* Chris, Travelling Rubber Glove Salesman and Eric, UI Designer * Photographer: Ashley Batz * Soundtrack for reading: “End of the World” by Matt Alber *
One sentence sum up of the wedding vibe: The perfect blend of family, friends, bagpipes, love, and cake.
The Info—Photography: Ashley Batz (APW Vendor) / Coordinator: Lowe House Events (APW Sponsor) / Venue: Russian River Vineyards / Band: Lori Carsillo Quintet / Piper: Fred Payne / Cake: Fleur de Lisa Bakery / Formal Wear: William Glen and Son / Custom Medals: Steamtech
Other cool stuff we should know about: Neither of us are what we would have considered “wedding people.” If it were legal, we probably would have taken a couple friends down to City Hall and gotten hitched. Because we couldn’t, (boo!) it became really important to us to build an event around our marriage in order to make it seem “real.” We’re still looking forward to making it legal, but we were both really surprised at how much we loved having a wedding. We were unprepared for the amount of love and affection that our friends and family poured on us that day. It was pretty much the funnest day.
Also, I have to mention our awesome vendors. Actually, it feels weird to call them “vendors.” During the planning, we referred to them as our “Hot Chick Army,” now we just consider them our friends. You should totally get vendors like that.
Favorite thing about the wedding: Um, like, a million things. The planning was really fun, our piper was awesome, tons of people showed up in kilts, our band was great (have you ever heard a smooth jazz version of “Rock the Boat”? No? That’s very sad). And there was so much love floating around. If you ever wonder how many people love you and how much, have a wedding. You’ll know.
This post includes Sponsors, who are a key part of supporting APW. For more information, see our Directory page for Lowe House Events.
This post includes members of the APW Vendor Directory. For more information, see our Directory page for Ashley Batz Photography.
Oh, I just love this so much. I have goosebumps, even, and I’m not even cold. The picture of both of your rings seems especially beautiful to me.
October 24, 2012 9:35 am
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I love everything about this post! The commentary made me laugh, the kilts are great, the paper cranes and rings and cake and facial expressions … All in all, just wonderful.
Congrats to Chris and Eric!
October 24, 2012 9:37 am
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The cranes! And the dancing in kilts! And the Hot Chick Army. That’s an army I could like.
October 24, 2012 9:43 am
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Yay! The happiness and love comes through so strongly here!
October 24, 2012 9:41 am
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I just love this wedding! So much happiness is coming through these photos. And all the kilts!!
October 24, 2012 9:50 am
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that last phrase? “If you ever wonder how many people love you and how much, have a wedding. You’ll know.” I LOVE IT. SO TRUE.
October 24, 2012 9:50 am
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So. Awesome. And the tartan cake?!? Love love love.
October 24, 2012 10:06 am
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I am a teacher and have a student who has come out and is very comfortable recognizing that she is gay, but struggles to realize that she can still have the loving relationship she always pictured. She is doing a research paper on gay rights and keeps stumbling on hate sights that tell her just mean ignorant things. I sent her this link to show her the other side.
I literally squealed at some of these pictures. The love just oozing out of my computer right now has made my whole day.
Best of wishes, and thank you thank you thank you for sharing
October 24, 2012 10:11 am
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lots of love to your student, and props to you for encouraging her :) we should all have someone like you in our lives to help us realize that we can have whatever we dream of (and set our minds to, and work for…)
October 24, 2012 7:16 pm
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Now I want to hear a smooth jazz version of Rock the Boat!
October 24, 2012 10:15 am
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uhmmm…can I hear a smooth jazz version of “Rock the Boat”? Is it recorded anywhere? I need to hear it!
October 24, 2012 10:26 am
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Such a beautiful wedding! Congratulations! :)
October 24, 2012 10:27 am
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Squee. So. Much. Handsomeness. And. Happiness. Kudos to Chris & Eric for bringing & sharing the love. Kudos to Ashley for capturing it in every frickn photo.
October 24, 2012 10:41 am
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I love this! I can seriously feel the love emanating from each of these photos, and everyone looks so happy. I loved this:
“If you ever wonder how many people love you and how much, have a wedding. You’ll know.”
Congrats, Chris and Eric!
October 24, 2012 10:48 am
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This is quite possibly the greatest thing ever.
October 24, 2012 10:58 am
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Totally made my morning. I don’t think it’s possible to have a bad day after seeing smiles like those. :)
October 24, 2012 11:03 am
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hell yes, y’all.
October 24, 2012 11:34 am
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The kilts! THE KILTS! You guys are fantastic. Congratulations!
October 24, 2012 11:43 am
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Had me at kilts! I want to give you both a huge hug for sharing this awesomeness with all of us. Also-that cake is the coolest cake ever!
October 24, 2012 12:15 pm
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Um. Say what?! Love! <3 So much love! <3 When does the awesomeness stop?!
October 24, 2012 12:27 pm
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oh my goodness…men in kilts at weddings is one of my favorite thing, so to see two men in kilts and SO MUCH LOVE, my heart filleth over! So much love. Thank you for sharing and congrats!
October 24, 2012 12:28 pm
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Thank you, everyone for the kind words. Sadly, like lightning in a bottle, the smooth jazz version of “Rock the Boat” has never been captured. But, because I like you people, I will tell the story of why it ever came to be. Get comfy.
