Danielle & Andy had a destination wedding in Los Alamos, CA. This is an old California town that began as a stagecoach stop in the 19th century.
The 1880 Union Hotel - the actual stage stop - is currently only available as a wedding venue. On the first floor is a large area for indoor gatherings and next door a full-on western saloon. Upstairs are several hotel rooms - usually reserved for wedding party members - and spaces used for dressing, makeup and other wedding necessities. Weddings and suppers are generally held on the outside grounds around the hotel.
Festivities started Friday evening with the wedding rehearsal and dinner, continued Saturday with morning preparation by the wedding party and the wedding in the afternoon. The reception dinner and party took over the evening. Sunday morning everyone got ready slowly and - those who didn't have to leave right away - met for brunch at the Plenty Coffee Shop, a block away from the hotel.
Just in case it got too hot, 'Willie' and 'Dani&Andy' fans were provided for all those who wanted them.
Here is a view of the side yard where the wedding was set up.
Below is the wedding setup in the morning before everyone arrived.
Wedding Preparation
Danielle and Patty are in the bridesmaids preparation room. Danielle first got her hair done by Mel, then Mike made sure the makeup was perfect for her special day.
Danielle's wedding dress, in her room and ready for her to put it on. Danielle, now completely ready, with her mom adding a necklace as the finishing touch.
The bridesmaids have a couple of places to wait. First in the central sitting area, before they start preparation, are Jennifer & Lillian along with Lauren & MJ.
In the room used between preparations, Patty & MJ are checking themselves out while Jenny Hoops & Lillian are taking a 'selfie' between makeup sessions.
Finally, here are all the bridesmaids and Flower Brian just before they get dressed. Danielle is shown completely ready for her special day.
Patty is shown with Danielle's cousin Rhiannon, who is also the Officiate of the wedding.
Andy, getting help with his tie - everything has to be perfect.
Andy and the groomsmen, in the saloon next door - no drinks were served before the ceremony.
At every wedding there is always something that needs just a little adjustment. Here we see Andy making sure Danielle looks perfect.
Wedding Ceremony
The 1st two pictures weren't taken until after the ceremony, but they belong here in the presentation, so that's what we did.
We see the Bride and Groom with the Officiate - Rhiannon...
...then the in-laws, John & Brenda and Patty & Craig.
We also see each of the in-laws walking down the aisle to their front row seats.
Here is 'Flower Brian', entering ahead of 'little D', to start off the bridesmaids. Brian is Danielle's boss and a good friend.
The ceremony itself included both Andy and Danielle coming down the aisle together. Officiated by Danielle's cousin Rhiannon, the setting was beautiful, and fun.
The day cooperated perfectly for this simple ceremony.
Danielle & Andy kissed at its completion...
...and took their first walk as a married couple.
As they started to walk through the attendees, Flower Brian leaped on the stage and shouted, 'Let's have a parade'. Then the bride and groom turned around and walked back through the gazebo, out to the street, and started to parade around town.
The Parade
The parade turned right at the hotel entrance and circled around the city block clockwise. Andy and Dani, just after they left the hotel - then the bridal party as they turned left across the street, making as much noise as possible with whistles and noisemakers handed out as the parade started.
Traveling up the street, we see the in-laws, then the bridesmaids as they all spread joy across the afternoon.
Returning to the 1880 Union Hotel, we see Flower Brian leading the parade through the final stretch. The 'post wedding' celebration is in sight.
After Wedding Celebration & Dinner
The ground floor of the hotel was large enough to hold all the wedding party.
The drink menu is shown and first we see Eve & Neil - Craig's brother and sister-in-law - with Patty.
Also shown are Jennifer & Job with Mike - close friend of Dani and her hairdresser.
Here we see Patty, with her dear friends Vanessa and Ellen, along with her sister-in-law Eve.
Along the stairwell leading to the hotel's 2nd floor, we see Dani's step-brother CJ, with Olivia and Caleb.
Below is Kaycee and her husband Jeff.
As everyone filtered out to the tables set up for dinner, Danielle announced that the bridesmaids were doing some presentations.
Kaycee was certainly the most flamboyant and professional of all the bridal party who had something to say after the ceremony. In the middle of her act she scrambled under the main table, changed clothes, and reappeared to do a tap-dance routine, bringing down the house.
The food was varied enough to suit every palate.
Here Andy & Dani are digging in - along with those of us at table #2.
This was a buffet and this picture shows what one of us felt looked looked pretty - but not sure it is enough for me. At least a buffet means we can all go back for more.
The meal ended with a desert table, of McConnell's Fine Ice Creams and brownies
Andy and Dani certainly had fun.
The Party
As you can see, the party was quite a wild scene.
Andy and Danielle danced well into the night. Danielle even was shaking a bit with her nephew Caleb - sort of.
Andy and Kaycee sort of reprised her dancing act. Yes, the hula hoop was part of what she did earlier.
Craig & Patty were also seen dancing a bit.
Job & Jennifer obviously enjoyed themselves and laughed at 'selfies' they took with the bride.
A limited number of tequila 'kill shots' were available and CJ certainly took full advantage - no driving was needed.
John & Brenda looked pretty exhausted by the end of the evening. Their son apparently married into quite the partying family.
Next Day
Patty, Craig and Ellen stayed in the Skyview Motel, just on the other side of route 5 - overlooking Los Alamos. Here is the room Patty & Craig stayed in.
Patty and Ellen had breakfast in the cafeteria, then changed and wandered out by the pool to relax before checkout and lunch with a number of the remaining wedding attendees.
One of the employees - who also worked 1880 Union Hotel weddings - commented that this weekend's wedding was one of the very best she had worked over the last several years. Everyone was relaxed, friendly and had so much fun.
We met at the Plenty Coffee Shop for lunch on Sunday. A number of people were still around and a pleasant lunch and series of goodbyes concluded the festivities.
Of course Andy and Dani were there, but most of this morning's pictures didn't come out. Fortunately we got one of Lauren and MJ.
Patty - with her 'Mother of the Bride' tee shirt had one final goodbye for her daughter before Andy & Dani headed to Santa Barbara for several days.
Craig, Patty, and Ellen drove to Solvang before heading home. In Solvang, Patty and Ellen stopped at one of the few gramophone antique shops in the U.S. and this is a sample of what they found.
This was a fabulous wedding weekend and here's to the bride and groom!
