Thursday, September 29, 2011

Boarding the Seaplane after our Wedding!


Looking Out from the Bridge on Fourth Lake and Alger Island

As Scott says, "Fourth Lake: Timeless." We had perfect weather.
Photo Credit: Scott LaGreca

The Girls Get their Feet Wet on the Dock

Stella, Hope, Campbell and Anne enjoy the view fron the Dock.
Photo Credit: Scott LaGreca

Florence and Family Pose for the Camera

Joel, Hope, Florence and Campbell
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

All Smiles Before Flower Girl Duties Begin

Anne MacDonald, one of our flower girls and daughter of our dear friends Bryce and Jennifer.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

Here we Go! Mark and the Judge Walk Out to the Ceremony

Judge Bernadette Clark and Mark walk out to the garden for the ceremony.
Photo Credit: Scott LaGreca

Mark, Anthony and Audrey with the Ketubah

Mark, Anthony and Audrey display the signed Ketubah.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

Walking Down the "Aisle" in the Garden

The grooms and parents escorted by Flower Girls Hope and Campbell.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

The Burstein Family Portrait at our Wedding

Robert, Florence, Mark, and Proud Parents Margie and Alan.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

Joking with Aunt Didi at the Wedding Reception

Our Aunt Didi and Uncle Jimmy surprised us by coming to the wedding from Detroit.  They had to endure a night at a lovely hotel in Utica, but they made it! Didi and I share a funny moment as we taste the wedding cake.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

The Three Musketeers: Campbell, Lydia and Hope

Our nieces Campbell Levy, Lydia Burstein and Hope Levy, get ready for the wedding.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

Florence's Toast - "Love Each Other or Perish"

I am so honored to be a part of this momentous occasion, where Mark and Anthony can finally be recognized as equal, loving, LEGAL spouses. I know that everyone in this select group feels the same way when we say -- it’s about time!

I’ll never forget when Mark called me to tell me he got a new puppy, Miss Audrey, with his new boyfriend.  I hadn’t met Anthony yet and wasn’t convinced it was the most sensible thing at the time.   But here we are 14 years later – all three family members are still here.

I am not sure if you are aware, but much planning was crammed into this 5 week pre-wedding period. With Mark and Anthony in charge, no one is surprised that this is such a beautiful event.  Take a look around – do you notice anything different?  That’s correct – I don’t either. However, Mark and Anthony had the forest raked, pruned and cleaned for you. They even had twigs moved from the side of the driveway into the enchanted forest.  Stairs painted, sand hauled in.  No detail was left unnoticed for this event.  

It’s no surprise, however, as Mark was always a task master – I’ll never forget when we were kids and he forced me to rehearse hours on end in our “dance studio” basement, awaiting our debut on Dance Fever or Solid Gold. I actually think I can attribute my dance career to my humble beginnings as a student of the Mark Burstein School of Dance.  Which then, of course, morphed into the Mark Burstein School of Billie Jean and Beat It.  No one can compete.

You may or may not be aware, but this is actually Mark’s second happiest day of his life.  The first being the release of Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album, Thriller, in November of 1982.  In fact, Mark and Anthony’s first fight as an engaged couple was whether or not their first dance was going to be to Man in the Mirror, or at Anthony’s preference, something by Mozart.
 
I’ll also never forget when Mark finally convinced Anthony to come to Old Forge for the first time.  We joked that Anthony had MDD -- also known as Manhattan Dissociative Disorder.  We were worried that he would be just slightly too far away from the amenities of New York City that he might actually go insane. No bright lights, no food delivery, no smelly garbage, no beeping horns…what is a person to do?  While it did take time, Anthony grew to love this place just like a Burstein, and how special it is today that they are choosing to make their union official here, in Anthony’s Secret Garden.
 
I am so excited for my brothers today. And I want to thank them for planning this wedding around our trip back east.  I know that their love is everlasting, built upon years of trust and companionship.   I love them both very much and only want the absolute best for them. 

And today, I raise a glass and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. 

Before I close with a passage, I want to remind you to stop at the favor basket on your way out – everyone will be receiving a single white sequined glove! Don’t leave home without it!

In closing, I wanted to read an excerpt from a book – and this has extra special meaning because I know how much this book means to my dad – it’s from Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom:

“Still,” Morrie said, “there are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage: If you don’t respect the other person, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble. If you don’t know how to compromise, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble. If you can’t talk openly about what goes on between you, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble. And if you don’t have a common set of values in life, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble. Your values must be alike."

“And the biggest one of those values, Mitch?”

Yes?

“Your belief in the importance of your marriage.”

He sniffed, then closed his eyes for a moment.

“Personally,” he sighed, his eyes still closed, “I think marriage is a very important thing to do, and you’re missing a lot if you don’t try it.”

He ended the subject by quoting a poem he believed in like a prayer: “Love each other or perish.”

***

We love you, Florence.

Relaxing on the Dock After the Reception

Florence and Mark on the dock.
Photo Credit: Scott LaGreca

Adirondack Wedding - The Setting and Rings

Flowers by Mountain Greenery, Old Forge.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com
The ring pillow made by our friend Jennifer MacDonald with the wedding rings.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

Up, Up and Away Over Fourth Lake! An Adirondack Twist for the Departing Grooms

Anthony and I - up, up and away over Fourth Lake! My parents surprised us with a seaplane ride after the party.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

The Siblings Together at Penwood

Robert, Florence and I celebrate together.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

Surprise! We're About to Take a Seaplane Ride into the Sunset!

Surprise! We watch the seaplane approach the dock to take us into the sunset.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Adirondack Royalty Celebrating at Penwood

Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com
Sarah Cohen, Anthony and Linda Cohen at the wedding reception. Sarah and Linda are dear friends and made history with us.

Celebrating my Parents on the Last of the Children to Marry - Me!

The children and I dance around my parents to celebrate the last of their children to be married - me!
Jeremy Segaul and his grandmother, Susie Segaul, join in the festivities.
Photo credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

The Wedding Cake, Designed by Anthony

Wedding cake with fondant by Pascale.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

With Our Faithful Camp Companion, Zoe

Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

Just Married: In the Seaplane After the Reception

Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

Married at Last - After 14 Years of Planning!

Finally married!  Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com

The Ketubah: the Jewish Marriage Contract

The Ketubah, the Jewish wedding contract.  Photo Credit:
Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com

Having Fun at the Adirondack Boys Wedding

Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com
My sister Florence and I play around after the ceremony on the porch. I was teasing Florence, as usual, and our wonderful friend and photographer, Ann-Marie Vannucci caught the moment.  Visit Ann's website at www.amvphotography.com.

An Adirondack Wedding: The Flower Girls

Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography
www.amvphotography.com
Our twin nieces, Campbell and Hope, with my sister Florence get ready for the wedding ceremony.  The girls are dressed in floral J. Crew dresses and carried small adirondack pack baskets filled with lavender rose petals.  Florence delivered the toast of the day in honor of the grooms.

The Adirondack Boys' Adirondack Wedding

The Honorable Bernadette Clark officiates at our ceremony, held at Penwood on August 5, 2011.
Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Vannucci, AMV Photography, www.amvphotography.com