The Party

We were so very grateful for all of our friends and family that travelled from near and far to come to our wedding. We also understand the complexity of travel, and can appreciate those that were there 'in spirit'.

In short, it was a great party that we will never forget. It was hard to believe that those 13+ hours at Diergardt's went by so fast.


We really confused the waitstaff at Diergardt's when we decided to cut the cake with the American tradition, namely starting with the 2nd layer and saving the first layer for our 1st anniversary. In German tradition, the 1st layer is eaten first.

The wedding table, (l. to r.), Tante Ali, Rainer, Father Bill and Candy Houghton, Grandmother Lydia, and my dad Robert.

During the party, there is a 'segment' where games are played and poems can be read. Our friends and family came up with some great games. This one, above, we had a cooking contest: i had to cook a German dish (with stovetop), and Eva had to make an American dish (Hamburger) with a microwave. At the end, there was a panel of judges to determine who was the best cook.

Of course, the outcome was fixed and Eva won.

Not too sure what Joel is thinking about, but I love the pic.
Eva's parents.
Eva's mom and Lea.
Katja and Mareike.

The 'Ischen' posing for the camera.
As earlier mentioned, my dad doesn't smile for pictures. This is the second known picture of my dad smiling. This almost doesn't count because we didn't tell him we were taking the picture.

Needless to say, my parents also had a great time, and it was great to see them dancing, laughing, and having a great time.

Unfortunately, there was some bad news that followed our wedding Tanta Inge had been ill for quite some time and was in quite some pain even during the wedding.

However, in what I would call typical of the family that I married into, she and Uncle Charlie celebrated with the best of them, had a great time, and were always smiling. Uncle Charlie even apologized for leaving so early (somewhere between 1 and 2am nonetheless).

I believe this is the last picture of Tanta Inge before she passed away 7 weeks later, and one of my favorites.

My mother, my grandmother, and Candy Houghton. For me and Eva, it was a special honor to have my grandmother at our wedding. Growing up, my grandmother and I had spent countless hours talking about all sorts of things, and she had a very unique way of really understanding your position and giving advice without 'preaching'.

My grandmother Lydia was off and on sick the months prior to the wedding and thankfully was healthy enough to make the long flight. The family very much rallied behind her trip and supported here every step of the way.

I'm particularly thankful for the extended family and friends for making her feel so welcome.

I think it is a true mark of her 'being' that she was able to make such an impression on so many people at our wedding in such a short time. So many people came to us during the wedding and the party and just said that my grandmother was 'so cool!'.

My grandmother passed away a few months after the wedding.

Eva and Jo (not to be confused with any of the American guests). Yes, Jo is Canadian.

Kerstin, Heinz, Rene, and Tanja.

The bridesmades posing for the camera.

Suzi is really a master of all disguises. Earlier, you saw her with her Jennifer Anniston look. Here, Suzi is incognito as a Turkish peasant.

Moritz making sure that no one was without something to drink.

(Technically, this picture happened before the wedding during the 'rehersal dessert'), but I thought it fit best here.

Klopfentanz. I have to put on house slippers, put on a sleeping cap, have a block of wood tied to my ankle, and have a pipe in hand. Eva has a baby and an apron. This is one of the traditional wedding dances of the region.

I don't know who took this picture, but we appreciate it tremendously! Captured during the 'throwing of the bouquet', the bouquet is actually still in the air.

Also note the stark contrast of girls that are fully prepared with their hands up and those girls that have their hands down.

Every good wedding and party must come to an end. Christina had the idea to light some candles and to have everyone get in a circle, hand in hand.

It was a great end to a great wedding and an awesome party - something that we will never forget. There are too many good memories to post them all - they will have to remain in our hearts. We thank everyone again for sharing this great event with us.

'Bridge over Troubled Water' was played as we were all hand in hand, together, in this candlelit room, and is a very near and dear song for both of us.