Saturday, June 22, 2019

Hoard - Santek Wedding

We traveled to Berea, Kentucky to attend the wedding of my cousin's son Marty Santek to Abbie Hoard. The great thing about the way we travel is that we were able to arrive early and enjoy all the pre-wedding festivities. We got in on Wednesday and were invited to their home in Berea for a cook-out. It was a great evening getting caught up with family we had not seen in a while. I must be losing it as I failed to take any pictures.
The Santek family: Marty, Missy, Michael, Lily, Amanda, Abbie and Marty in front of the senior Santek's retirement gift to themselves, a 42 foot toy hauler. This was their first long trip and they had a great time as Michael, Amanda and baby Lily stayed with them.
On Thursday we drove to Lexington for dinner and more family time. Here are the MAMAs, Michael, Amanda, Marty, and Abbie. As I said when Mike and Amanda got married in 2017, these boys getting married is a special day for us as my mom and dad watched them from the time they were young babies, so we watched them grow up.
My cousins Missy and Dee Dee with their mom Elsie. It was a fun evening at a neat restaurant, Goodfellas.
On Friday we left Opus in Berea and went to Danville where we checked into a hotel for the weekend. We were invited to the rehearsal dinner, where I again failed to take any pictures. I made up for that at the party back at the hotel that evening. Here are Dee, Missy and my brother Rick.
As you can see a fun time was had by all. 
More happy partiers......
.....who partied hard late into the night.
Even Lily joined in the fun. Even with all the racket she went fast asleep.
The wedding was at the Bluegrass Wedding Barn on a hilltop outside of Danville.
The weather all week had been threatening, but Saturday was a beautiful day for the outdoor ceremony.

The proud parents and grandmother.
As if out of nowhere, the beautiful bride and her father appeared to the sounds of the Immigrant Song by Lead Zeppelin.
Marty and Abbie watch as their fathers tell stories about their children.
The exchanging of the vows.
The mothers gave them each a glass of colored sand......
 
....that they poured together as a symbol of their uniting.
I like this much better than the lighting of a common candle. I have seen candles blow out which cannot be a good sign. 
You may kiss the bride.
The new Mr. and Mrs. Martin Santek.
A Western Pennsylvania wedding tradition, the cookie table. This goes back to a time when newlyweds could not afford a cake so everyone in the family brought cookies. I sure like it better than any cake. Marty's aunt Dee baked over 500 cookies and other relatives made some too.
They still had the more traditional cake.
Aunt Elsie getting down on the dance floor.
Denise, Rick, Abbie, Marty, Nanc and Jim. 
The day ended with the newlyweds celebrating a beautiful Kentucky sunset.
Mr. and Mrs. Marty Santek, proud parents and grandparents with Lily.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Santek with baby Lilly.
The newest Mr. and Mrs. Marty Santek with a sparkling send off.
We had a great weekend at the wedding and wish the bride and groom the best of luck as they start a big new adventure. Next week they are moving from Berea to Las Vegas were Abbie got a job as an athletic trainer with Cirque du Soleil.  We think that is very exciting and sure hope we can pay them a visit.