Remember, I wasn’t the photographer for the wedding and made a conscious decision to put my camera away so I could truly be in the moment. That being said, this was probably a dream to photograph because everything was really beautiful and the lighting was perfect for the entire day. So, here’s just a few of the pictures I have…if you want more, you’ll have to wait for Natalie Baumgardner to finish up.
Family Musings
Putting the "Big" in Big Fun: Part I
I am the sole creator of the nickname BIG FUN, aka the Kelly Borchers/Tim Norris wedding that just took place this weekend. September 20, 2008 will go down as BIG FUN: The Night to Remember.
Nick and I left Cleveland Wednesday night after work and didn’t arrive until after midnight. Although tired from the long drive, we still couldn’t help but make comments. “Why is the road closed?”
“Looks like they’re doing road construction.”
Mhm, that doesn’t sound like a good start for a wedding weekend with lots of out of towners.
As the car bumped along and we passed my favorite street – marveling, once again, at Borchers Road – we turned to find most of the Russian roads ripped up along one side and enormous bulldozers and machinery scattered rather obviously around town.
First thought: Ouch. That doesn’t make a pretty wedding picture. I bet Ron and Kay are pissed. Don’t the construction people know it’s Big Fun weekend?
Wednesday Night
Hugs all around as we enter the house and Russia’s long lost one-time seminarian son has returned. It’s always nice to see Nick light up when we enter Raider-ville. No matter how tired he is in the car, once he walks through the garage that connects to the kitchen, he’s completely reenergized to be near his family.
So, the first night, Kelly, the lovely bride to be, Nick, Ron, Kay and I just talk about the impending nuptuals and all the craziness that goes on the few days prior to the wedding. The next day we would be decorating St. Remy Hall, home of Big Fun dinner and dancing (commonly known as a reception). We hit the hay and I wondered what exactly the Borchers house would look like under such a big event. The questions were endless:
Would Kelly survive all the questions? (It’s a researched fact that brides answer approximately 1,000,000 -yes one million – questions in the timeframe of the engagement.)
Is there enough Crown Royal?
Will the bulldozers get out of the way?
Should I refrigerate the Red Bull now or Friday night?
Will it really be 80 degrees on Saturday?
Thursday
The next morning, I went for a long run around town. My new goal is to run a road race before I turn 30 (ahem, 2.27.09) and the lovely slightly manure-ed air of the countryside provided a nice backdrop to my jog. When I returned, I found Kay and Kelly – already having conquered the florist appointment – ready to head up to the hall. I quickly changed and followed suit, running two minutes behind.
I walked two feet into the hall, hoping I wasn’t too late and found about 20 excited family members and friends generously volunteering to help decorate the tables. Nick spotted me and whispered into my ear, “Totally predictable, Kelly and Aunt Jan are already crying. Watch out…”
A quick laugh was needed as we all went to work with ribbon, linens, dishware, caramel popcorn (par-tay favors!) and votive candles. The highlight was definitely flicking up the wick of over a couple hundred votive candles with a tack. Ahhh, the manual labor of wedding prep. As we folded the napkins, i laughed and caught up with friends and family. It NEVER ceases to amaze me how generous Nick’s family and friends are with their time and resources. All these folks here to set up chairs, tables, cover them, plan routes, hang clothes, wipe something until it shines – for free – is truly remarkable. Nick often says, “Yep, that’s Russia.”
As the hours pass and more questions surface, I begin having memories (traumatic ones) of my own wedding planning and remember the anxiety of wondering whether the food will satisfy everyone, if the plates look right, if the flowers are the right color. Weddings are unbelievably stressful, but in Borchers-style, they handled it unbelievably smoothly. Ron has lists, Kay has tears, Kelly is direct, Nick is sweating, Jay is still at work, Keith is leaving voicemail messages that he’s on his way, and I am smiling with candle wax debris on my face.
The hall is done by 3pm-ish. Not bad.
The Cordonnier Tears
Getting to know Nick’s family has been a blessing from the start. They’ve always welcomed me and made me feel so loved at every gathering, party, and celebration. After getting to know the two sides – Borchers and Cordonniers – I can now clearly see the differences in each and see how they influence Nick to be the man he has grown to be.
I thought that since they are his side of the family, the influence would stop with Nick. I am beginning to think I am wrong.
The Cordonniers, Nick’s maternal side, shed some serious tears at emotional times. The first time Nick cried in front of me was back in 1998 when we were just good friends and hanging out. This was before I fell in love with him and thought he was a normal guy. We went to go see The Sixth Sense at the movie theater and while I was definitely emotional at the end, I couldn’t believe Nick’s reaction.
After you find out that Bruce Willis is really a ghost and departs from the love of his life, I got a bit choked up but it was contained. I sighed and grabbed my purse to get ready to head out. I looked to my right and saw Nick staring at the credits rolling, completely still. “Uh, are you alright?”
“I’m just really shocked by that movie.”
I agreed, “I know, it was intense.”
It took me a while to see through the dim lighting, but there he was – crying in a Norwood theater over a M. Night Shyamalan movie. I didn’t say anything, but the shock of this guy crying next to me was more shocking than the Bruce Willis/ghost revelation.
We were quiet until I brought it up in the car. Remember, this was before we were dating, I couldn’t really insult him by asking what in the world was wrong with him crying manly tears while I was completely dry eyed.
“Were you crying?” Nice subtle question.
“Yeah, it just runs in my family. My mom’s side of the family cries at everything. It doesn’t even have to be a big event. One time, Grandpa even cried during a basketball game in the Russia gym.”
“Why?” I was incredulous.
“Because, it was an emotional moment!”
“Oh, I see.”
But, that’s the thing – I didn’t see. Not until now anyway.
A few months ago, I told Kelly, Nick’s sister, that I would be happy to do a slideshow for the wedding – aka BIG FUN – because I’ve been asked to do so many that it’s not really difficult for me to create one now that I have the software and the right formula to put it together. Over the past few weeks, since I got back from the Philippines, I was pushing Kelly to move forward with it because it’s a nice small momento to watch in the years ahead as Nick and I watch our slideshow the morning of our wedding anniversary. She conceded and sent me several envelopes full of pictures. I asked for photos of Tim and his family and friends and soon began sorting through hundreds of photos that folks had sent me.
Putting a slideshow together is really about detail – detail of getting the pictures in a sensible order, balance of each person, the right music, putting the transitions to tempo, beginning and end fades – so in the end a lovely story is told.
Kelly is the younger sister I always wanted so imagine my surprise when I find myself – not once, not twice, not thrice – but in MULTIPLE crying episodes as I have put the slideshow together. As the final touches are layered on this week, Nick has walked in as I hastily dry my tears and am rolling my eyes at myself. He smiles, “The Cordonniers are starting to rub off of ya, huh?”
Kelly and Tim’s Engagement Slideshow
2008 started off with a bang!
Nick and I were partying like rock stars at the Renaissance Hotel in Columbus, Ohio with Tim, Kelly, Ruthie, Books, and loved ones. At approximately 10pm, Kelly got the surprise of her life!
WHOOP IT UP!
08 – OH GREAT!