Yesterday was Sarah and Joe’s wedding. Seven months of planning and about two weeks of final preparations, coordination and implementation, led to a muggy, at times rainy, and then beautiful, Saturday afternoon when Sarah nervously walked down the aisle on the arm of her father. About a third of the way down the aisle I saw her laugh and relax as her father whispered in her ear. I think it was probably at that point that my eyes started to water. I tried to tell myself it was too early to start crying and ruin my makeup! (Actually, I think I started to get teary just a little earlier as my son escorted me down the aisle when the mothers were seated.) Tears threatened to strike again as Sarah was saying her vows. Somehow, I managed to avoid breaking down in tears completely the rest of the afternoon.
After the ceremony it was time for the family portraits in the church. There were so many combinations of people stepping in and out of the picture as Sarah and Joe remained in the center of the frame as the link that connected us all. We had pictures with parents, with grandparents, with cousins, with aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters.
I was happy to see that there were so many family members in attendance, many of them traveling hundreds of miles (or more) to be there. It felt good to be included and to have my children there with me. Jeremy, my son, was an usher and it was a role that suited him perfectly. He was so handsome in his tuxedo as he escorted the ladies to their seats, and then later as he made his entrance into the reception with the bridal party. For Allyson, my daughter, it was the first time she was able to spend a lot of time with Doug’s side of the family. It was heartwarming to see how easily and quickly they made her feel welcome and loved. We all shared several moments on the dance floor, even once or twice with Doug, and we laughed and danced and made wonderful memories.
There was only one negative element throughout the day, but it would be best to just forget about it and maybe one day when we all look back and remember the day Sarah and Joe got married it won’t even be a vague recollection. We will only remember that as Sarah and Joe said their vows, we knew they were meant to be together. We will remember the dozen or more cakes that Sarah made herself the week leading up to the big day. We will laugh as we look through the pictures of the antics on the dance floor. And we will get misty-eyed once more as we remember that Sarah never looked more beautiful, and perfect, as she did yesterday afternoon on her wedding day.