Mike and Hege get married

Welcome back....after an 18 day hiatus from blogging. But I'm back, and it is time to catch up.

So let's start with one of the biggest events in the past 18 days, the storybook wedding of a Norwegian princess and a New York business man. Seriously, you can come up with a better premise.

The wedding weekend started with a trip to Niagara Falls and a evening summer cookout back at the Ulbrich's house in New York.
After Thursday's meet and greet, Friday was the rehearsal at the church and the welcome dinner at the Center for Tomorrow at the University of Buffalo.

It was a fun night of getting introductions out of the way and getting to know people so that the real party the next night could be oh-so fun. And let's be clear, the Norwegians know how to have a good time.

We also got to catch up with the extended Ulbrich family. Mike and Tim's Aunt Cathy and Uncle Rick came in from California.


And we also got to catch up with the Slatterys from Texas, y'all. (And I'm pretty sure if Bonnie lived in Ohio, I'd want to be her best friend. She is a pretty amazing girl.)

Saturday morning came and Mike got ready at home with all his groomsmen before heading to the church.


And Dad U popped the champagne open for a day full of celebrating.

Tim and I enjoyed all the fun and were in charge of capturing pictures of the big day. Tim fully intended on "charging" for his photo services, but in the end we were the ones who were going to be out money because we totally fell in love with Mike and Hege's new camera. I foresee a major expense for us in the near future...


Soon, it was time for the ceremony and time to make things official.

The ceremony set the tone for the day when Mike and Hege flew a Norwegian minister in from New York City to help with the vows. I've only cried at a handful of weddings, but tears were definitely pooling in my eyes when Mike said his vows to Hege in Norwegian and Hege said hers to Mike in English. What an incredible way to honor each other and the merging of two cultures.

And I have to share the next picture. Hege is amazing in more ways than one and I just love how her smile captures all that love and happiness that must have been flowing through her in that moment. And I love how Mike is looking at her like she is the only person in the room at that moment. See, I told you it was a storybook love!


The reception was afterwards at Park Country Club, which looked like a castle.


The mixing of traditions continued as each table was equal party Americans and Norwegians. We enjoyed a two and a half hour dinner and had so much fun learning about Norway and listening to speeches from the head wedding table.


But, now, what we really came to do: PARTY!


The party went until midnight at the Country Club and then moved to Jack's Place, a bar across from the hotel where most everyone was staying. Tim and I called it quits early, but I know a good time was had at the bar until the early morning hours on Sunday.

On Sunday we enjoyed brunch back at the hotel and then got to visit with more Norwegians on Sunday night and learned that straight up regular Coke is the drink of the day.


It was a splendid weekend and I'm pretty sure tourism in Norway will rise in the year 2011 as all of us make the trip over to hang out with our new Norwegian friends.

Congrats Mike and Hege! Can't wait to see you when you get back from Bali!!