in the form of electronics.

Afterwards, we decided to see the Imperial City which was east of our location and out of walking distance. Our only means of smart travel at that point is the subway. We needed a day ticket ($10 each) and once we had those in hand we could travel anywhere in the city. The craziness of the city was not at her fevered pitch as of yet, so getting around was fairly simple. 

  

Everything is color coded, much like the UK’s subways, so we just followed the appropriate color in getting from specific line to line.  (We were based out of the Shinjuku line). We connected out at the Ichigaya station and then made it down to our final destination which was the Sakuradamon station, just north of the Imperial Palace.  

Once we exited the station there was still much walking to be had as we entered one of the outer gates to the Palace. Thick wooden gates, wrapped in iron showed off the impressive outer defenses. Lush greenery and carefully manicured lawns and trees framed the outer gravel walkways. Lines of people in tour groups followed tour leaders that carried a small kite shaped like a golden fish. The ladies carried umbrellas to keep the sun off their faces while gloved hands and masked faces were seen on every other person. Right now, we can’t tell if women with white gloves on are just a fashion choice or a personal hygiene choice. Everywhere you looked, though, no one really had shorts on. Men wore pants and slacks and women allowed themselves skirts.

The walls to the Palace were these incredible 50 to 80 ft. high walls built with solid blocks of stone pieced together in right angles surrounded by moats and small walking bridges. All you could see was the inner gardens and some of the smallSamurai guard shacks that watched over the main gates. Entry into the inner city wasn’t allowed, or possibly we just didn’t look hard enough. Our feet were beginning to feel the day and luckily there were several rest houses inside the grounds where you could do just that. Marla decided to pick up an ice cream treat that everyone was snacking on. It was this odd self-contained ice cream and cone in one easy to use package. We then walked to the inner gardens where they had small trails and water falls. We rested for a bit on a park bench where I caught an old man with his caneslowing walking the grounds. I wasn’t very subtle with my picture-taking, but it had to be done. From there we proceeded out of the Palace walls and to the Kudanshita station where we picked up our Shinjuku line and headed home.

But our day wasn’t over as we decided to check out the food mall in the Shinjuku station. Little did we know that we entered into a slightly crazed atmosphere of food purchasing people. Every seller was talking to you trying to get you to buy their foods, which all looked so tempting. Earlier, we went to the AM/PM to pick up some snacks of riceballs and a drink. I had some kind of jellied multi-vitamin drink that had the consistency of snot, but tasted like grapefruit. I didn’t care, I drank the whole thing. But the market was bustling with excitement. Any kind of food you can imagine. One seller in particular kept giving us samples of these fish patties and bowls of soup. The fish patties were amazing, but he just kept giving us sample after sample. We had to stop him before we exploded. Outside again, we could feel the city breathing with people. They surged and stopped at every intersection. It didn’t die down until we were at our hotel again. Peace settled over us in our room, as I thought I was going to take a quick   nap which turned out to be a night’s sleep. We once again woke very early, so I’m typing this at 4 am. Marla is reading as we await our day. We plan on walking through Asakusa which is an older part of town."

Complete pictures from the day:

http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/iWeb/Andrew%20And%20Marla%27s%20Japan%20Honeymoon/May%2004%20-%20Photos.html

 

  

 

 

  

Asakusa: (As told by Andrew)

"Once again, we arose fairly early for us. Marla went back to sleep for awhile, just as she is at the moment (Sunday 8:50 am) while I update the blog. I managed to get the tea maker working this morning. A neat little device that consistently heats water for anytime that you feel you need some tea. The hotel provides little cups and saucers with tea packets. I go for the roasted tea, which reminds me a bit of English Breakfast.

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

Mitaka and the Ghibli Museum: (As told by Andrew)

Hunger overcame us by the time we made it back to our home station at Shinjuku and decided upon one of the station’s restaurants. Once again, we pointed at what we wanted and quickly had platters of food. I enjoyed a cold pasta and Marla had a combination of tempura and sashimi. After finishing my large Asahi beer, we walked the underground pathway home to the hotel where I collapsed around 8 to the sounds of Marla tapping at the keyboard which, if you haven’t tried it, can be very soothing.

 

Tomorrow, we try Kabuki and I have requested Shimbuya, the location of “Lost in Translation”."

Photos of the day:

http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/iWeb/Andrew%20And%20Marla%27s%20Japan%20Honeymoon/May%2006%20-%20Photos.html

  

 

  

Ginza and Shibuya: (As told by Andrew.)

