September 13, 2014. Wedding party

Today was the big celebration for Meredith's and Gautham's marriage.  We spent the day cooking some more Indian food for the party, and loading platters, etc to take to the venue.  It is at the Chateau Aeronautique Winery.  Meredith has worked with the winery owner to do wine/food pairings.  The owner kindly let them use his hanger/winery   for the party.  He also loaned Meredith and Gautham the use of his guest room, so they could be there to get everything ready.

We drove about 45 miles to the winery.  We had a few extra things to carry to them.  Others went by a bus that had been arranged.

The hangar was set up with tables with the winery's wine glasses and pretty flowers.  My job was to give party favors to the guests as they arrived. They are little lucky elephants with name tags.

Also, the women were given little Indian bags with jewel-like tattoos to glue onto their hands.  It was a fun thing to do.  

Meredith had prepared about 10 different courses that we paired with different wines.  We started with Indian spicy fried snacks, with chutneys on the side (some of which were quite spicy).  Then, we had tamarind rice and/or saffron rice.  

That was followed with more courses:  1) Meredith's own cured salmon roe on toast points, 2) venison and fresh mozzarella bites, 3) crudités, 4) garlic mashed potatoes with black truffle oil mushrooms, 4) mini lamb chops with a mint chutney drizzle, 5) Brie and fruit, and 6) Indian sweets.  The wines were a rose, Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a dessert wine straight from the barrel.  

There were about 65 guests.  In addition to his parents, several of Gautham's relatives came.  They came from Vancouver, Raleigh, Chicago, and the Detroit area.  Also many of Meredith's and Gautham's friends were there.  On Meredith's side, Aunt Martha and Uncle Leo and cousin Janice came from Alberta.

George's sister Judy and her husband Dan came from Virginia.

Alexis, Graham and I helped in the kitchen.  They were a great help.

Everyone had a great time.  

At the end, Meredith and Gautham posed for photos in the airplane in the hangar.

Quite a few people bought wine.  The owner gave all the guests his winery wine glasses.