Download a copy of the wedding program here

If you appreciate the concepts and ideas
covered in this program, please consider
supporting one of the following:
The Wedding of
Vicky Sawyer
&
Ryan Somma
Saturday, March 20, 2010
at the
http://acf.org
http://portdiscover.org
If you appreciate the concepts and ideas
covered in this program, please consider
supporting one of the following:
Newport News, VA
The Wedding of
Vicky Sawyer
&
Ryan Somma
Saturday, March 20, 2010
at the
http://acf.org
http://portdiscover.org
Newport News, VA
Ceremony
Officiant
Launa Hulse
http://www.ablessingfromabove.vpweb.com/
Processional
Les Jours Triste by Yann Tiersen
Grandmother of the Bride
Margeretha Sawyer
Escorted by Andrew Krier, her oldest grandchild
Parents of the Bride
Anne T. Sawyer
Escorted by James Sawyer,
Lowell Sawyer
Parents of the Groom
Linda Bennington
Escorted by Rachelle Somma,
C. Thomas Somma
Ceremony
Officiant
Launa Hulse
http://www.ablessingfromabove.vpweb.com/
Processional
Les Jours Triste by Yann Tiersen
Grandmother of the Bride
Margeretha Sawyer
Escorted by Andrew Krier, her oldest grandchild
Parents of the Bride
Anne T. Sawyer
Escorted by James Sawyer
Lowell Sawyer
Parents of the Groom
Linda Bennington
Escorted by Rachelle Somma
C. Thomas Somma
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Pi isn’t the only number we use in understanding
nature that requires an infinite number of digits to
describe. Euler’s Number, the Natural Logarithm,
is another irrational constant. It describes
exponential growth, where the growth is a
continual process:
2.7182818284…
Phi, the “Golden Ratio”, is found in what humans
consider the most attractive proportions in nature
and describes the growth of populations:
1.6180339887…
The rectangles within rectangles in the
background of this page have proportions based
on Phi. The spiral drawn within them is known as
a “Fibonacci Spiral,” and it appears in shells and
plants throughout nature like the nautilus shell
and the fern fiddleheads in our florals.
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Pi isn’t the only number we use in understanding
nature that requires an infinite number of digits to
describe. Euler’s Number, the Natural Logarithm,
is another irrational constant. It describes
exponential growth, where the growth is a
continual process:
2.7182818284…
Phi, the “Golden Ratio”, is found in what humans
consider the most attractive proportions in nature
and describes the growth of populations:
1.6180339887…
The rectangles within rectangles in the
background of this page have proportions based
on Phi. The spiral drawn within them is known as
a “Fibonacci Spiral,” and it appears in shells and
plants throughout nature like the nautilus shell
and the fern fiddleheads in our florals.
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Ceremony
Matron of Honor
Carolyn Lipinski
(Sister of the Bride)
Bridesmaid
Ann Bowman Jones
(Friend of the Bride)
Best Man
Darin Somma
(Brother of the Groom)
Groomsman
Jason Akira Somma
(Brother of the Groom)
Unity Tree
Think Like a Tree by Karen I. Shragg
Recessional
Flossing a Dead Horse by NOFX
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Ceremony
Matron of Honor
Carolyn Lipinski
(Sister of the Bride)
Bridesmaid
Ann Bowman Jones
(Friend of the Bride)
Best Man
Darin Somma
(Brother of the Groom)
Groomsman
Jason Akira Somma
(Brother of the Groom)
Unity Tree
Think Like a Tree by Karen I. Shragg
Recessional
Flossing a Dead Horse by NOFX
Reception
Master of Ceremonies
Patrick Byrd
http://www.prodjpatrickbyrd.com/
Blessing
James Sawyer
(Brother of the Bride)
Caterer
Rajput Indian Cuisine
http://www.rajputonline.com
Venue
Virginia Living Museum
http://www.thevlm.org
Bloggers, Flickr and Twitter Users
Please tag your related images, tweets
and posts with "#rvw10"
Reception
Master of Ceremonies
Patrick Byrd
http://www.prodjpatrickbyrd.com/
Blessing
James Sawyer
(Brother of the Bride)
Caterer
Rajput Indian Cuisine
http://www.rajputonline.com
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Pi is an “irrational number,” meaning it requires
an infinite number of digits to express it. In
August of 2009, Japanese researchers used a
supercomputer to calculate Pi to over 2.5 trillion
decimal places, but according to Simon
Newcomb, “Ten decimals are sufficient to give
the circumference of the earth to the fraction of
an inch [if earth were a perfect circle which it is
not], and thirty decimals would give the
circumference of the whole visible universe to a
quantity imperceptible with the most powerful
telescope.”
