Aubrey & Jamie

Summer is the time of weddings, and this summer was no exception. The weddings of friend's children makes for special memories. Aubrey and Jamie were married by a pond in a garden setting in the shadow of a beautiful, old barn. Nearby, blueberry harvest was in full swing! The contrast of pickers and festive western attire created both unity and contrast.

From the smallest of the guests, you could feel the joy and excitement as you waited for the bridal party to arrive.

Soon, girls dressed in buttercup yellow and brown cowboy boots were escorted through the lawn by handsome dudes in boots and vests. 

And then the beautiful bride, Aubrey, was escorted down the aisle by her loving father. Aubrey was radiant!

Vows were repeated along with laughter, tears, and a sweeping kiss! Congratulations to a lovely and loving bride and groom! Wishing you much happiness and joy in the years ahead!

Best Wedding Wishes

We enjoyed a lovely week-end with Dad and Alma. They were here to attend the wedding of one of Dad's friends from grade school and high school days. It's precious to observe a friendship that has endured distance and time. It's also fun to listen to Dad tell stories of the adventures and experiences he and his buddy had while they were kids. There's nothing better than sipping tea while listening to Dad tell stories!

Congratulations to Juanita and Ed! Wishing you a happy marriage and many wonderful years together!

A Royal Wedding Pizza

By now you have probably seen a plethora of pictures of the royal wedding pair.  So, how's this for something new and unusual?  This picture is being forwarded along via emails and I think it's quite unique.  Prince Williams' suit is created from salami and peppers, while Duchess Kate's veil is fashioned from mushrooms.  Her dress is made from cheese.  According to the chief marketing officer for Papa John's, "it tastes as good as it looks".  Now, if you would like to see some serious wedding photos, the British Monarchy's Flickr photostream can be viewed here.  

An English Wedding

Have you noticed the hype?  There's going to be a wedding.  It's not just an ordinary wedding, but an English royal wedding.  The world is poised to tune in to watch the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday.  It will take place during the wee hours of the morning for those in America, and though many DVR's will be set to record, I'm quite certain that a fair number of anglophiles will be awake and watching the wedding live while sipping a cup of English tea.

It appears that Kate exudes a similar charm as Diana.  A true beauty, she has a glow about her and a look of genuine happiness.  Her sense of style is classic and understated with just the right amount of detail, color, and glam.

In some ways, it seems as if history is repeating itself.  It doesn't seem all that long ago that alarms were set for early morning hours as many of us woke in the middle of the night to view the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Di.  How the years have flown by, bringing joys and sorrows as time has passed. Princess Diana was the people's princess and is loved and missed by so many.  This time when the alarms will be set for an early morning wake-up call, it will be for a new generation.

Diana, Princess of Wales, left us too soon.  The beautiful, daughter-by-marriage that she never had the chance to meet, will soon find herself in a role much like Princess Diana's.  It seems certain that the new Princess Catherine will learn lessons from Princess Diana's life, embracing Diana's humanitarian efforts and charitable role.  And since Prince William is his mother's son, we can only hope that he has learned life's lessons too, and that he will love, honor, and appreciate his beautiful princess for a lifetime of happiness.

Will you be viewing the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton?

Gold Fish Aren't Gold...

Gold Fish

aren't gold
you know
but orange
and slippery
with thin frilly
fins and
eyes like
marbles and
mouths that YAWN

Today I watched them
swimming silently
smoothly around and around
and occasionallykissing the glass
walls of their enclosure and
I wondered if they were aware of how
incredibly boring their lives were
or were they perhaps having an intense mystical experience?

By Alison Cassidy

A Marriage

Congratulations to Sally and Brandon upon their marriage!

Nathan and Kara

Wishing Nathan and Kara a lifetime of wedded bliss! Your wedding was beautiful and your gracious hospitality shone through in every aspect. Kara, it has been a delight to watch you grow up to become the woman that God has created you to be! Blessings and best wishes for a happy life ahead.

