The day after your daughter’s wedding, even if it is a small wedding, which this was, what you mainly feel is………tired. There were only 12 of us at the wedding, the bride, the groom, the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, the groom’s two children, the bride’s sister and brother-in-law, and the bride’s niece and nephew. Is that 12?

The officiant was an old friend of the bride’s, as was the photographer (who came with a second). The ceremony was simple, and I think largely written by Michelle. The chuppah was glittery and made by three of Michelle’s friends. The glass for stomping was provided by your truly. The venue was in deepest Baltimore, about an hour from our house. The only others involved in the affair were three employees of the venue, who decorated, cooked, served, and cleaned up.

So that no one would drink and drive (especially from unfamiliar territory), we decided to rent a van and driver. Everyone (but the groom’s parents) met us at our house and Daniel the Driver (perhaps the only one of India’s billion plus natives named Daniel?) first drove to Laurel MD to pick up Michelle’s now in-laws, and then on up I-95 to Baltimore.

The venue, the Artifact Coffee House, is part of the Union Mill complex in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore. Don’t know it? Neither did we. The mill, which Wikipedia (the source of all truth) says was once the largest producer of cotton duck fabric in the world, was built of locally quarried gray stone in the 1860s, and is now home not only to Artifact, but to offices for non-profit organizations, and rental apartments, which are primarily rented to teachers, who are given substantial rent discounts.

The coffee shop, once of the best ranked in the city, is a very popular place and serves very good, and healthy-looking, lunches, and closes every day at 3. It is a popular night time venue for small, private events.

The photos were taken outside before the event, and inside before and during the ceremony. Almost 8 year old Joan, Michelle’s niece, acted as photographer’s assistant, an unscheduled and unpaid gig. Thousands of photos seemed to have been taken. We can’t wait to see them.

The food consisted of appetizers served with a variety of liquids (Josh’s son said that the drinks included the best Shirley Temples he ever tasted), along with a cheese board, deviled eggs, pickled vegetables and more. The meal, elegantly served family style in a separate room with a long table, included salad, both rockfish and steak, pasta and grits, vegetables and potatoes au gratin. Desserts included strawberry shortcake, butterscotch puddings, brownies, and cookies. And of course there was coffee.

Shortly before 10:00, we re-boarded the van, and redid the trip, in reverse.

Could not have been better.