Pi is still a very important part of understanding
our physical reality. Scientists have made
spheres perfect to within 40 atoms of thickness,
but neutron stars, which are remnants of
supernovae with a radius of about 12 kilometers,
are thought to be even smoother.
Six days ago, March 14th, saw the celebration of
Pi day (“3.14” get it?)!
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Pi is an “irrational number,” meaning it requires
an infinite number of digits to express it. In
August of 2009, Japanese researchers used a
supercomputer to calculate Pi to over 2.5 trillion
decimal places, but according to Simon
Newcomb, “Ten decimals are sufficient to give
the circumference of the earth to the fraction of
an inch [if earth were a perfect circle which it is
not], and thirty decimals would give the
circumference of the whole visible universe to a
quantity imperceptible with the most powerful
telescope.”
Venue
Virginia Living Museum
http://www.thevlm.org
Bloggers, Flickr and Twitter Users
Please tag your related images, tweets
and posts with "#rvw10"
Pi is still a very important part of understanding
our physical reality. Scientists have made
spheres perfect to within 40 atoms of thickness,
but neutron stars, which are remnants of
supernovae with a radius of about 12 kilometers,
are thought to be even smoother.
Six days ago, March 14th, saw the celebration of
Pi day (“3.14” get it?)!
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Take a circle with a diameter of one unit…
Special Thanks
Invitations
Rachelle Somma
(Sister of the Groom)
http://www.rachellesomma.com
Photography
…and roll it out one complete turn to give its
circumference, which is pi units.
Liza Franco
http://lizafrancophotography.com
Hair Stylist
Décor Setup
Kelly White
Jacklyn Jackson
Samantha Sawyer
Centerpiece Designers/
Wedding Favors
Dhontori Brown
Jacal Felton
Malena Franco
Jamontae Johnson
Armani McCall
Terrance Price
Treshawn Slaughter
Nature’s Infinite Complexity
Take a circle with a diameter of one unit…
Tyrek Slaughter
Dada Spencer
DJ Spencer
Risha Spencer
Vick White
Khalif Williams
Special Thanks
Invitations
Rachelle Somma
(Sister of the Groom)
http://www.rachellesomma.com
Photography
…and roll it out one complete turn to give its
circumference, which is pi units.
Liza Franco
http://lizafrancophotography.com
Hair Stylist
Décor Setup
Kelly White
Jacklyn Jackson
Samantha Sawyer
Centerpiece Designers/
Wedding Favors
Dhontori Brown
Jacal Felton
Malena Franco
Jamontae Johnson
Armani McCall
Terrance Price
Treshawn Slaughter
Tyrek Slaughter
Dada Spencer
DJ Spencer
Risha Spencer
Vick White
Khalif Williams
The Vernal Equinox
Our Earth travels completely around the Sun every
365.2564 solar days. Because our planet spins on its
axis, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
receive different amounts of Sunlight depending on
where our planet is in its yearly orbit, which causes
the seasons. Winter occurs in the Northern
Hemisphere because it is tilted away from the Sun,
making the days shorter there, while Summer occurs
because it is tilted toward the Sun, making the days
longer. On June 20th or 21st, the Summer Solstice,
the Northern Hemisphere is most strongly tilted
toward the Sun, making it the day in the year with the
The Vernal Equinox
Our Earth travels completely around the Sun every
365.2564 solar days. Because our planet spins on its
axis, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
receive different amounts of Sunlight depending on
where our planet is in its yearly orbit, which causes
the seasons. Winter occurs in the Northern
Hemisphere because it is tilted away from the Sun,
making the days shorter there, while Summer occurs
because it is tilted toward the Sun, making the days
longer. On June 20th or 21st, the Summer Solstice,
the Northern Hemisphere is most strongly tilted
toward the Sun, making it the day in the year with the
The American Chestnut
American Chestnut Seed and Leaf
The American Chestnut
American Chestnut Seed and Leaf
The American Chestnut
The flow of nutrients is eventually choked off to
and from sections of the tree above the infection,
which would eventually kill the tree. Today,
American Chestnuts can still be found in the
Appalachian Mountains, recognizable by their
distinctive leaves; however, the specimens that
survive in the wild today only manage to grow for
a short while before the blight cuts them back
down to their roots.
