 If you're on a slow connection, or are having problems loading this page, press "stop" in your browser and then click here to see just the newest entry. Wow, what a trip! It was probably the shortest I've taken in recent history (Tuesday-Saturday), but boy was it packed! My plane was late arriving at my connection, New York's JFK airport, and after a miserable fiasco and 3 hour delay, I was finally on my way to Boston. Word to the wise: never fly into JFK! Even if you have to make a connection in Anchorage. Jordan and Melissa were married at 3:00 in the afternoon on July 4th of last week, and I was incredibly blessed to be included in the wedding party. It was truly a God-honoring celebration, and one I'd love to model someday. God bless you Jordan and Melissa Niednagel! I took most of these photos, but HUGE thanks to Brian Fournier (the official photographer) for the pics of the actual ceremony, since I of course was disposed at the time, and to Michael Thomas for allowing me to snag 'em from his blog. Also thanks to Jeremy Niednagel and Tai Polczynski for a couple other photos that I wasn't able to capture. Ok enough boring banter, on to the visuals. 
I have to say, for all the trouble I experienced with Delta, their in-flight entertainment is first-class. There were like 20 free channels of TV, as well as for-pay movies. 
New York sunset, just after takeoff. 
I arrived in Boston late, and the ever-enthusiastic Thomas family greeted me and took me to their home. The next day Jonathan Drake arrived. It was so neat, the three of us together again after 2 years. 
Chow time! 
Trying on costumes for the first time. Ok, if this is your expression 2 days before your wedding, you might want to make sure you correctly grasp the English usage of "marriage". 
Time for rehearsal. The guys strap on their swords. The girls grab their....selves. 
Jeff Flynn was pretty much the guy who pulled most of the wedding details together. What an amazing guy, with an amazing family. 
The groomsmen line up. 
"You may now kiss......hey! Break it up you two! This is only a rehearsal" 
New England weather is wierd. Everyone was outside prepping under a bright, clear sky, and a major torrent rolls in within 3 minutes. Thankfully only lasted about 10 minutes. 
Back outside, Jeff experiments with the cauldron, a medieval alternative to the unity candle. 
And we have blast-off! 
Jordan and Melissa test lighting it together later that night. 
Another success! 
Michael, Jeff and Jon break to do a little jam to the blues. 
The cake arrives! What a beauty. Now to transport it to the fridge. 
"Hey guys, I just heard the funniest joke...." 
Wow, look at that baby, it's like the leaning tower of.....cake-za. (Yeah, I do all my own writing.) 
"THE" day arrives. Jordan gets his medieval extreme makeover. Hey who's the dummy photographer who didn't realize he was taking a picture of a mirror....which reflects things...like the photographer. 
The lovely bride-to-be. 
Ah the man of the hour! Jeremy (Jordan's brother) almost didn't make it! His wife Danielle has been due for about 2 weeks now, and could have delivered any minute. At the last minute Jeremy decided to come, hours later the baby came! Unbelievable. But in the end he was glad to not have missed his brother's wedding, and I'm sure Jordan was also. Keoni Niednagel, their new son, was waiting for him upon return. 
All the guys meet downstairs for prayer and a final moment alone with Jordan. 
"Guys, do we drop the head or feet first?" 
Both parents of the happy couple confer as the ceremony begins. 
The groom leads his valiant men towards the altar first. 
We then split off from Jordan and headed down to line the aisle as the rest of the wedding party comes through us. 
The bridesmaids come out of the forest. Those dresses are amazing, well done to everyone involved! 
Jordan's bride walks down the aisle towards him as we kneel. 
"I give you my daughters hand, and the key to her heart." 
Wide shot. 
The flower girls watch on in innocent wonder. 
Lighting the "unity torch". 
"You may now kiss the bride." 
Amazing. 
We line the aisles once again to hail the new Mr. and Mrs. Niednagel! 
God bless you my friend! 
The first group shot, the bride and groom kiss as we gaze on. 
The flower girls and bride. Adorable. 
The queen and her maidens. 
I love this shot. Amazing job Brian! 
Jor, Jeff, Jon and I share a moment of conversation between picture-taking. 
Ah the traditional cake cutting, with a twist! Jordan: "I hope this thing is sharp enough" Melissa: "I hope he washed that thing" 
Melissa: "I hope somebody is getting this on camera." Jordan: "I hope she washed her hands." 
After eating and mingling, it was time for some sword battles. Here the moderators explain the rules. 
Some of the guys REALLY got into it, like alot.  
Doing "follow the leader" late into the night. 
Jordan and Tai doing the patty-cake polka. I know how this looks, but in this dance you switch partners, he started out with Melissa. Honest!!! 
The time for goodbyes is now at hand. The happy couple make their way through their crowd to the car. 
Tears of joy and sadness. Maybe I should rephrase the statement above, is there a singular form of "couple"?  The next morning I flew out early, connecting in Las Vegas. Wait! Don't jump to conclusions! 
Well this doesn't look good What a great trip! I met some incredible new friends, and met in person for the first time people I had already known online. Thank you Thomas family for your loving hospitality! And thank you so much to the Yokels as well, Jon and I stayed at their lovely home for 2 nights and they really went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. I regret not taking any pictures with them! Thanks for visiting! | 
