The most anticipated event of Fall 2001 was no doubt the Allard/Neptune wedding. Ken, my former boss from Jupiter and his boyfriend Rudy hosted their commitment ceremony at a castle way in upstate Vermont. It was a two-day event, dinner and drinks on the first night followed by the ceremony and a brunch the next morning. Here's the story, conveniently presented in five acts.

Act I - The Dinner

Act I begins with all of us meeting in the main room of the castle, the introductions of guests, a few pre-dinner drinks and then off to dinner.


Rudy and Ken, all sassed up.


Rudy closely examining the inner workings of the "wine fountain" they received as a gift.


Okay here's me and Robyn, pre-dinner. No comments about the orange shirt: (a) it is not that bright in real life, (b) I've already heard them all from Ken and Rudy and Dylan and Pete and pretty much everyone else that was there. :)


So, after we've selected from our four dinner choices, Dylan motions for me and Pete to meet him in one of the adjacent rooms. While I'm figuring Dylan has some speech prepared for us to look over or something, he actually just wants to start doing shots. Here's what started it all...


... by "starting it all", I'm referring to whatever it was that caused The Sarge to bust out with The Worm.


Anyway, not too long after we get back to out seat, dinner comes along. I had the lobster (look at that - all the meat already pulled out for you! Brilliant!), Robyn had the salmon, Pete went with the filet mignon.


And, in case you were wondering what the inside of the lobster looked like.

Act II - The Cocktails

As Act I (and dinner) concludes, we all move into the main room to enjoy a few hundred cocktails.


Here's a decent shot of bunch of us... left to right: Ken, Leann (Ken's friend from Gartner), Rudy, Pete, me, Dawn (Dylan's wife) and Dylan.


And here's my new best friend, Mr. Bartender, serving me up yet another Makers and Coke.


This is what Makers Mark will to do you. At some point I was talking shit to Ken's friends about how I was an arm wrestling champion. As should have been expected, the guy I was taking to could have easily been straight out of Over The Top as he quickly whooped me.


The ladies just love love love the cheese danish.


Late night. Player's lounge. Pumpkin shirt.


Didn't this happen the last time I took Robyn to a wedding with me? Pete Sargent macking on my date. If there was a school for pimpin', this kid would have a Ph.D.


More Makers Mark working it's magic.


And of course, Act II concludes with the obligatory "Oh look, Dylan is passed out again" shot.

Act III - The Ceremony

Now, I'm really disappointed with the digicam's performance during the ceremony - I snapped a ton of photos, but they're all cloudy due to the low light inside and the sunlight coming in from the windows. Here's how things went down: there were readings by friends of both of Ken and Rudy, the actual union (proceeded over by Vermont State Senator, Alice Nitka), the exchange of rings and then the sharing of wine.


Here, Dylan pouring the glass of wine that both Ken and Rudy drink from.


And the wedding cake...


I call this one, "Group Shot."

Act IV - The Jazz Brunch

After the ceremony, there was what has been called The Best Brunch Ever(tm) featuring such fine hangover helpers as bacon, sausage, eggs benedict and ham. Again, my Jazz Brunch photos did not come out so well, but try to imagine the guy on the sax, the guy with the guitar, the cute girl with the sweet sweet voice, and Ken's friend Doug requesting Bootylicious (they never played it).


Here's Dylan, two minutes after the ceremony ended, two drinks in hand.


Me and Robyn - don't we look chipper! Pumpkin shirt has since been retired.

Act V - The Ride Home

This is the shortest, yet most dramatic, of the five acts. Only because Pete tried to take a 90 degree turn while going 40 mph downhill on a wet road almost causing us to barrel through some poor guy's fence.


Here, Pete on his way to pick up the kids from soccer practice.

(the end)