When the guests gathered at 4 pm for Francis and Libby's wedding, everything was set up and ready to go, with plenty of parking along the road: |
| One of the perks of rural living: plenty of parking |
The long tables were set up with tablecloths and burlap runners, with centerpieces of flower bouquet and pots of succulents:
Bales of hay covered with vintage tablecloths served as benches:
Iced beer in an old bathtub, plus two kinds of locally-brewed craft beer on tap:
Four quilts that Debbie made since January, all "Around the World" pattern, were tossed over a chain-link fence for color and camouflage:
(Pause: Four quilts made while you're madly helping to plan a wedding and busy being employed?)
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| This quilt goes to Libby and Francis. (I lent my Bernina for Debbie to use for machine-quilting, my contribution to this gargantuan effort.) |
Silverware ready for the buffet dinner:
Around 4:30, the crowd of more than 100 guests migrated over to the ceremony area.
First down the aisle: two of Libby's cousins with the couple's dogs:
Two more cousins, with sunflower bouquets:
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| Short boots with dresses was the order of the day |
Libby's sister, Annie, as maid of honor:
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| She also carried a cell phone for the bride |
And then Debbie escorted her daughter down the aisle.
The officiant was a judge who's a family friend:
Libby using her cell phone to read her vows:
Francis looking very happy walking up the aisle:
Wedding party group shot, minus two bridesmaids (sorry!):
One of the best-dressed guests, I thought:
Debbie and me, beers in hand--could have been 1970...
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| ...except we're both blonder than we were then. |
One of the most moving parts was Debbie giving a heartfelt toast, thanking her "village" not only for the help they'd given preparing for the wedding (including helping to paint her house and bringing food to the wedding), but also for support during a difficult divorce, especially from her sister Katie (right), their parents, and Debbie's former babysitting co-op from Mt. Washington.
Here's Debbie giving her toast, with younger daughter, Annie, standing by.
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| How many MOBs wear short red lace dresses with boots? |
And Francis and Annie listening to Debbie's toast:
Dinner was locally- and organically-raised. Debbie bought the pig months ago and went to watch it be butchered. Libby chose the recipes for baked beans, salads, and mac 'n cheese, and friends prepared them and brought the food.
After dinner, the band, LA Hootenanny, took over, the sun slipped behind the hills, and the lights came on.
Dessert was a wedding cake baked by Annie, plus a dozen home-made pies made by Debbie's friend Dianne, one of which Jerry got to bring home and eat three times a day:
Note the tiny pastry hearts on the crust.
We left for home the next morning, after a quick trip to Debbie's to pick up the pie and the sewing machine!
Still shaking my head over where 44 years have gone and how someone I met when I was 20 has a married daughter.
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