A perfect summer day in Madison. The temperature was 85 during the day, but it felt lovely in the shade, which covered the whole yard at 6 pm.
Hawk bolts the pier sections to the understructure, to help keep guests from weaving off into the lake as they walk down the pier.
Suzy holds the power washer as if she did some of the work. None of it. Hawk, Paisley and Peter power washed all of the teak, and then oiled it. It looked magnificent!

Peter Peter drilled holes in the copper tubes and strung them with wire like bows, so they would bend the right way against the tug of the lantern lights.

Here is where he discovered that one of the sets of lights is broken. Hawk finally dug up a fresh working set, after they changed fuses and then tested every bulb in the string. About 30 minutes before the party started.
Paisley helps Ray make a triple batch of his delicious bearnaise.
We had 5 tables arranged to maximize the lake view and the view of the adorable couple. All had white tablecloths and they were set with Haley's, Ray's, and Paisley's china, and with Suzy and Sheila's Nile and Taitu. Each table had different china, silver and crystal. The next day, Suzy and Hawk washed at least 180 glasses for two and a half hours.

Nora and Matt set up the bar. We served Lemon Drops (vodka, lemon juice, triple sec), which were gone instantly, cosmopolitans, summer chartreuse, and margaritas. Some people (precious Sheila, of course) had champagne instead. And Meredith had her special martini without the contaminant. We made the margaritas light for Peter Spear, who has 0 body fat and can't drink one of Suzy's regular ones.

It is the bartender's perogative to sample each martini from our set. Matt took full advantage of his rights.

Here he is telling Suzy that her bruschetta with the fennel, fava beans and preserved lemon is pretty good.
Meredith's jacket was incredible. Lainey is there on the left, wearing the dress Haley wore at Paisley's wedding.

Ray and Gina reconnect about collective thinking and politics.

Note the hunk in the background on the Lutyens Bench: It's Adam, grown up, gorgeous and sophisticated enough to know that it would be cool to wear his tuxedo barefoot at our house.
Rusty and Haley meet Mike and Jean.
Jacquie and Kevin brought Haley and Liam an exquisite Kosta vase. They are getting married July 27.
Hawk and Peter discover the bruschetta.
Christian came dressed in a white tuxedo with tails. He had a white bow tie and cumberbund, too. He could not have looked more adorable.
Lainey and Haley together. Paisley did a terrific job on Haley's hair, which started out looking like "Annie" and ended up this way. But it was so full of product that it was still stiff the next day after two shampoos. It looked so great!
Ray gets his lemon drop while Sheila sips champagne.
Beautiful Claire in her gorgeous dress sits next to Peter. You can just see Nora in one of her incredible hair garnishes in the background.

At dinner, Hawk toasted the adorable couple, applauding how willing they are to let everyone know how much they love each other.

Then Meredith explained you can tell good parenting from who the child selects as a partner. She thanked Haley for making such an incredible choice.

Liam's little sisters, Anne and Tori. When Paisley stood up to give her toast, she said she decided not to name her baby Liam because she only knew him as that hothead from sailing.

Anne and Tori stood up (to their surprise) and explained how Liam is kind, sensitive and supportive, post Haley.
Haley liked Paisley's toast.
Haley and Liam's Engagement Party
June 1, 2002

Bruschetta with fennel, fava beans & preserved lemon
or tomato, garlic & basil

Hickory nut crackers with herbed Fantome Farm chevre

Asparagus soup with morel flan

Nettle ravioli with sage butter

Mango sorbet

Barbequed butterflied leg of lamb,
marinated in Dijon mustard, garlic and rosemary,
with béarnaise sauce and wild rice, hickory nut & dried plum salad

Grilled salmon fillet with chili-garlic & cilantro sauces
and black bean, corn & red pepper salad

Midwest artisanal cheeses with port or Essencia

Chocolate caramel, lemon meringue, coconut cream tarts
White chocolate raspberry cheesecake
Bittersweet chocolate raspberry cheesecake
Haley and Liam sat on the Monet bench at the head table. First round was Jean & Mike (Liam's parents), Suzy & Hawk, and Meredith & Peter. We switched tables just before the main course. Every couple had a dance card with a flower to show their first and second table -- the flower matched the table bouquet.

Sheila and Lainey have such beautiful faces.
Haley and Rusty looked so elegant.
Peter took care of Morgan until bedtime. Taylor slept in the guestroom closet and Morgan slept in his crib in Suzy & Hawk's closet. We were going to put Christian to bed in the pantry, but he never went to sleep!!! Sage & Pearl were locked (because otherwise they can open the door themselves) in Suzy & Hawk's bedroom. No escapees this night!
Liam with his parents.
Ray found his tuxedo shirt!!!
We ate and ate. At the cheese course, the mosquitos found the most delectable among us, and they moved inside. Peter discovered that the mosquito magnet wasn't really turned on, so he fixed that. And then the most magnificent warm easterly sprang up, creating one of those delicious Wisconsin summer evenings where the temperature is perfect, the sky is starry, and everything is soft.
Kevin charmed this table of beautiful teenagers with his sweet personality and lovely accent.
Not everyone was warm. Haley made Suzy really happy by donning her great grandmother Dot's mink stole.
And not everyone was cold. Here the precious gang of teenagers (Allie, Amanda, Claire, Lainey) pose together before going inside and trying on all the bathing suits Claire and Lainey brought to find the right one for each. Then they charged out of the house, whooshed down the pier and jumped into the lake. Rusty and Matt got a little confused and thought the polar bunny was back.
Paisley and Lainey had a great cuddle and nosh together on the lawn.
John sits with Mike and Jacquie out by the lake in that wonderful breeze. Someone left a plate of dessert near him, which he helpfully consumed.
Hawk wore his tie and vest from Paisley & Peter's wedding
We set up the dessert buffet inside. Those are the chocolate cheesecakes in front.

Peter and Meredith left before the main course but returned in time for desserts (Meredith) and cigars (Peter).

Some of those cigars were left over from Paisley and Peter's wedding!!!
Paisley and Haley show everyone else how to deeply enjoy dancing. Even if it's not with the man you love.
Catherine could barely keep up with the happy crowd. She and Susan did an incredible job.
The couple with Jean & Mike and with Suzy & Hawk. Liam's three sisters with Chris (married to Beth, Liam's oldest sister).
Paisley and Matt had a great time dancing, and so did Haley and Liam.
But the best couple of the evening (most enthusiastic, energetic and hilarious) by far were Peter and Matt. Note the peanut gallery on the right.
Everyone was in bed by 12:30 am, and we had a completely full house. Allie, Amanda, Claire, Lainey, Sheila, Haley, Rusty, Taylor and Morgan, who slept until 7:20 the next day. Haley and Liam slept on Sunshine, and emerged the next morning at around 8 am.