A festival of kindness

We experienced a festival of kindness this weekend as we gathered to celebrate our daughter Katherine’s marriage to Ed Rhee.

When our crotchety old lawn mower broke down a few days before we hosted the wedding on our property Up North, our friends Nicolle and Ron loaded up theirs and delivered it right to us.

Our friend Tim built a perfect platform for the ceremony, so sturdy it held all 30 members of the Biskupic family when they gathered for family photos.

Our friends and Northwoods neighbors Dave and Margaret, who have done so much to help us build and maintain our place, helped clear out dead branches and brush to make the grounds more presentable.

Then, when the big weekend arrived and we forgot a thing or two, our friends and family helped us out.

Aunt Donna hosted an impromptu pre-game party at Primal Eats Thursday night.

Ed’s friend Henry officiated a ceremony so beautiful it made us all cry. He also ran plates back and forth to fellow guests at our Friday night welcoming party. I can’t tell you how many people stopped me throughout the weekend to tell me how nice Henry was.

Right before that Friday night party, when I realized I’d forgotten the lettuce and guacamole for the burgers, our nephew Phil dashed over to make an emergency grocery store run. We share a love of puns, so we both appreciated that the situation allowed me to say, “Lettuce Phil you in on the crisis we just averted.”

That same night, Katherine’s childhood friends Heidi and Sondra, drove back to Appleton to retrieve the necklace Katherine intended to wear to honor her Grandma Mary Jane. Heidi also wrangled the buses that delivered our wedding guests the following day. What a gem!

Another childhood friend Hillary not only sang at the wedding, she also spent the morning helping us all get ready for the event. Along with Andy–the-wonder-friend, who was everywhere I turned helping out, Hillary’s husband Ted set up, tested and put away the sound equipment.

Friend Katie arranged the beautiful flowers that arrived from Flora and Fields. Among the many tasks she completed throughout the weekend, Katie also helped me tramp through the high grass Saturday morning to hang balloons on signposts to direct our guests.

Leah, Katherine’s comedy partner, soul sister, made of honor and friend, shared her optimistic energy and her sweet little family with us all. Her parents flew in to help with the kids and they, too, brought a joyous spirit to the event.

Ed’s groomsman turned day of wedding coordinator seemed to be everywhere all at once. His Herculean efforts to corral our extremely large families allowed us to get family photos taken in time, and he offered his cell number for guests’ questions throughout the weekend.

And, speaking of photos, Ed’s gifted friend Safeena spent nearly 12 hours with us all, shooting, gently encouraging, and posing us all in several venues. I can’t wait to see the pictures.

Groomswoman and longtime Ed friend Kendall showed up early Saturday morning to help set the placecards and she also gave a great wedding speech.

Ed’s friend Dru helped set up and man a selfie station during the evening reception. His friend Jesse did an excellent job DJ-ing the dance.

In a sweet moment of two people taking a request very seriously, Ed’s brother in-law Todd and his nephew Dean watched YouTube videos to prepare themselves when Ed asked them to help him with his pocket square.

Katherine’s siblings outdid themselves in the weeks and months leading up to this event and they offered themselves with genuine joy. I loved the speeches they made, the food they prepared and displayed so beautifully, and the special moments we all got to enjoy together.

My friend Beth brought her daughter Violet and stayed with her so Violet could babysit our various toddlers and dogs.

My sisters, Jenny and Kathy, helped out tremendously with last minute tasks.

I’m basking in gratitude as I write this piece, in the early morning hours Monday, and I know I’m forgetting somone. Genuinely every single person who came to the wedding — and they traveled from every corner of the country — exuded kindness and love.

Blanche DuBois famously relied on the kindness of strangers, and that’s a fine thing to do.

How much richer life can be, though, when you can rely on the kindness of friends.