 

 

  

 

  

  

 

Tokyo to Hiroshima: (As told by Andrew)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miyajima Island: (As told by Andrew)

"We began our day knowing exactly what we wanted to do. This was on Marla’s list of places she wanted to see while in Japan and so this day was given to just Miyajima Island and nothing else. We would soon find out that after this day we would have nothing left for anything else. Miyajima definitely took every last bit of our energy to explore.

We awoke, showered and clothed ourselves in our remaining clean clothes. I have rather  wearing my “travel pants” during the trip which are a pair of REI thin, breathable pants that are perfect in any weather. Mom and Dad got them for me as a wedding present along with our backpacks that we’re using for the trip. These are also REI brand and wonderful, sturdy and perfect for a two week stint in any condition. We had a “western” buffet at the hotel, because it was free and we love free things, especially food. I love how the Japanese think. Obviously they have heard of this “brunch” that Americans do from time to time and have included brunch type items in their buffets. They have everything from eggs and cereal to spaghetti and green beans. Of course we tried a bit of everything. It was all, once again, very good.

Okay, back to Miyajima which we arrived at via JR. A short walk and we boarded the JR owned ferries that would take us the ten minute ride to Miyajima Island. We arrived knowing a bit of history and also knowing that the island is home of one of Japan’s more famous landmarks, O-torii, the temple arch that greets you as you enter the bay. It was pretty much beautiful from all sides. I tried to capture as many good pics of it as I could. Marla tried to avoid the huge crowd of furry deer as we wandered the lower area of the island. They are kinda creepy in the sense that they have no fear of humans. They sleep right in the middle of the street not really caring about really anything other than if you have something for them to eat. We saw a small pack of them later hunt down and messily devour a poor hapless cardboard box. Poor box.

On the way up to the top, the pathway leads you through town, through shops that sell the exact same thing: prayer paddles, little geisha dolls and miniatures of the arch. Every shop. Same stuff. But they were just a small part of the hike. We soon found ourselves at a large shrine, Senjokaku, that was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but left unfinished when the warlord died.  The large airy hall was originally a library for Buddhist sutras.  Large wooden beams structured to create its support system. There was little to no metal used at all. Even the nails were wooden, but it has held up after all this time, its age shown by the polished look of the floor obviously worn down by billions of footfalls over thousands of years.

Outside the shrine was another five-story pagoda and beneath it was a diseased palm that should have fallen over years ago if it had not been for the supports the community have put beneath it making have an upside-down “L” shape to it. A symbol that trees are not felled by human hands for the entire forest is virgin forest, nothing is cut down, all wood is shipped to the island for construction.

As we wandered further up the hill, we came to Momiji-dani-koen, a leafy hillside park and the site of the Iwaso Ryokan, where Marla dreams of staying once she and Andrew become filthy rich.  The park and burbling brooks were outstanding and the weather was perfect.  We continued our leisurely stroll upwards.

Finally it was time to tackle the mountain but we had no idea what that entailed because looking at the local maps it seems relatively easy, just a short jaunt and you’re at the top.  But that was far from reality.  They have built an impressive array of steep steps directly up the mountain.  It was a mix of ancient and modern steps but they were all tough on our legs. Close to 2.5k worth of them.  Many times along the way we had to stop just to catch our breath and rest our burning thighs and calves.

We’ve been walking alot while here but nothing like this. Along the path though are many places to take in the majestic scenery and plenty of photo ops.

Sky began to break through the canopy and I knew we were close to the top and just then another surprise: monkeys! A whole troop of baboon-like monkeys crossed our path. Now I didn’t know if they were good monkeys or bad monkeys so we kept our distance. I didn’t want the headlines to read: “American couple on Honeymoon dragged away by Monkeys!” We would come to find out that they were harmless and quite lazy. We got a few good looks at some mother and child monkeys and one in particular sat and watched us walk by.

Finally we were at the top and it was a wonderful feeling. Several shrines were there to greet us, this included the famous Kiezu-no-Reikado whose fire was used to light the eternal flame at the Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima. Up to the left of the shrine was another stepped path leading up to a lookout that allowed you a 360 degree view of the island and it’s surroundings. It was a gorgeous day but the familiar haze of the Japan coast created a foggy dissipation to the landscape falling off into various hues of blue. We rested for a bit listening to the breeze through the trees and gulped down much needed water.

Exhausted we had a slight moment of clarity and decided to take the ropeway down the mountain instead of the way we came up. The ropeway was a series of gondola cars that took you down a scenic route to the ferry. As we rode down the beautiful and scenic route, we realized that perhaps we had gone about our day with Mt. Misen the wrong way... we should have ridden UP, then walked DOWN.... silly Americans.

Our eyelids were heavy as too was our legs as we took the final bus down to the coast to take the 5:30 ferry back to the mainland. We looked back upon the island as a new found friend whose embrace will be sorely missed in the years to come. I’m glad I took some many pics as I know we will want to remember this day for a long time."

