2 June 2002, Sunday
Wedding day.
With the wedding scheduled for later in the afternoon at Half Moon Bay on the west coast, we had the morning to organise the start of our trip in California and beyond. We decided that we would drive to Vasalia, a small town near Sequioa National Park on Monday.  We figured that we would stay there and then visit the National Parks on the following day.  We decided also that on the first night we would ring ahead for accommodation so I rang the Lamp Liter Inn from Russell's phone and made a reservation.  Russell and Novey had the wedding details and organisation planned out like a military operation so it was no surprise that they had 3 lists of things that had to be attended to.  One list for things Russell had to do, one for Novey's attention and a list for things that were common to both of them.  (The subroutine list).   That's what happens when two software engineers marry. 

At 1pm we all set off with Novey's car leading the way and followed by Andy's car and then us. (Andy, a French-Canadian, is Russell's friend he first met at MathEngine in Montreal and now works with him at Ubicom in Mountain View.  Andy arranged to be an 'Assistant Commissioner' for a day expressly for the purpose of being able to conduct a marriage service).  I was relying on being able to follow Andy to Half Moon Bay so it was a bit of a nerve wracking time when we lost Andy's car in the traffic for a while and we thought we were going to have to navigate to the wedding venue on our own, but we caught up with them again on the Half Moon Bay highway. Russell & Novey stopped for flowers just short of the coast and I followed Andy to the Pillar Point B&B which we were all using as a base from which to get ready and to stay overnight Sunday.  Very cold on the coast on this west side of the hills with a low cloud cover which almost becomes fog.  With time to spare Sally and I went for a short drive to the middle of the town (about 3 miles away), but the shops didn't inspire and it was too chilly to walk around for long.

So to the wedding.  Lisa, Novey's close friend, helped her dress while Russell was sent to our room to get ready. Sally assisted with the unfamiliar clothing and when finished, Russell, running through his mental check list of things that had to be done arrived at the last item on the list which was, "Pick up bride". The somewhat nervous bride and groom set out half an hour before the 10 wedding guests to have photographs taken on the beach adjacent to the venue for the service and reception. The weather was by now heavily overcast, and getting increasingly cold, but fortunately there was very little breeze so it was bearable. The venue was on a grassy area in the middle of beautiful gardens surrounded by flowers, shrubs, bushes and trees. A really delightful setting.  On the grass there was arranged an area for the service which included a mat of red and white rose petals loosely tossed onto the lawn where the bride and groom were to stand for the ceremony and a table for the signing of the registry documents in both English and Chinese. The other part of the grassy area was set up by the catering staff with tables and chairs for 12. The celebrant, Andy, conducted a non religious service that contained a nice mixture of humour with the serious message of marriage and at various places included English and Chinese traditions. Andy really executed his duties well.  The vows undertaken by Russell and Novey were each composed by them each read out to the other marriage partner.   The vows were very non traditional, but very sincere and in places very humourous, the effect being a very modern statement of their love for each other which Sally confessed brought tears to her eyes.  After the reception at the tables on the lawn we all went back to the B&B and thawed out around a very warm gas fire in the lounge where we talked, relaxed and showed the digital pictures that were taken.  A wonderful day in the history of the Smith family and Novey's parent's family.