Now, thanks to research and efforts by brilliant
scientists with The American Chestnut
Foundation, they have been able to cross the
American Chestnut with a Chinese Chestnut that
is blight resistant to help the American Chestnut
begin its repopulation of the Eastern United
States.
The Vernal Equinox
most sunlight. On December 21st or 22nd, the Winter
Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is most strongly
tilted away from the Sun, making it the darkest day of
the year, but also marks when the days will start
getting brighter!
Twice a year, our entire planet is in complete
equilibrium, equal parts day and night in both the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These are
known as the Equinoxes, with the Autumnal (Fall)
Equinox occurring on September 22nd or 23rd, and the
Vernal (Spring) Equinox occurring on March 20th or
21st. Today, our Sun was exactly vertically above a
point on our Earth’s Equator at 05:32 PM.
The seed used in today’s Tree Unity Ceremony
is a blight-resistant American Chestnut strain. Its
growth progress will be monitored to help
facilitate the research of the American Chestnut
Foundation.
The American Chestnut
The flow of nutrients is eventually choked off to
and from sections of the tree above the infection,
which would eventually kill the tree. Today,
American Chestnuts can still be found in the
Appalachian Mountains, recognizable by their
distinctive leaves; however, the specimens that
survive in the wild today only manage to grow for
a short while before the blight cuts them back
down to their roots.
Now, thanks to research and efforts by brilliant
scientists with The American Chestnut
Foundation, they have been able to cross the
American Chestnut with a Chinese Chestnut that
is blight resistant to help the American Chestnut
begin its repopulation of the Eastern United
States.
The seed used in today’s Tree Unity Ceremony
is a blight-resistant American Chestnut strain. Its
growth progress will be monitored to help
facilitate the research of the American Chestnut
Foundation.
The Vernal Equinox
most sunlight. On December 21st or 22nd, the Winter
Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is most strongly
tilted away from the Sun, making it the darkest day of
the year, but also marks when the days will start
getting brighter!
Twice a year, our entire planet is in complete
equilibrium, equal parts day and night in both the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These are
known as the Equinoxes, with the Autumnal (Fall)
Equinox occurring on September 22nd or 23rd, and the
Vernal (Spring) Equinox occurring on March 20th or
21st. Today, our Sun was exactly vertically above a
point on our Earth’s Equator at 05:32 PM.
The Forge of Stars
“We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year
old carbon.” – Joni Mitchell
Our Sun has a mass of 332,900 Earths, and
accounts for 99.86% of the mass in our Solar
System. Within the Sun’s center, the pressure is so
great that hydrogen atoms, the first element on the
periodic table, are pushed together to form helium
atoms, the second element. Because four hydrogen
atoms have a combined mass of 4.0312 amu, and
the single helium atom they combine to form has a
mass of 4.0026 amu, the missing mass is converted
to energy in fusion reactions according to E=mc2.
This is how the Sun produces the light and heat
powering all life on Earth.
Stars larger than our Sun fuse heavier elements up
the periodic table until they create iron. Because the
fusion reaction that generates iron produces no
excess energy, stars sufficiently saturated with iron
collapse in on themselves, and then, like a hammer
striking a rubber ball, rebound into an explosion
known as a supernova. These dramatic celestial
phenomenon have produced all the heavier elements
that exist in the Universe today.
The Forge of Stars
“We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year
old carbon.” – Joni Mitchell
Our Sun has a mass of 332,900 Earths, and
accounts for 99.86% of the mass in our Solar
System. Within the Sun’s center, the pressure is so
great that hydrogen atoms, the first element on the
periodic table, are pushed together to form helium
atoms, the second element. Because four hydrogen
atoms have a combined mass of 4.0312 amu, and
the single helium atom they combine to form has a
mass of 4.0026 amu, the missing mass is converted
to energy in fusion reactions according to E=mc2.
This is how the Sun produces the light and heat
powering all life on Earth.
Stars larger than our Sun fuse heavier elements up
the periodic table until they create iron. Because the
fusion reaction that generates iron produces no
excess energy, stars sufficiently saturated with iron
collapse in on themselves, and then, like a hammer
striking a rubber ball, rebound into an explosion
known as a supernova. These dramatic celestial
phenomenon have produced all the heavier elements
that exist in the Universe today.