Pictures:http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/iWeb/Andrew%20And%20Marla%27s%20Japan%20Honeymoon/May%2009%20-%20Photos.html

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

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Hiroshima- Peace Park and Castle: (As told by Andrew)

"Our last day in Hiroshima began with a purpose: laundry. We had funked up our clothes pretty good with strenuous hikes all across Tokyo and Mt. Misen. Since the hotel’s laundry service was atrociously expensive we had to search out a local coin-op. The hotel must have predicted that most people wouldn’t want to take part in their money-laundry scam because they had a nice, little map waiting for us at the front desk. It was a five minute walk through the chilly morning but we found what we were looking for in the neighborhood laundromat. There was a small machine full of boxes that we had hoped would be either detergent and dryer linens and we gambled right except the dryer linens were more like dryer sponges. After folding our clothes we headed back to the room to pack, check our bags at the bell captain’s desk and head out to Hiroshima city.

Our first stop was the Atom Bomb Dome (Industrial Promotion Hall) in the heart of the city which was accessible by streetcar. About $2 each got us there. As we approached the broken ruins of the Atom Dome (one of the few buildings that stood after the bomb flattened the entire city) we came across several memorials one being the Mobilized Students memorial which was a tribute to the 10,000 students ages 12 an older lost during the war.

As we traveled through the park we began to see more and more students making us think it was almost a field trip day for many schools. We still don’t know why exactly there were so many students visiting the Peace Memorial Park that day but we did happen upon a very special event surrounding one of the more prominent figures during the time after the war. Her name was Sakado and she was just a child when the atom bomb hit the city. She survived the blast and seemed to be one of the lucky ones. But as we came to realize, there were a certain number of initial casualties and there were many more subsequent casualties and she was one of the latter. Radiation from the blast lingered for months killing off the blast survivors with keltoid scars, leukemia and other fatal illnesses. Sakado became sicker and weaker as each day passed. As her blood count levels dropped, she began to rely upon faith to heal her and that faith was personified into 1000 paper cranes. She believed if she folded 1000 paper cranes she would get better. She never completed the task and became too weak to fold the cranes. Local students began folding them for her and soon the nation’s students were doing the same.

At around age 13, Sakado died from her illness but her legacy has lived on. Her memorial was flanked by lines of students all giving her outspoken respect and prayers. Each class waited their turn to give prayers and lay before the memorial their 1000 paper cranes. With a bow of their heads, one line would exit and another would take their place. In the background, contained in plexi-glass containers, tens of thousands of paper cranes from previous years are on display for all to see and remember the tragedy that took place that day and its physical and emotional impact. It was a powerful moment.

 We continued on to view the eternal flame and the Peace Memorial Museum that housed the database of those killed that day and those that died years later from the after affects. Marla found listings matching her family’s namesake of Takeda, but there were several listings and she didn’t know quite who was who but that didn’t matter, the impact was still the same. She is with me today because her family wasn’t near what America, at the time, considered a military strike zone. Hiroshima was picked due to its large military port. One of the more striking parts of the museum was the Remembrance Hall that showed a 360 view of the destruction that day, plus a small water fountain that, from above, showed the time of 8:15 am - the time the bomb hit Hiroshima. Other areas depicted personal stories of that day. Children remembering what it was like to leave friends behind, trapped in rubble to be consumed by the fires that blazed the city not long after the bomb hit. If not the initial blast that killed you, it was the fires that the intense heat started that killed most. Needless to say, we were thoroughly depressed exiting the building.

Gluttons for punishment we moved on to another museum. This one showing actual artifacts from that day. Clothing, shoes, death logs, pictures of the burned and dead, a tricycle burned and tattered, before and after models of the city, a complete timeline of the events and reasoning of the attack, the actual stoop that showed someone’s shadow burned into the concrete as she sat there that morning, plus, many other trinkets and objects that reminds all who enter exactly what happened that day. The most important of them all was a stopwatch, the blast halting its mechanisms at 8:15, a permanent reminder.

So, now we need to lighten up things! On to Hiroshima Castle. Its existence was also destroyed on that day but it was successfully rebuilt in 1958 but many of its original foundations remain. Small walkways that used to climb great walls are all that remains. It was built purposefully within the center of the union of two rivers that divide Hiroshima. They used these rivers to develop the moat system around the castle. The moat system was unique at the time due to the fact that the outer moat system was to be destroyed in case of an attack, flooding the enemy out and confusing their forces. The buildings were also built with small murder holes which weren’t common to that day. We viewed ancient swords, katanas and spears. Ancient samurai uniforms and army armor were on display. All the while, students would stare at us, most out of curiosity and most wanting to practice their English. We got a lot of “Hello!” and when we said hello back, they would often duck their heads and give a shy grin. I’m going to go ahead and assume its because they though we were cool and huge stars in America. Which we are. But we enjoyed being popular for a few seconds.

