It was a simple wedding with simple sacred vows including words like in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer. And we've had all those.
There was no hype, no hoopla, no hours long photography session at the country club or park, just simple meaningful photos to capture the moment. There was certainly no run through the sandy beach trashing the dress after the wedding. It was a small town setting, no country club, no beach, but it would not have mattered if there were. This was a simple wedding, not a Hollywood production.
The bride wore white and carried white flowers. The men in the wedding party did not wear tuxedos, just white sport coats and black pants. The bride had her first manicure -- no mani-pedi for all the attendents and the flower girl. Five year olds did not have mani-pedis. I wonder why they do now - what do they have to look forward to?
There was a simple, meaningful ceremony -- the minister pronouncing them husband and wife was the brides brother. A family friend played Wagner's Bridal Chorus and Mendelssohn's Wedding March on a simple piano. No orchestra, no string quartet, just a simple piano and traditional music. The bride's voice teacher sang "One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story.
There wasn't a mile long procession of bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The maid of honor was the bride's best friend and the bridesmaid was her sister. The best man was the grooms best friend and the groomsman was his uncle. The grooms sister was the flower girl and the brides nephew was the ring bearer.
There was a simple cake and coffee reception. No one went into debt to pay for this wedding. There was no smearing of cake on the faces of the bride and groom. There was no D.J., no dinner, no dance, no champagne. Just people celebrating a wedding and wishing the bride and groom a happy life.
The guests were invited because they were friends and family not because it was politically expedient to invite someone. The small church was packed.
There was no wedding trip to Europe, the Bahamas or even Hawaii. There was a simple trip to Wisconsin Dells with a side trip to Milwaukee. They needed an apartment there, the bride needed a new job in a new city and the groom needed college text books rather than sunburns on the beach and debt.
Just a simple wedding and yet, three kids, eleven grandkids, one great grandchild and a lot of years later, we are still happily married. Maybe more people need a simple wedding without the hoopla and hype just love and commitment..
And they lived happily ever after! Not the end, the beginning!
xoxoXOXOxoxo
Lois
