WEDDING RECOLLECTIONS

This isn't a new post - it's harks back to a December 21st - 8 years ago ... Rhiannon and Ryan's wedding.  I was cleaning out my computer files a little bit ago and came across it. 

Wedding Recollections


I survived! The reception hall and the church are cleaned up. My garage stall is full of things I need to sort and find a place to put. I have cake I have to cut up and store in the freezer. So there are still several things to do - but for the most part our wedding is over.

Friday was rehearsal and other than being an emotionally charged mess - it went well. It all seemed so chaotic and wild and everyone was saying my name ... "Vonda ..." "Vonda ..." But we got through it and were able to get home and pick things up here a little bit before Randy picked up my 18 pizzas for our REHEARSAL pizza dinner! We got the pizza and pop all here before Sabbath and enjoyed a giant pizza feed with many people here. It was fun.

Sabbath we went to church - Randy sang in the Christmas program, so that was kind of nice (he sang Joseph’s Song ... He likes that song because Joseph sings "not bone of my bone - or flesh of my flesh ... And Randy can relate big time to that!") My sister in law and I made two HUGE lasagne’s and some rolls and my good friend Gloria had made two peanut butter pies (which everyone loved) and cookies and breads and we added all that to the church potluck and fed our guests that way. The school gymnasium was full!

We came home for what seemed like a brief time - and then it was time to begin getting the bride ready for the wedding. She and I went up early to the church and got her pretty dress on her. She just looked so pretty (remember this is MOM talking! *smile*)

The decorations, when all in place in the church were very beautiful. My sister in law Debbie was such a help. She just stepped in and took over putting up the decorations I had prepared and did a fantastic job. I was able to put out some of the things and then when the photographer started Randee and Ryan's private 1/2 hour photos - Randy and I ran home (5 minutes) and changed and got ready and then went back up to the church. I had been having the same dream for several nights - that I had gained 40 pounds and my dress wouldn't fit. So ... was relieved to find that not only did I NOT gain 40 pounds, but the dress still fit! Whew! (My husband cleaned up real good too and looked handsome to me in his tux.)

My Nick looked pretty cute in his tux as well. But I think the one who was the best looking in his tuxedo was Colton -- 2 years old. He was just precious.

I was extremely emotional during Friday's rehearsal - but Saturday I wasn't nearly as teary and actually felt pretty calm. Randy had mocked my tears and emotional state (though he DID really pitch in and help me so I wasn't so stressed that last day or so). When our daughter arrived in her spot to take her daddy's arm to begin their walk - tears welled up in both of their eyes. I caught a glimpse of them as Nick signalled it was time for me to walk with him down the aisle to my seat. I mouthed "I love you" to her and we went. My Nick looked so tall and handsome (again, remember this is MOM talking!) and I took his arm and he took me to my seat.

Then the guys came out onto the platform, and the flower girls began to come down the aisle - sprinkling petals all the way. Colton -- 2 years old was just precious, acting very much as we 1/2 way expected a baby to act in a wedding. The little flower girls were sprinkling their petals along the way and somehow Colton got distracted from his walk to the front and began STOMPING on the petals all the way down the aisle. STOMP - STOMP - STOMP ... oblivious to the fact that the bridesmaids had started down the aisle toward him. It was funny!

The girls in their purple dresses came in with their bouquets. Having had them in our home for the last couple of days we knew how much these young girls LOVE each other (there was no designated Maid Of Honor as they are all such good friends) it was kind of emotional to know they were, in a way, losing one of their girl gang - or at least there would be a change in the dynamics of the group!

And then ... "The song" began "here comes the bride" ... And we all stood. And as I turned to see my Randee, there in my line of view were my precious parents standing there looking toward where she would come. Dad with his barely seeing eyes and my mom so pretty ... On THEIR 50th Anniversary ... It was an emotional moment.