 It was an exhausting day but we had travel in front of us as we ventured out to Kyoto. Our packs became heavier and heavier as we transferred a few trains to get where we needed to be: Hotel Okura in central Kyoto. We entered through the train station, checked in and had no less than three people helping us at all times. The bellhops continue to amaze us with their jovial attitude and extreme pride they take in merely taking your bags for you up to your room. Once we got to room 2018, we were happy to see the nicest room we’ve gotten so far. A comfy bed, huge bathroom and fresh slippers. That’s all we really need, right?"

Pictures:

http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/iWeb/Andrew%20And%20Marla%27s%20Japan%20Honeymoon/May%2010%20-%20Photos.html

Kinosaki Onsen: (As told by Marla & Andrew)

This morning was a day for recovering from our long hike up Mt. Misen... Japanese style.   How do you do this?  By a trip to an Onsen!  (Japanese Hot Spring Resort.)  On to the town of Kinosaki-Onsen for us.  A haven for the Onsen expert containing several of these hot springs open to the public.
 
Our morning in Kyoto was a lovely one, and while the sights and sounds of the city called, we opted instead to try a hot springs simply because we wanted to avoid the weekend crowds.  Before we headed on our favorite JR train, we stopped at a delicious coffee place down inside the station.  One quick note... food presentation, everything here is so beautifully packaged, even the coffee you get at a train station.
 
The ride up to Kinosaki was very relaxed.  The crowds were small, and the scenery was out standing.  We arrived to the small town filled with quiet streets, beautiful Ryokan (Japanese Inns) and people wandering about in their Yukata (robes) and Geta (shoes) going from hot spring to hot spring.  It was then an there we decided we shall no longer listen to a travel agent who unfortunately talked us out of staying in a Ryokan.  Not only do you get free access to the hot springs, your stay also comes with breakfast and dinner.  We had been told that only westerners stay in these places, but as far as we could tell, this was not the case.
 
While hiking towards the onsen of our choice, we kept encountering a group of school children in bright yellow hats.  Even at the tender age of 5 and 6, these kids knew key phrases in english.  We kept hearing them shout out “Americani”, “Hello, how are you?”  Andrew and I would reply and they would laugh and the next group of kids would try their hand.
 
We finally arrived at a small hot spring.  The owners spoke no english, but were friendly and through much gestures and writing, we were able to communicate.  (Andrew here:) Now if you’ve never been to an onsen, they’re a bit different than American spas. The accommodations are simple with wooden lockers for your clothes as you’re to enter the waters naked. After changing out of your clothes, you enter a community bathing area with small seats, buckets, soap, a small towel and a moveable shower-head. You’re to scrub yourself down and rinse off before entering the pools, which I’m totally fine with but its the whole doing it around other naked guys thing. But that part of the experience didn’t last long and I soon felt at ease because I was clearly the most many man of the group. :) One particular thing I began to experience is the Japanese dislike of foreigners in general. When I would enter a pool, they would leave. If the choice is to sit with you on a train or stand, they’ll choose to stand. Eat at a table with you or wait for their own, they’ll wait. No one is rude about it but we just started to notice it happening more often. All in all, it was nice because I basically got the whole onsen to myself. (End Andrew) The waters were divine and as promised, very soothing... so soothing that not long after, we were ready to head home for a much deserved rest.
 
Before that we decided to grab a quick bite to eat, but it wasn’t easy as all the restaurants were closed until 6 p.m. and we were looking to grab some food before the 5:30 train. We did find one place that was a basic beer pub that brewed their own beers. We pointed at the steak picture and then pointed at the pasta picture and about ten minutes later they brought us exactly those things. What looked like a simple slice of steak with a dabble of mashed potatoes turned out to be one of the best plates of food we’ve ever had. The steak was juicy and perfectly cooked with a soy mushroom glaze that I was practically licking off the plate. Marla had a carbonara pasta dish that had perfectly cooked pasta with lite cream sauce that was, once again, amazing. No matter where we go, we seem to have great food.
 
Our train arrived on time and its rhythmic swaying put us both into a nice, little nap before we arrived at our Kyoto hotel.
 
Next time we come to Japan, it’s Ryokans and at least two days in Kinosaki for us.

Pictures:

http://web.mac.com/thedeutsch/iWeb/Andrew%20And%20Marla%27s%20Japan%20Honeymoon/May%2011%20-%20Photos.html