When I was a young haggis, my brother and I had to go to day camp during the summer, mostly to keep us from killing each other or setting things on fire. One year, the day camp we ended up in was staffed mostly by these super fierce black girls from East Palo Alto. A good part of each afternoon was spent having a Soul Train style dance party. One of the dances that I learned was the Rock the Boat. Actually, it was pretty much the only dance I learned. Ever.
Cut to many years later, when we decided to take dance lessons for the wedding. In an off-the-cuff comment, Eric says to me, “Now that you know how to foxtrot, you’ll never have to rock the boat again.” To paraphrase David Carradine in “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” I was in….consolable. How could I not rock the boat? It was, and will always be, my jam. So I called up Lori Carsillo, Girl Singer, and said, “Lori, I must rock the boat.”
My friends, the boat was rocked.
October 24, 2012 12:30 pm
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Ahhhhhhhh I want to be your real life friend!
October 24, 2012 1:15 pm
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I also want to have attended this wedding because it looks so incredibly amazing— exactly what it should be- a day of love and un-containable joy!
October 25, 2012 6:11 am
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Ok, now you have to write a wedding grad returns post someday! You writing even just in this comment, is brilliant.
October 24, 2012 1:23 pm
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I will never get to hear that version, perhaps, but having the opportunity to read the screenname “Spicy McHaggis” completely makes up for it. Just sayin’.
October 24, 2012 1:28 pm
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Oh, please keep posting here, your voice would truly add to the site. Thanks for the wedding post, that made my day and I’m sending it to my friend who I hope to see marrying very soon. Everybody say your prayers, or whatever it is you do, for Referendum 74.
October 24, 2012 3:42 pm
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Never rock the boat again? Sacrilege! I’m glad you got to work it out.
October 24, 2012 8:35 pm
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Oh! I love this. It made me a little teary eyed. I understand what you mean about needing to structure a wedding as an important event in lieu of legality– we did the same thing. Congratulations!
October 24, 2012 1:23 pm
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I love every single thing about this!
October 24, 2012 1:36 pm
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This post put the biggest smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your beautiful day!!
October 24, 2012 1:55 pm
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Two handsome fellas in love – wonderful! (Also, a three cheers for APW for attracting a post from two men who married – still so rarely seen in the wedding world!)
October 24, 2012 2:00 pm
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You guys are awesome, and love the last line. Congratulations!!
October 24, 2012 3:29 pm
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Beautiful! I am a huge fan of kilts, cranes, and happy people. I love the photography here, too – it really captures your awesomeness vibes!
October 24, 2012 3:35 pm
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These are some of the sweetest wedding photos I’ve ever seen. What an adorable couple. I hope our wedding is captured half as beautifully.
October 24, 2012 4:39 pm
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Such a gorgeous, happy love filled wedding! It looks like you two had an amazing day.
I can’t get over how awesome the kilts are. And all your different tartans!
October 24, 2012 5:23 pm
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I love this wedding! You look so genuinely happy and excited. Thanks for sharing.
And the kilts rock!
October 24, 2012 7:40 pm
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This is pretty much my favorite wedding that I have ever seen on this or any wedding site. Thank you so much for sharing! My fiance and I just sat and “awwwwed” over your pictures. You guys are the cutest couple ever!
October 24, 2012 8:28 pm
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I’m obsessed with the cake eating picture. Your expressions are amazing!
October 24, 2012 11:10 pm
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Two guys. Finally!
Love this wedding. Love, love, love all the different kilts! You two look like fun.
What a beautiful venue. Where is it?
October 25, 2012 12:25 am
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Congratulations Chris & Eric, wishing you much happiness in your lives together. The love evident in these photos is incredibly uplifting, thank you for sharing!
October 25, 2012 1:33 am
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Dammit, when I saw this I was so hoping this wedding was in Scotland! Even still, it’s spectacular. What love.
October 25, 2012 2:43 am
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Ah so lovely and love filled! I love the smiles on everyone’s faces!!
October 25, 2012 5:28 am
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This made me tear up, just because it’s lovely and happy and yes.
October 25, 2012 7:20 am
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I LOVE THIS. Can one (or both!) of you write a grad post please? I’d love to hear more :)
Congrats and yay happy weddings!
October 25, 2012 6:05 pm
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[...] First up is a delightful wedding of two handsome Scotsmen in kilts named Chris and Eric, featured on A Practical Wedding. [...]
October 26, 2012 9:30 am
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It seemed like a pretty perfect day… and boy, these kilts!!!!
October 28, 2012 3:50 am
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You two are ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! So handsome in your kilts!!! I wish I could get giant bear hugs from both of you!!! xoxoxxo
October 31, 2012 8:35 am
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Absolutely love your wedding pix! Looks like it was a wonderful day and clearly, everyone there was celebrating and sharing in the love. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the kilts!!! And if you want to “make it legal”….come on out to Connecticut – we are a progressive state and we believe in marriage equality (and we have some beautiful spots for you to renew your vows AND get your marriage certificate!!) Best wishes to you both for a long and happy life together!
November 2, 2012 7:41 pm
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