Snapshots of a Wedding, part 3

To me, weddings are synonymous with tears, or what our family calls, "happy crying".  We happy cry a lot around here - through the finale of "Beauty and the Beast", every time Sara Groves sings "Small Piece of You" and throughout the "Amazing Race" as contestants overcome trials.  

I've known for a while that Norah is a happy crier, but another one joined the club this weekend.

There were the expected teary eyes during the wedding:

... as the organ began the triumphant fanfare and all heads swiveled to catch a glimpse of the Bride,

(first tears escaped)

... in response to the Father of the Bride escorting his little girl down the aisle and when he handed her off to the Groom,

(sniffle, sniffle)

... when the congregation sang together, "Brother, Let Me Be Your Servant",

(gulp, snuffle)

... as the Bride and Groom exchanged vows,

(sniff and dab the eyes)

... and as the recently hitched couple walked arm-in-arm up the aisle.

(dabbing and smiling, simultaneously)

As the wedding party arrived back in the parlor, doors swinging closed behind us and bridesmaids casting off their pointy-toed shoes, cheerful hugs were exchanged.  Relief and happiness flooded the faces of the Bride and Groom and the rest of us relaxed, knowing that the "work" was over.  

It was then that I felt little hands desperately clutching my dress.  Turning my head, I found my Ashley with her face buried in the folds of my skirt, sobbing.  Bending down, I ran my head over her hair and asked, "Is this happy crying?"  Still nestled in my dress, she nodded and sniffled, in response.

Being a happy crier myself, I knew that the only thing to do was to let her go ahead and have a good cry, even if my dress suffered the consequences.  A few minutes passed and she peeked out from the purple fabric.  We dried her tears, she managed a chin-trembling smile and then she was off, laughing and giggling with her cousins again.

Happy tears ... the way our tender hearts stay tender.  And why we always have a tissue in our pocket.

Snapshots of a Wedding, part 2

Another memorable aspect of the wedding weekend was the diversity of people involved in the celebration, all with ties to the happy couple.  We joked throughout the weekend about the intimacy of having dinner with 40 of your closest friends and family!

The melting pot of friends and family was an astonishing mix ...

guests from back east and guests from the northwest,

guests living in town and guests flying across the Atlantic,

friends with Boston accents and friends speaking only Spanish,

close-knit childhood friends and friends not seen since childhood, and

old family friends and new-found friends.

With this hodge-podge of friends and families comes a treasure trove of stories to tell.   And backstories to share.  And explanations to those stories.  And footnotes to their anecdotes.  And laughter.  Lots of laughter.

It was marvel the way that, in spite of the age differences, the differing family histories, the extent of familiarity among guests and even language barriers, that stories could be told, appreciated and enjoyed by everyone present.

And we made even more stories this weekend.  Stories that will be told, appreciated and enjoyed again and again.  That is the beautiful way that God weaves families and friends together so that when we return back east or to the northwest or across the Atlantic or just back across the state, we're still knit together.

Snapshots of a Wedding

This past weekend, we had the joy of participating in the wedding of my husband's sister and her new groom.  Five days of family, friends and festivities!

Congratulations, again and again, Stephanie & Ned!

Last evening, as the dust settled following our feverish unpacking of our slush-covered van, we sat around the dinner table, munched on post-wedding pizza and tried to capture a few of the snapshots of the celebration, hoping to keep these precious and sacred moments from escaping away into the ordinariness of our school night.  Or the seven loads of laundry waiting to be loaded.

A few images floated to the surface of our reminiscing ...

In the few quiet moments before company arrives, there is a busy-ness.  Last minute preparations before the fun.  Straightening renegade pillows on sofas, stowing away migrating tennis shoes, freshening up and taming cowlicks and quick checks to make sure dinner is in order.

And then there's a knock at the door.

Suddenly the house erupts in excitement.  A dozen voices speaking at once and arms stretched for hugs with cheeks turned for kisses.  A traffic jam on the front steps while cold air sneaks in.  The gusts blow scarves from guests and cause young hostesses to scurry back to their toys on the living room floor.  Greetings to cousins, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles.  Introductions of new friends; names spoken, forgotten, repeated and remembered.  A chorus of hello, you've grown, welcome and come in fill the previously quiet and waiting home.

I love the cacophony at the front door.  The clamor to greet and be greeted.  The cries of joy at being reunited under one roof for a spell.  I love the commotion that comes when the door bell rings ... and the guests arrive.