And then I could see her. She had gotten to where she needed to turn and come up the aisle. My niece adjusted the long train of her dress and she started down. And her daddy’s eyes and her eyes were both glazed with tears (and SMILES on their faces). When they got to me they stopped and I stood by my husband as ‘that boy’ came to get my girl. The pastor asked who gives this woman (woman???) -- and we said "we do". Then we hugged and kissed our baby good-bye and he kissed his mamma as well (yes! She came and was there!! PRAISE GOD!!)

They proceeded to the front where they kneeled together as Pastor David Lincoln began the service with a prayer. The sermonette was wonderful - serious, with a light hearted touch and just wonderful. (David grew up in our Muscatine church and is about my age, so we’ve known each other for many years. He was a farmer for a number of years and felt called into the ministry. He is a wonderful minister and drove from near Des Moines several times to be a part of our wedding. We were fortunate to have him officate. )

He pronounced them ‘man and wife’ and the singers sang "From This Moment" as the kids did their unity candle. One of the bridesmaids was able to step in for our missing vocalist and the song so good you would never know that they hadn’t always planned to sing together. And in a way it was more special because Amber was Randee’s former roommate and a special friend. As the song finished and Uncle Mitch returned to his seat and Amber returned to where she was standing - the bride and groom turned to face the congregation. It was at this point that Pastor Dave was to introduce them to the assembly ... And he FORGOT - he just stood there. So you could see Ryan kind of whispering and the light bulb come on in Pastor Dave’s eyes ... Ooops! And he made some jovial remark that made everyone laugh and it wasn’t so much a boo-boo as it was a HIGHLIGHT and he introduced them and told Ryan he could kiss his bride. It was so sweet!

The groomsmen and bridesmaids and flower girls all walked out, followed by Randee and Ryan -- and they ushered their guests out of the church which was really a neat thing! Thanks to whoever of you suggested that! It really was cool. They got to meet and greet their guests.

I had a good friend who took ‘charge' of the reception and so I knew that was in good hands and didn't need to go there and check things out. She had all the trees plugged in and the candles lit and the luminaries out and lit. The soup was on and warm. She made sure the cakes got set up in the proper spot and everything was in readiness for the guests as they arrived. We had one section for the bride and groom and another for the 50th anniversary.

The weather wasn’t bad - and we probably would have been okay with food that wasn’t warm, but the soup served in BREAD BOWLS was a hit. I heard over and over and over what a neat idea it was and how delicious the soup was (thank you sister Joy!!) . You would have thought I had invented a bread bowl - I was pleased that everyone really enjoyed it so much. My sister Gail did the punch and it was a slushy yummy mixture of fruit juices, strawberries and 7-UP. Not only was it tasty, it was pretty too! That was all I tasted that evening ... punch, because eating anything was NOT going to work with my nervous stomach (a FIRST!!).

The kids toasted each other or whatever you call that when the intertwine their arms and sip their punch. And they fed each other wedding cake. They looked so happy!

I had panicked and bought a sheet cake. BAD idea! I had more than plenty of cake, but I think mostly it was because the soup and soup bowls was so filling.

Mom and dad seemed to be having a good time with many guests of their own and many that were ‘shared’ guests (church family, family and friends).

We had music available to play in the background, but it was pretty loud with talking - so we didn’t keep the music on very long. We did play the "Chicken Dance" a few times. And once Randee, Randy and Uncles Mike and Gary all got up and did it together. It was funny. It was to be a commemoration of them all turning 50 in the next few months. Randy goes down on Jan. 7 and then Gary in February and Uncle Mike in April. 50-50-50!! So we all got a kick out of that. When they turned 40 - we had the 40 Y/O Olympics and they did cartwheels, sumo wrestling and other zany competitions to show they still had "IT"!

For me one of the biggest blessings of the reception was when Amber and Sammy - who were both in the wedding party - stood up and got the crowd’s attention and each did a toast to Randee and Ryan. They talked about their friendships and all - and most importantly both recognized God and asked for God’s blessing on their newly married friends. I thought it was such a beautiful testiment to these really good kids and their relationships. I was proud of them.

About 10-ish the Bride and Groom exited and probably within an hour or 1 ½ hours - the party had totally broken up and we did a bit of clean up and then came home ourselves.