June 23, 2012

Lots of things represent June 23, 2012 in our family.

My Mom's birthday is June 23 - She turned 82 years old yesterday.

In 2001 my husband's Mother passed away on June 23 - She was 76 and her birthday would have been on June 25.

And now a new memory for the day - yesterday was my niece's wedding day.

The wedding was held at a place called the Stone Barn.  The wedding itself was outside by two ponds under the shades of some trees.  There were 7 bridesmaids and 8 groomsmen and two flower girls.  The two little girls trotted down the walkway and then realized they forgot to spread their petals so they both went back up and came back down tossing the pedals!

The ceremony itself was short and sweet.  It wasn't a traditional ceremony but very nice.  They promised to love each other for who they are and other promises and were pronounced man and wife.  They walked up the walkway to a sea of bubbles (we were supplied with little bottles of bubbles!)

The reception immediately followed in a building past the ponds.  Inside of a sign-in book there was a large pic of a tree - you had to put your thumbprint as a leaf/branch of the tree and sign your name.  I thought this was a cool idea.  (Of course I haven't been to a wedding in about 10 years so maybe this is common!)  They also had pics of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents wedding photo's on the table.  Very nice.   They also had one of those photo booths where you put on goofy hats and take pics.  You get a pic and so do they and you sign their scrapbook.  Fun idea!

Lots of other little cool things and they did a great job of getting it all together.

So here are a few pics of the evening ( I didn't take very many - there were so many people taking pics it was hard to get any)

This was outside during the ceremony...

At dinner - the newly married happy couple...

Later in the evening... Cheryl (Mother of the bride on the far left) and the bride...

Maid of Honor - My niece Jessica...

My Mom and Dad...

My cousin Randy and my brother (father of the bride) Rusty...

My Uncle Bud and my cousin's wife Debbie...

The father and daughter dance started out very traditionally - then AC/DC blasted from the speakers and the blow up guitars came out.  If you know my brother this is perfect.  We were hysterical at this!

So all in all I'm so happy they had a great day for it - the weather couldn't have been more perfect and everything went off smoothly.  The happy couple will be leaving for their honeymoon on Monday to Punta Canta - sounds wonderful!