i will keep it brief for today. the wedding was wonderful, but the weather didn't cooperate. walking to the ship was crazy. it was very cold and windy on the dock. all week i had been worrying about how hot it was going to be and it was the exact opposite. all the women in their strapless, sleeveless and silk dresses had pulled out their pashmina shawls and sweaters.

the actual ceremony was supposed to be held on the top deck which i am presuming is partially opened. but because of the wind the ceremony was held in the middle deck cabin, which wasn't big enough or set up for a wedding ceremony. it had a bar in the middle of the room and minimal seating. it was really just for the cocktail hour. but you do what you have to do and everything was lovely.

the food was not extravagant and that was ok for me too. there was only fruit, cheese and crackers and pasta at the cocktail hour with the occasional passed hors d'oeuvre platter. needless to say i didn't eat very much then. the reception meal was good, but not great. we started with an iceberg salad with a balsamic dressing and then i selected the salmon entree. it was not very good. several people at my table selected it and were not happy either. I told my sister-in-law, between the dancing and the minimal meal, i was looking forward to dessert and not be worried about calories.

emily (the bride) had 2 cakes. one, the caterer supplied and one she designed with a celebrity baker which we found out cost $4000! i must admit it was delicious, but it wasn't as gorgeous as i expected it to be for that price. i will post a photo of the cake and you be the judge!

i feel good about my food choices yesterday and really stayed within my calories. we had a lot of fun at the wedding despite mother nature's interference. since i am in a wedding mood, i'll leave you this morning with a short excerpt from one of my favorite poems and wish you all a happy saturday:

Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in his hand...

excerpt from the poem Rabbi Ben Ezra by Robert Browning

photo -- in my before picture space, i have put a picture of the cake ($4000?????) and above is a picture of ralph and me at the wedding.