The Wedding Biz

Every year, as might be expected, the American Wedding Study’s tally of the amount spent by Americans on getting married increases: from about $22,000 in 2003 to more than $26,000 in 2005 to, in 2006, a grand total of $27,852 … According to the 2006 study, Americans were spending $14 billion annually on engagement rings, wedding rings, and other items of jewelry. They were purchasing just over $7 billion worth of wedding gowns, tuxedos, flower girl outfits, bridesmaids’ dresses, veils, satin shoes, gloves, stoles, and other items of wedding attire. Brides and grooms were registering for $9 billion worth of gifts from their friends and relatives, of whom there were an average of 165 at each wedding. The expenses of the wedding day itself, including the food and drink, the limousines, the flowers, the wedding bands, and other nuptial paraphernalia, totaled $39 billion, which comes to [$750 million] being spent on weddings across America every weekend (with the exception of Super Bowl weekend, when only the oblivious or highly inconsiderate decide to begin married life). A further $8.5 billion were being spent on honeymoon vacations.

from One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding
By Rebecca Mead

On the Antietam Battlefield

Burnside Bridge

A few hundred Georgian riflemen held off Union forces at this bridge from this vantage point for most of the day.

Dunker Church

Focal point of repeated clashes as both Northern and Southern armies tried to hold the higher ground around it.

Bocce

Sunday Along the Yellow Breeches

A nesting Tundra Swan

Raymie Miller's Rhodos

The Harbor at St. Michaels

Note from the Queen

Dear President and Mrs. Bush,

Phillip and I wish to thank you for your warm hospitality during our visit to the colonies and for our memorable night here in the White House.

Unfortunately, I cannot accept your lovely gift of the orange hat. I am leaving it on the bedroom table. Frankly, it’s not my style, not clunky enough for me and perhaps a bit too Texas. Perchance a future White House guest would like it although I doubt it.

By the way, Phillip and I had a marvelous romp in the Lincoln bedroom last night. I must say that that hasn’t happened in years. I cannot thank you enough for that.

Still your majesty after all these years,

E II

The Orange Hat

LOVE

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more."

~ Erica Jong

Bubbles

Tree Swallow

Annapolis Doors

Corky