His father also happens to be my very best friend, for well over 30 years now, who is also a shooting, hunting and fishing buddy of mine. Our two families have been close since he and I first met at work in Mass back in 1983. Our families would get together often when we lived down south, and we’d have reunions every couple of years after we’d moved up to Maine. That became a little tougher to do as the kids got into college and then graduated and got real jobs. I guess you could say that when the two families had another get-together 3 summers ago, these two saw themselves "very differently" than they had at all the prior family reunions... And they started dating soon after. Thus, on this joyous occasion yesterday, we not only joined their hearts & hands in marriage, we also converted “old friends to new family”. We are truly blessed, in so many ways.
So I hope you won’t mind a proud father sharing some pictures of this wonderful event. “No leverguns” today (or yesterday), but I think you’ll all excuse me for that oversight…
We’ll start off with some lovely girls, my daughter and my wife, all smiles and sharing some champagne in the limo on the way to the church. (Yes, I am a lucky man.) Here’s Melissa and Matthew as they are exchanging their vows. The Wedding Party on the lawn across from the church. As our daughter is very close to our son Mark, she selected her brother to be her “Man of Honor”, instead of choosing one of her girlfriends. They truly have a very special relationship and he was thrilled to be asked to stand up for her – and his toast to the new couple didn’t leave a dry eye in the house. Here are the two old friends coming together as “new family”, with Matthew’s sister, his father and stepmother to the left of the groom, and our family on the right. The new bride & groom share a tender moment…
Here’s the happy couple in the limo on the way to their reception – it didn’t take them long to find the extra bottle of bubbly we’d left for them!
And their wedding cake… With a country/rustic touch as the base, made by one of the groom’s best friends and his wife.
With the kids off on their honeymoon, and the many months of planning and details behind us, the groom’s father and I are now free to plan a much-needed and long-awaited guy’s weekend away to bust some caps and share some Jack! Can’t wait for that – I think we’ve earned it!Thanks for letting me share this wonderful news.
Old No7
), and her younger Sister this past June - The resultant rugrats (usually) make the expense well worth it. 
but overall, it was well worth it. 
