My sister’s wedding reception, May 2006, A tangled braid of life and technology

After the wedding, M and P rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the reception in the Shakespeare hotel in Vilnius Old Town. M’s and my parents and P’s stepfather were waiting for the at the door.

pic_195 The newlyweds arrive at the Shakespeare hotel

Arriving at the Shakespeare hotel in Vilnius Old Town, M steps down from the carriage.

P’s mom is befriending the friendly horse that pulled the carriage

The horse from the horse-drawn carriage is friendly — pic_201 P’s mom is befriending the friendly horse from the horse-drawn carriage

P, the groom, with the glass of champagne at the reception

P with the glass of champagne — pic_255 P, the groom, with the glass of champagne at the reception

P holds up something that looks like a giant pale egg that he and M received as a wedding present. I have no idea what that is. It looks like a balloon, but with some stuff in it. Perhaps the present is inside, and the balloon is an unconventional gift wrapper?

pic_273 A giant pale egg as a wedding present

M receives a wedding present

My and M’s mom and dad give a speech

Mom and dad give a speech at the wedding reception — pic_306 Mom and dad give a speech

My and M’s mom and dad give a speech. Next to M and P is one of their witnesses, P’s friend E. On the left is my brother’s son J. Behind the couch is, I think, a friend of M’s who she used to date.

A Vilnius Old Town street, seen from the balcony of the Shakespeare hotel

Roofs of Vilnius Old Town, glistening in the rain — pic_309 A Vilnius Old Town street, seen from the balcony of the Shakespeare hotel

The Shakespeare hotel staff brings in the wedding cake and sets it on a table next to other beautiful desserts.

M and P are about to cut the cake. A line of people queue up to be the first ones to get a slice. At the head of the line is my brother’s son J, and that’s me behind him. Well, my excuse for being near the head of the line is that I took pictures. Of course. I would never be the one elbowing my way to the cake, not me. Ahem.

P and M with cake

My brother, his wife, their oldest son, and our dad

CIMG2560 My brother, his wife, oldest son, and our dad

One of the two M and P’s wedding witnesses, P’s friend E, is making a speech.

CIMG2567 P’s friend E makes a speech at M and P wedding reception

M’s friend’s L’s daughter A is pinching M’s cheeks

CIMG2587 M at the reception with the little A

P’s mother is giving a speech. To the right of her is P’s friend E who was a witness at the wedding, and P’s stepfather.

pic_494 Mother of the groom is giving a speech

My brother’s sons J (left) and D got a hold of a microphone

CIMG2643 The nephews got a hold of a microphone

After leaving their wedding reception, M and P headed to Trakai, where they took a sunset boat cruise on a lake. This picture might have been taken by one of their friends who arranged the cruise.

The lake cruise included a romantic dinner for two. I’m not sure who took this picture — maybe the boat captain?

A wedding dinner on a boat — pic_520 M and P’s wedding dinner on a boat