I'm finally coming back down to earth and gaining my wits again.  Your comments mean more than I can express adequately here.  Thank you all, my friends.

I'm not sure I got to savor the week as much as just use it to finish getting things ready, like reknitting a big swath of that sweater, Geoff.  The extra knitting gave me plenty of time to just sit and think and realize what a fortunate man I am.

Oh, yeah, keeping a napkin in hand, or at hand, is critical for me too, Timpac, but this particular disaster was more than any mere napkin could save!  

Ol Grizz, when I'm eating something I expect to be messy, and if I'm not with guests or out to eat, I regularly just tuck my beard into my t-shirt.  I think my wife, who does all the laundry at our house, would prefer I just let the beard take the hit, though

I don't know what I'd do without the front-facing camera on my phone, Steve!  That little device as saved me more grief than you can imagine, even if those around me think I'm a bit narcissistic looking at myself right after dinner  If guys like us could just learn to take smaller bites........

Thank you, Dave, as you can see from the smile on my face we had a great time!  Check out the more complete update below.

Yeah, Matt, his beard is a monster and absolutely deserving of the world title.  As for getting food in the beard, as I mentioned above to Steve, a front-facing camera phone is a god-send.  So, why not grow your beard out and give it a try

Thanks for stopping by, Ed!  It's great to hear from you again and I'm glad the beard's coming back.  

Dave and Dominik, thank you!  There are more pictures in the following update.

Thank you, ruloj!  The knitting really did come down to the wire as I discovered a major mistake that had to be fixed just a couple of days before the wedding!  I couldn't let my daughter down, though, of course.

We definitely got the memo on the color scheme, simmo, as you can see in the photos below.  The braid staid nice and neat throughout the day - a pleasant and unexpected surprise - but the mustache eventually sagged, fortunately not before the ceremony, though!  Thank you, sir!

I will do that, Trick, and thank you for your kind words.  I don't think I've ever been so proud, happy, nervous, and excited all at the same time, even for my own wedding!  As for the tie, well, I think my daughter would have snatched it out of my beard had I done that!  smiley: eek  It definitely would not have been part of the plan.

It is indeed great, Paul, and something I never expected to happen in my lifetime.  I also have to tell you that you were the inspiration for the pork-pie hat.  I had some time to kill before my haircut on Friday and I discovered a great hat shop just up the road from my barber's shop.  I walked in and right there was a stack of blue pork-pie hats so I tried one on.  It was perfect!  I'd have never even given one a second thought were it not for one of your recent updates!  Thank you!!!!! 

Todah, Beard Whisperer!  As you can see in the following update it was a glorious celebration of life and love.  I have to give my daughter all the credit for the style.  It was indeed very classy!

I get the two confused too, imaginary, though I think Irish Dan would say they're all waistcoats.  This fabric grew a bit when I blocked it, so the vest came out longer than I expected, but it still worked, thankfully!  Thank you, sir!

Thank you, Marty!  

I'm sure you do know the feeling, norsebeard, the feeling that there can't possibly be a happier person on the planet at that moment!  Yes, Madison's father did grow out his beard and joined him at the competition.  Here's a photo he posted on Facebook from the event.  As you can see, great beard genes run deep in Madison's family!

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Cheers, and thanks again, gents!
Tom


Some helpful links:
Library Central of Beard Growing


Taming the Wild Mustache
Tips for eating and drinking with a big mustache

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~ W. Somerset Maugham
A jerk with a beard is just a bearded jerk, but a bearded gentleman is awesomeness personified. ~ Triibeard