Nathan and Kara
June 13, 2010
In the Beginning Wedding Garden

*Click on photos to enlarge

The Little Things. . .

Little details make a special occasion, like weddings, even more delightful. I'm finding that the weddings attended in which the guest is treated with grace and thoughtfulness are the most memorable. Yes, a wedding is for the bride and groom, but in a sense they are hosting a special event that brings many from far and wide, and at great expense for some. Showing care for the guest creates an atmosphere of mutual love and respect. In this case, the little details become great tokens of thoughtfulness. It's the little things, like having a photographer take a photo of each guest as they arrive for a wedding album or having cold tea and lemonade for the guests while they are waiting for wedding photos to be taken before the reception starts, that makes guests feel valued and as though they are an important part of a special day. Tokens don't need to be expensive or large. Something homemade or handmade can express great care in a simple way. I'm appreciating raspberry-rhubarb jam and apple-cinnamon toast topper in their beautifully decorated jars right now, and will open them and enjoy them later in a completely different way. Yum! Each bite will take me back to Andrew's and Annalisa's special day. They absolutely made each guest feel special and valued at their wedding celebration.

Berry of a Cake

Isn't this a beautiful cake? I wanted to share a picture with you, as I think this is a great idea for decorating all kinds of cakes! Raspberries, blueberries, and Marion berries along with a cluster of small, smooth berries on a stem (I don't know what kind they were), arranged strategically on this cake. Placed at corners and in an artful arrangement on the top, this beautiful wedding cake inspires! The same idea can be used to decorate birthday cakes, cupcakes, or cheesecake. Berry sweet!

Wedded Bliss

Andrew and Annalisa celebrated a beautiful and blissful wedding with family and friends during the holiday week-end. An organic farm with Mt. Hood as the backdrop created an idyllic setting for such a special occasion. Guests were welcomed graciously and their comfort considered during the entire afternoon. It was such a pleasure to share their joy with them.

Wishing them God's blessing upon their marriage with much happiness in the years ahead!

[Click on photo for larger view]

Congratulations, Freddie and Cynthia

On Saturday, 07 - 07 - 07, it was reported that 38,000 weddings took place in the United States. It's likely that several blog readers were in attendance at one of these happy affairs. Although some brides and grooms chose this day because they believed the date would bring them luck and good fortune, I suspect most choose 07 - 07 - 07 because it was a novelty. Or maybe it was because that way one of the pair wouldn't forget an anniversary date! But, whatever the reason. . .you can be sure that it was a special day for many brides and grooms!

We were blessed to attend the wedding of Cynthia and Freddie.
Cynthia has been an important part of our life since she was the seven-year-0ld neighbor who lived next door. Cynthia loves babies, and when Rylan was born she was at the age where a baby next door was a major attraction. She spent countless hours in our home, playing with the boys, reading to them, and helping to care for them. She was like their 'big sister' and I enjoyed having a girl around the house to talk to. It seems just yesterday, yet here she is, all grown up and a married woman. It's my prayer that God will bless them with a long and happy marriage. Both are teacher's and have much in common and a long courtship has given them time to become one another's best friends.

The reader board at the school where they both
teach is declaring best wishes to the entire city!

The little alter boy assists the Monsignor by holding his book during the service.

The happy bride and groom,
just moments after they have been
declared 'husband and wife'.

Scenes from a Happy Day

The children were adorable! Cynthia's nieces were pretty flower girls in white and her nephew was a ring bearer who took his role very seriously!

A quiet moment for the mother of the bride --- joyful on this much anticipated day.

Sisters sharing a moment of quiet contemplation.

A Happy Family

True Love

"Oh, the comfort --- the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person --- having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."

Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

The marriage of Christiana and KC

Love. . .a Lifelong Affair

"The growth of true friendship
maybe a lifelong affair."
 
Sarah Orne Jewett