The American Chestnut
The American Chestnut tree reigned over 200
million acres of eastern woodlands from Maine to
Florida, and from the Piedmont west to the Ohio
Valley, until succumbing to a lethal fungus
infestation, known as the chestnut blight, during
the first half of the 20th century.
An estimated 4 billion American chestnuts, 1/4 of
the hardwood tree population, grew within this
range. The American chestnut tree was an
essential component of the entire eastern US
ecosystem. A late-flowering, reliable, and
productive tree, unaffected by seasonal frosts, it
was the single most important food source for a
wide variety of wildlife from bears to birds.
Rural communities depended upon the annual
nut harvest as a cash crop to feed livestock. The
blight, imported to the US on Asian chestnut
trees, is a fungus dispersed by spores in the air,
raindrops or animals. It enters through a fresh
injury in the tree's bark. It spreads into the bark,
killing the underlayers of tissues as it advances.
The American Chestnut
The American Chestnut tree reigned over 200
million acres of eastern woodlands from Maine to
Florida, and from the Piedmont west to the Ohio
Valley, until succumbing to a lethal fungus
infestation, known as the chestnut blight, during
the first half of the 20th century.
An estimated 4 billion American chestnuts, 1/4 of
the hardwood tree population, grew within this
range. The American chestnut tree was an
essential component of the entire eastern US
ecosystem. A late-flowering, reliable, and
productive tree, unaffected by seasonal frosts, it
was the single most important food source for a
wide variety of wildlife from bears to birds.
Rural communities depended upon the annual
nut harvest as a cash crop to feed livestock. The
blight, imported to the US on Asian chestnut
trees, is a fungus dispersed by spores in the air,
raindrops or animals. It enters through a fresh
injury in the tree's bark. It spreads into the bark,
killing the underlayers of tissues as it advances.
The American Chestnut
The Forge of Stars
Elements forged within stars.
The American Chestnut was once a major
component of Eastern American Forests
(Note the man in the picture.)
The American Chestnut
Wedding rings are often made of silver, gold and
titanium--elements that only form when a star goes
supernova--meaning they probably had to travel
billions of years across time and billions of light years
across space to be here today.
The Forge of Stars
Elements forged within stars.
The American Chestnut was once a major
component of Eastern American Forests
(Note the man in the picture.)
Wedding rings are often made of silver, gold and
titanium--elements that only form when a star goes
supernova--meaning they probably had to travel
billions of years across time and billions of light years
across space to be here today.
Lazarus Taxon
Lazarus Taxon
A Lazarus Species or Taxon is a grouping of
organisms that has disappeared from the fossil
record only to reappear again at a later point in
history. “Lazarus” is a reference to a person
resurrected by Jesus in the New Testament’s Gospel
of John. One example of a Lazarus Taxon is the
coelacanth, a fish considered the “missing link”
between fish and tetrapods, which was thought to
have gone extinct 80 million years ago, but was
found alive in 1938.
Coelacanth
The Wollemi Pines (Wollemia) used in the ceremony
are a species that were previously only known from
two to 200 million year old fossils, until a field officer
discovered living specimens adventuring in the Blue
Mountains of Australia. The species is currently listed
as critically endangered, but is now commercially
available and is appearing in botanical gardens
around the world.
Lazarus Taxon
Wollemi Pine at the Norfolk Botanical
Gardens
Lazarus Taxon
A Lazarus Species or Taxon is a grouping of
organisms that has disappeared from the fossil
record only to reappear again at a later point in
history. “Lazarus” is a reference to a person
resurrected by Jesus in the New Testament’s Gospel
of John. One example of a Lazarus Taxon is the
coelacanth, a fish considered the “missing link”
between fish and tetrapods, which was thought to
have gone extinct 80 million years ago, but was
found alive in 1938.
Coelacanth
The Wollemi Pines (Wollemia) used in the ceremony
are a species that were previously only known from
two to 200 million year old fossils, until a field officer
discovered living specimens adventuring in the Blue
Mountains of Australia. The species is currently listed
as critically endangered, but is now commercially
available and is appearing in botanical gardens
around the world.
Wollemi Pine at the Norfolk Botanical
Gardens