CK Wedding Celebration

CK Wedding Celebration

When Karen Ocwieja and Chris Baker celebrated their marriage in Steamboat Springs, CO, it was another gorgeous summer day.  Chris’s parents, Graham and Hook Joo, his siblings, Jasmine and Peter, joined Matt’s family, Sue and me for a rehearsal dinner with the new couple at our favorite town eatery, Besame.  It was our first opportunity to meet together and we enjoyed paella home style.

Bakers and Pearson-Ocwiejas at Botanic Garden

The  next morning Karen, Jasmine, Hook and Sue had their hair done at the Orton Ranch, near the ski mountain.  Later in the afternoon, our guests began arriving by shuttle from their various hotels. 

Guests at Priest Creek Chapel

Orton Ranch's Priest Creek Chapel 

Sue must get much of the credit for organizing all five days of activities, including manicures and hairdressing beforehand, the rehearsal dinner, corn hole and tic-tac-toe lawn games for many at the party, a brunch at Brick on Sunday, and a wildflower walk for the Bakers on Monday.  Sue also discovered that the Ortons would make their Ranch available for the CK August 3 celebration date and secured the spacious toilet trailer in Denver as well as the roomy tent in Silverthorne.  She certainly would be the first to acknowledge, though, not only the work of Chris and Karen, but especially of our planner, Lee Calihan.  It was Lee who found Katie who grew the flowers at her farm in Meeker, the wonderful band, and looked after many other details that might have escaped us.  All of this Lee coordinated with Sue, Karen, and Chris.  The party wouldn’t have been possible without her.

At 4 PM on Saturday, Sue and I escorted Karen in her white gown up a gravel path to the wood plank chapel and turned her to face Chris.  At the front steps, flanked by urns of local flowers, the celebrants expressed their mutual vows accompanied by Sophia's violin serenade (including “Waltzing Matilda”).  

Chris and Karen  exchange vows

Matthew honored his sister and brother-in-law with a poem by Robert Frost, 

Matthew at ceremony

Next was a reading by Peter.

Peter at ceremony

Karen's friends, Emerson and Sarah, recited traditional Hebrew blessings and the attending crowd cheered the reaffirmed couple.  

Sarah, Leah and Emerson at ceremony

The happy couple began to  march from the chapel through the standing attendees.

Karen and Chris leave ceremony

 A short walk brought us all into the shade for drinks around the nearby tent.  

Hans and Ernst at Ranch Bar

After each of us picked up our jars of Somerville-made jam, we found our places inside.  Our drinks were poured as Sue thanked everyone for coming.  The bride’s father gave a sentimental toast, the groom’s father gave marital advice, the groom’s sister jokingly rued some of the tough times Chris had given her as she wished smooth relations for the newlyweds, and then Karen’s college housemates, Jojo and Jackie, performed a routine of loving compliments to consign their dear friend to her ultimate life mate.

Trout and steak dinner was prepared by Steamboat’s premier caterer.  Next was the ceremonial cutting of the excellent cake collaboratively created by Chris, Karen, and Jasmine.  And now the fun started.  The band, Buffalo Commons, asked its DJ to spin a recording of "Lullaby" by Billy Joel for bride and father to begin the dance. 

Karen and father dancing

They were followed by bride and groom dancing to  “Like Real People Do” by Hozier.  

Chris and Karen dancing

Chris and Karen were soon accompanied by two even better waltzing pairs—Matt and Carol, and cousin Marc and Keira.  Just before all the guests got into full swing, Karen’s uncle Johnny led a chorus of “Sto Lot” (“A Hundred Years!”) by all the Ocwiejas in the tent.  

Ocwieja Siblings and Spouses

Finally the string band started its popular music repertoire and just about everybody walked onto the dance floor.  Mike Stanton, also Karen’s college housemate and Jackie’s husband, joined the band twice to sing. 


The next day, Sunday, everyone was invited for brunch at Brick for a more informal gathering.

Madyson at Brick

Marilyn and Frank at Brick

Theresa-Marie and Alex at Brick

  

Anne Touchette and Ethan

Brunch inside Brick

Owing to the older age of most of Chris and Karen’s guests, there were several children at the weekend's activities (and  plenty of unused liquor at the end).

Sola and Sarah at Brick

 Ely and Andrew at Brick

Wynn at Brick

Ely at Brick

Andrew and Ely at Ranch

Zenon at Brick

Ethan, Zenon, Ely and Andrew at Ranch

Bryan and Sarah dancing 

Galen, Melody, Lio and Alessandra at Ranch

Sarah Elaine

Among the guests who joined us at Brick were Sue and Frank's old Fletcher School mates, Hans, Bruce, Mary and Kathy.

Hans and Bruce at Brick

Mary at Brick

Kathy at Brick

Some members of the families visited the Strawberry Park hot springs with Karen and Chris.

Karen and Chris at Hot Springs

Sue and Frank welcome everyone again to visit Steamboat, not only in the summer but also for great skiing from Thanksgiving into April.  That goes particularly for Chris and Karen.

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