I know some people [read: guys] think most weddings are a social convention that devour entire bank accounts and cause more female breakdowns than they'd care to clean up after. The grooms I know are famously good sports and become well acquainted with colors they didn't know existed (what the heck is ochre, anyway?), the merits of Pachelbel's Canon in D, and the difference between tulle and toile.
I feel a bit differently about weddings. Weddings are an intersection of almost all the things I love best in life - music, dancing, flowers, love, friends, family, dresses, food, tradition, innovation, and promises that God ordained to create marriages that look like His love for the church. Culturally, they stand as one of our last symbols in support of marriage and family, with vows going back hundreds of years to Jolly Old England's Book of Common Prayer ("for better or for worse" sound familiar?).
Oh, sure, you can go to boring weddings, or stuffy weddings, or weddings that are just plain awkward, but weddings done well don't have to be any of those things. Incidentally, they don't have to be expensive, either.
Well, friends, as the title suggests, I'm on the wedding circuit. May 18 was number one of four in four consecutive weekends. Huzzah! Let's eat, drink, and get married!
Carlie and Austin
I've known Carlie since I was about 5 years old. She was the spunkiest, most impish, adorable little tomboy you ever saw. We were fast friends from day 1. We've kept in touch in the last (oh dear heavens) almost 20 years by snail mail, family vacations and now, social media. I met Austin over Spring Break, when I was in Colorado hanging out with Carlie and her family. He loves Jesus and is head over heels for Carlie. I was sold.
Two and a half months later, the parentals and I hopped on a jet plane and headed to our old stomping grounds in northern Colorado. We wined and dined Friday night (ok, not really) at Beau Jo's Pizza in Ft. Collins, which I recommend without hesitation. Saturday, we stopped by wedding HQ to lend a hand setting tables and fluffing tissue paper poofs. Bride et al were in good spirits, there was no sign of stress, and all the details were falling into place. We made our exit to don our dresses and tame our tresses.
The venue was the bride's parents' farm. They set up rows of white chairs on the front lawn. A flock of pink tulle-clad flower girls were herded down the aisle by Carlie's brother-in-law. The bridesmaids, all in stunning charcoal grey maxi convertible dresses [read: long flowing dresses with straps that can tie in almost any way you can imagine] followed down the grassy aisle carrying bouquets they had made themselves from selections of calla, orchid, camellia and other yellow and pink blooms. The bride walked down with her sweet father in a gorgeous dress with billowing skirt and classy lace shoulder straps. It was an incredible transformation from barefoot, tree climbing little squirt to beautiful woman walking down the aisle on her father's arm. (Though she hasn't grown out of the glint of mischief, it still sparkles in her brown eyes.)
All was calm, all was bright until... Colorado's unpredictable weather made an appearance and the wind began blowing sideways, a few notches up from "light spring breeze". The wedding party was far from nonplussed, hair being tossed in the breeze. Then we saw it. About 5 fields away was a wall of water, and it wasn't standing still like Moses at the Red Sea. It was steadily getting closer, and we knew if it reached us, we'd be soaked and freezing in seconds.
When it was about two fields away, almost as if they had choreographed it, or ordered it online from the weatherman, the wall of water slid to the side. The gray clouds accumulating overhead parted, and the sun broke through. It was a touch you could only hope for on your wedding day. And yes, later there was a rainbow without the hassle of rain, so their wedding party shots are framed by a rainbow. And yes, I'm serious.
The breeze was still a bit crisp, so we retreated to the reception tent that had been erected in the field next to the house. Carlie and Austin love Greek food, so that's what they served. I can speak from many run ins with wedding chicken and wedding green beans, pitas with hummus and salad were a refreshing twist on wedding fare.
And then, drum roll please, one of my favorite things in life - though they can be a real drag at weddings if your DJ doesn't know his bass from his treble - the dance floor. Let me tell you, Carlie's and Austin's was packed the entire night. We danced everything from the Cotton Eyed Joe to the Way You Look Tonight to Gangnam Style. Even after we sent the bride and groom off, the party didn't end. We cleaned up and went right back to the dance floor. Carlie's dad pulled his truck into the tent and turned on the radio for us. We danced until 1 in the morning.
It was a fantastic wedding to attend.
Much love,
Little Miss Sunshine
I feel a bit differently about weddings. Weddings are an intersection of almost all the things I love best in life - music, dancing, flowers, love, friends, family, dresses, food, tradition, innovation, and promises that God ordained to create marriages that look like His love for the church. Culturally, they stand as one of our last symbols in support of marriage and family, with vows going back hundreds of years to Jolly Old England's Book of Common Prayer ("for better or for worse" sound familiar?).
Oh, sure, you can go to boring weddings, or stuffy weddings, or weddings that are just plain awkward, but weddings done well don't have to be any of those things. Incidentally, they don't have to be expensive, either.
Well, friends, as the title suggests, I'm on the wedding circuit. May 18 was number one of four in four consecutive weekends. Huzzah! Let's eat, drink, and get married!
Carlie and Austin
I've known Carlie since I was about 5 years old. She was the spunkiest, most impish, adorable little tomboy you ever saw. We were fast friends from day 1. We've kept in touch in the last (oh dear heavens) almost 20 years by snail mail, family vacations and now, social media. I met Austin over Spring Break, when I was in Colorado hanging out with Carlie and her family. He loves Jesus and is head over heels for Carlie. I was sold.
Two and a half months later, the parentals and I hopped on a jet plane and headed to our old stomping grounds in northern Colorado. We wined and dined Friday night (ok, not really) at Beau Jo's Pizza in Ft. Collins, which I recommend without hesitation. Saturday, we stopped by wedding HQ to lend a hand setting tables and fluffing tissue paper poofs. Bride et al were in good spirits, there was no sign of stress, and all the details were falling into place. We made our exit to don our dresses and tame our tresses.
All was calm, all was bright until... Colorado's unpredictable weather made an appearance and the wind began blowing sideways, a few notches up from "light spring breeze". The wedding party was far from nonplussed, hair being tossed in the breeze. Then we saw it. About 5 fields away was a wall of water, and it wasn't standing still like Moses at the Red Sea. It was steadily getting closer, and we knew if it reached us, we'd be soaked and freezing in seconds.
When it was about two fields away, almost as if they had choreographed it, or ordered it online from the weatherman, the wall of water slid to the side. The gray clouds accumulating overhead parted, and the sun broke through. It was a touch you could only hope for on your wedding day. And yes, later there was a rainbow without the hassle of rain, so their wedding party shots are framed by a rainbow. And yes, I'm serious.
The breeze was still a bit crisp, so we retreated to the reception tent that had been erected in the field next to the house. Carlie and Austin love Greek food, so that's what they served. I can speak from many run ins with wedding chicken and wedding green beans, pitas with hummus and salad were a refreshing twist on wedding fare.
And then, drum roll please, one of my favorite things in life - though they can be a real drag at weddings if your DJ doesn't know his bass from his treble - the dance floor. Let me tell you, Carlie's and Austin's was packed the entire night. We danced everything from the Cotton Eyed Joe to the Way You Look Tonight to Gangnam Style. Even after we sent the bride and groom off, the party didn't end. We cleaned up and went right back to the dance floor. Carlie's dad pulled his truck into the tent and turned on the radio for us. We danced until 1 in the morning.
It was a fantastic wedding to attend.
Much love,
Little Miss Sunshine
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