The reception

The reception had to go through the most changes for a Covid world. The goal was to keep people spread out, outside, as much as possible. An open air barn, food trucks, games and activities spread throughout the property, all helped to accomplish this. 

Shoun and Victor approve

Kona ice for the couple, complete with two straws

Even the food trucks practiced social distancing

Not many people can say they danced in front of a food truck at their wedding

The farm made for beautiful pictures and some fun ones, too, when Snickers showed up.

The story behind the fish: Jake wanted fish in the centerpieces. Mariana did not. I liked the idea. Jake's mom did not. So Mariana won. Two weeks before the wedding, Jake found a moment when Mariana was out of the room to tell us that he was planning to have someone get a fish to put on the sweetheart table to surprise Mariana. At one point Mariana told us that she was planning to put a fish on the table for Jake but since just that morning she had told Eden that she wasn't go to do so, we thought Jake's idea was great. But then a few days before the wedding, Mariana confided that she had asked someone to get a fish to put on the sweetheart table. And they both had asked the same person to help them pull it off! There is a great video going around of Jake motioning to the fish and saying, "I got you a fish," then Mariana motioning to the fish and saying, "I got you a fish," and then they burst out laughing. Joke's on you. And you.

The first dance has a story, too. A few weeks before the wedding, Jake asked me to bring a stool. Part way through the dance, he gave me the look and I presented the stool to Mariana so they could be a little closer in height to finish their first dance as husband and wife. I think it was my brother who was going to present me with a stool on my wedding day, when my grandfather told John that he could kiss the bride, but I found out later that my mom wouldn't let him. I always wished it had been done. Now I feel like I can put that desire down; this was close enough.

Jake's brother gave a toast as best man. Eden said a few words as maid of honor and then HopeAnne joined her for a great mash-up of Broadway songs, rewritten for Mariana. Maggie also spoke since she was the one who first introduced him even though she thought Jake had no chance because he happened to be wearing his Stud Muffin T-shirt that night.

Amazing gluten free, dairy free, soy free wedding cake and cupcakes, made to order for the bride's dietary needs. But what most guests didn't know is that they were eating the exact same thing. Who needs all those extras, anyway?

A s'mores bar!

It's always great to have our family together. Of course, we still mourn the loss of one and pray that some day healing will bring us all together for family celebrations.

Mariana wanted to have a King's Strings reunion at her wedding so a few phone calls with discussions about who would play which parts, and it was all set. Unfortunately, Shoun had to leave early due to a long drive back to college, but Victor filled in on cajon and did an amazing job for his first official concert.

Many remarked that Plan K was even better and more memorable than Plan K. Other than the special people who could not be with us, I don't think we would have wanted it any other way.