Our Wedding

I've finally begun to go through our wedding pictures, and they brought back so many memories that I'd like to share with you.

When Chris and I began discussing getting married, about 3 weeks into dating, I finally felt the freedom to really think and imagine what I would want in a wedding. Most girls start planning their wedding around the age of 8. I didn't do that very much, and as I got older and remained single, I was afraid to even think what I'd want in a wedding, fearing that the disappointment of never having one would overwhelm me.

Having been to a number of weddings, and never being one to conform, I definitely knew what I didn not want. I did not want invitations with multiple layers or vellum. I did not want matching bridesmaid dresses in some outlandish color that requires getting shoes dyed. I did not want the preacher to present his 10 points on how to have a successful marriage. I did not want the wedding march. I did not want special music. I did not want a cake cutting ceremony because I knew it would be too tempting to shove cake in my new husband's face despite thinking that is kind of tacky. I did not want to throw the bouquet because it turns lovely, sweet girls into scary linebackers and it doesn't work anyway. And finally, I did not want prissy food that requires four trips through the line with a plate in each hand to finally feel full. Not that these are bad things. They just weren't me things. Thankfully, they weren't Chris things either.

So we decided to break the nuptual mold and do it our way, regardless of expectations, and it worked. We set our wedding on a horse farm, with green pastures and white fences, under a huge white tent. Our guests sat at tables during the entire ceremony and reception, drinking sweet tea from mason jars. Gerber daisies and candles brought color and light to each table.





Chris and his guys wore black suits with no ties (they LOVED that), and my girls wore black dresses of their choice. You've got to be able to wear it again, right? My sister, Connie, played Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing on the banjo as my both my parents walked me down the aisle, alight with white rose petals my four flower girls so gently drizzled along the way. Our friend, Rick, prayed for us. Then we, the happy couple, sat on a rod iron bench, raised on a platform and facing our guests as my adopted aunt and uncle read scripture. Then Danny, a friend and mentor to us both, talked briefly about us and about how we hoped our marriage would represent God's grace and bring Him glory for the rest of our lives. Then we stood and said our vows, before our Lord and our friends and family, exchanged rings, and finally, Chris kissed his bride. Booya.





Finally, we were married, and the party began. Danny's BBQ provided a bounty of meat and beans, and people filed through the farm's pretty barn, filling their plates. A huge basket filled with the makings of smores invited people to the fire pit to make dessert. A game of corn hole started by the barn as Rift filled the air with bluegrass tunes. A table filled with baskets of candy provided our guests with a little take home gift, and opposite that sat another table, towering with gourmet cupcakes topped with sugared daisies, replacing the traditional cake.





One of my favorite moments in our wedding oddly enough didn't involve my new husband. My mom's family, from western Kentucky, made a huge effort to come to our special day. They drove over 10 hours to be there, and I wanted to thank them in a memorable and meaningful way. Muhlenberg County Kentucky, where they live, where my mom grew up, and where I spent some of my best summers and Christmases, holds a very place in my heart, and in the heart of John Pryne who wrote a well known bluegrass song about his own love for this place. So, to honor my family, Connie and I sang it for them. It was hard to not cry during that song, but we made it through, and I think they liked it.



Finally, Chris and I made our big exit, surrounded by a sea of our friends and bubbles. We drove off in an antique car borrowed from a friend of a friend. That was the start of our marriage, and it definitely began with a bang. It warms my heart when people still talk about how fun, easy, and different our wedding was. That was kind of the idea, you know?





I would also like to thank Poiema Photography (www.poiemaphotography.com) for our amazing photos. They blessed us with their talent, their work ethic, their creativity, and their dedication to capturing everything about our day. Thank you!