We went to a great wedding on Saturday. A classmate of mine was marrying her partner. It was a lesbian wedding. It was one of the most beautiful and touching ceremonies I had been to. It was held on the grounds of a 19th century mansion not far from our house. The gardens were lovely, and the weather was so kind - we sat in white chairs at sunset, not too hot or humid, light breeze, no bugs.

After the ceremony, we walked to the big party room, and were each handed a Mojito (just like your wedding, Steph!). Appetizers were offered like stuffed grilled shrimp. Then there was the cheese.

I have to stop here and tell you my surgeon friend was marrying an executive for Whole Foods. The cheese buyer for all of Whole Foods asked if she could bring a cheese tray, and they said yes. She brought a cheese table, then graciously stood by it, telling all of us what was on it, and cutting big chunks. There were rounds of double cream brie, then the triple cream brie, and a sheep's milk brie that was so sweet and creamy. Manchego from Spain, Amadeus from Holland, etc etc. But the best was this brick of wonderful French Bleu which was drizzled with a blood orange-balsamic reduction vinaigrette. MMMmmm...

Inside the party room, there were 4 wines also picked by a Whole Foods buyer, and they helpfully had a list with a short description of each. I thought, this is great, we can try several wines with our meal. Anthony stayed at the bar, trying 3 of the wines in succession, then picking our favorite: Ludovicus from Spain. It is from grapes grown on 60 year old vines. Anthony managed to snag a whole bottle and bring it to our table.

The company at our table was divine. There were 2 other classmates and their spouses. We've been friends for over 12 years, and its just stupid how little we get together. We also made 2 new friends - a vet radiologist and her husband from California. She and Alice were roommates when they did their residencies together. We talked and laughed and ate off each other's plates. By the end of the night, there were 3 empty bottles on our table.

Everything I ate was exquisite: Davis Mountains Roast Beef (tender!), Stacks of Grilled Veggies from Boggy Creek (local organic farm), rice pilaf, roasted potatoes, dolmas stuffed with couscous, gouda pizzas with arugula. I ate it all.

Afterwards there was live music and dancing. Anthony and I jitterbugged for the first time in many years. We were laughing so hard. The night was over way too soon, and we sent off the happy couple of under an arch of sparklers.

As we stumbled to our cars, my arm around Regina - we were singing off key - we realized we had overindulged. Ah, but when everything offered was so good, and the company so nice, and the promises of love so pure, it seemed like a worthy splurge.