The Cake

For those of you who don't know, Jessica is actually making and baking the wedding cake. I know....crazy right? Yes, Jess likes doing things by herself, but this cake will be better than any wedding cake you've had in a long time. The first cake we made was about taste . . . hence the reason it tasted great but was a little crooked. Cake number two was actually cupcakes. This trial was focused in the flavor of the filling and icing. Delicious, but not as impressive as the cake. The third cake was made to practice technique. Mainly, the stacking technique. After cutting dowel rods into several small pieces and shoving them into the cake and topping off each layer with a solid cake-board, the cake was as straight as an arrow. Jess decorated it for Brian as a ploy to entice him to eat her food (which he doesn't like to do). He agreed it was delicious, straight and filled with lemony goodness. So now, the only test left is getting a made cake all the way to the reception hall without it melting or toppling or Brian eating it. Wish us luck and get ready to be amazed.

Honeymoon

It's been decided. We're heading West! Napa Valley and San Francisco (skyline above) to be exact. The Tuesday following the wedding, we'll grab our bags, drive to Kansas City, fly into San Francisco, drive to Napa for three days, then head back to the bay for 4 more days. We're looking forward to some good food, good sights, and great wine.



When we get to Napa we will spend the first two nights at the River Terrace Inn. It's nothing too awesome from the outside, but our room looks nice and we have a balcony in the back overlooking Napa River. Our last night we are staying at Harvest Inn. It is about 20 miles north of Napa in St. Helena. We will have our own private cottage, yards away from beautiful vineyards. During our time in Napa, we are going to be taking a wine train. Basically, you get a glass of wine, hop on a restored 1915 train, eat a gourmet lunch, try different wines, and eat dessert, all while winding through the mountains in Northern California.


It will be Brian's second visit to the city by the bay (he went with his Grandma for his 13th birthday) and Jessica's first. We are going to see the standard sights: Golden Gate Bridge, Cable Cars, TransAmerica Pyramid, Ghirardelli Chocololate, Fisherman's Wharf, and Chinatown, including the fortune cookie factory. It sounds pretty sweet! We may try to squeeze in Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and Pier 39, but nothing overbearing. Plus, we have a great little boutique hotel to escape to in the heart of the city. The Inn at Union Square is a stylish little place, unknown to a lot of travelers. (We appreciate the help TripAdvisor.) So in the famous words of the late, great Otis Redding, we'll be:

"Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Watchin' the tide roll away."

The Bridal Party: The Men

Brian is honored to have asked these four men to be in our wedding (and even more honored that they agreed). We are always thankful for good friends and family that are willing to support us and be a part of this day with us.

Best Man -- Curt Mattson



Curt is Brian's older brother and fellow connoisseur of all things Mizzou. The brothers are two and a half years apart and normally gang up on the younger, weaker sibling, Lauren. They grew up digging tunnels in the sandbox for army men, developing above-par athletic abilities, and plotting how to rid the world of vampires and zombies in their dad's shed out back. Brian was also the best man at Curt's wedding. Brian brought the house down with his speech and expects the same oratorical response at our wedding.

Groomsmen:

Marc Helfrecht


Marc and Brian met in 6th grade. Now, they consider each other hetero-life partners. (And no, they don't find that term silly.) They became very close in high school through choir and student council and then Marc decided he didn't want to go to Mizzou with Brian. They still kept a close friendship with phone calls every few days, although the calls usually consisted of, "Hey. What's up? Nothing? Yeah, me neither. Well, I'll call you tomorrow or something. Bye."

Andy Patton


Andy and Brian met before Brian's first day of college at a bonfire at his cousin Kyle's house. It turned out Andy was living in the same dorm as Brian, three floors below. Andy approached the relationship tentatively, fearing Brian's brazen nature. He attempted to avoid Brian by walking past the dorm room without uttering a word and keeping his head focused on the floor. The walls were soon knocked down though and they ended up living together for 2 years on East Campus. They were both involved in K-Life, trips to Lee Street Deli, and the occasional brawl on Super Smash Brothers.

Daniel Stern


Daniel is Jessica's older brother and has known Brian for about 8 years. They both grew up in the same church and went to the same high school. Now, whenever they are together, they very much enjoy discussing music, both good and bad, and the antics of mutual friends living in Columbia, both good and bad.