Chad & Jennifer's Wedding, April 2004
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The Happy Groom & Friends
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Chad and I have found ourselves sharing many of the same geographic locations over the past decade – undergraduate college at the University of Pennsylvania, summer internships in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, and finally our current respective working careers in Houston Texas.  It seems quite the coincidence in retrospect, and we now share many of the same friends as a result.  Cecilia and I were married in September 2003, and therefore claimed selfish benefits to Chad and Jennifer’s wedding which occurred only seven months later in April 2004, as an opportunity to re-unite with much of my own wedding invitation list!

The wedding weekend started on Thursday night at a bar called Gingerman, within walking distance of Chad and Jennifer's house on the campus of Rice University.  Some of our Penn friends had not seen each other since graduation in 1994, so it was a good time to catch up on the events of the past nine years.  A few images from Thursday night:
 
Bullard, Finkel, and Ramos
Ur & Heather, possessed by the wedding weekend spirit

Friday continued with an afternoon BBQ at the Pin Oak Park pool with most of the Penn and Houston friends.  Cecilia and I left everyone enjoying daiquiris at the pool, for the rehearsal dinner with Chad and Jennifer's close family at the Post Oak Grill.  We then met up with the rest of the group at Volcano Room, another Rice University bar.   A few images from Friday:
 
Ramos exposing his culinary skills
Alex, Cecilia, and Chris
The arm-wrestling contenders
Pass the hat around (see picture to the left)

Saturday morning was highlighted by bloody marys and mimosas at Chad & Jennifer's house, in preparation for the big event later that afternoon.  Jennifer was not present for the gathering, as she was having her hair done along with the rest of the bridesmaid crew.  Our plan was to leave for the hotel with Chad just before Jennifer's return to the house at noon, so that Chad would not see Jennifer prior the ceremony.  As we were preparing to leave,  Bullard discovered that he had locked his keys in his car which was blocking Chad's car in the driveway.  As two groups of people frantically struggled to open various doors of the car, it seemed that we might need to consider more drastic options, such as a tow truck.  But with only minutes remaining until Jennifer’s scheduled return, I managed to hook the driver side lock with a coat hanger, and we were off in a flash.  The wedding ceremony took place in the West University Baptist Church, a modern structure that had even recently been equipped with WiFi throughout all buildings.  It was quite amusing the see the pastor checking his financial portfolio just before the rehearsal event the previous Friday afternoon.  The wedding itself went off perfectly, thanks to the cool and casual demeanor of the pastor, who kept our group well relaxed until the big moment on stage.  A few images from the day:

Bloody mary & Starbucks, a special morning treat

 The race against the clock
The Penn crowd
Bullard, Heather, Ur, and Christina
Real men wear red shirts
Why are these guys smiling so suspiciously?

Following the ceremony we proceeded directly to the Marriot hotel for the reception.  My most memorable moments of the night included being announced in the wedding party without my date at my side (Cecilia was still coming down from pre-partying in an upstairs room), watching Chak's fabulous dance moves, and a late-night cannonball into the pool with Ramos and I still wearing our full tuxedos.  Good thing it was a rental.  At the end of the night we adjourned to one of the upstairs hotel rooms, and hung out until fatigue finally overcame our desire to party all night.  Images from the wedding and reception:
 
Happily married couple
The first dance
Cheers from the Penn guys
Cecilia, Chris, Vic
Cannonballs into the Marriot pool
Late night in the Marriot

  As I now finish this website in mid-2005 (yes I know I am late), Chad and Jennifer are now expecting their first child!  Baby pictures will likely follow soon :).
 

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