| | Chelsea and Nathan's Wedding Day - May 23, 2009 It was a beautiful day all around! You've may have seen some of the pics on Facebook already. Chelsea looked gorgeous in her simple ivory chiffon gown and lovely updo. Her groom looked dashing and teddibly British in his suit with waistcoat and cravat. The words we heard most often to describe her and the wedding were beautiful, radiant, elegant and sophisticated. Our guests said she was beaming, and they were right! My girl has a mega-watt smile and it was on display all day long.
Just before the service started, Chelsea and her daddy stood in the church foyer, just out of sight of the congregation. As the music started and the attendants began to walk down the aisle, my sweet Baby Girl was so excited she was jumping up and down.  She LOVES her Nathan.
She pulled herself together to walk gracefully down the aisle with her beloved Daddy. I know I am her mother, but I have never seen a lovelier bride. And she was beaming at her groom.
The pastor asked who gave her to be married to Nathan and Bruce said, "Her mother and I do." (I like it when just the Daddy walks the bride down the aisle, but then he gives credit to her mama, too.) The pastor gave a short message. Nathan's grandmother Maureen, wearing a hat of course as she is a proper Englishwoman, read Scripture. After the pastor spoke a bit more, Bruce read Scripture then walked over and placed his hands on Chelsea and Nathan and prayed a blessing over them. Then the pastor placed his hands on them, too, completing the circle, and prayed another prayer for them. (As the minister placed his hand on Chelsea's head, I know every woman in the church was thinking, Don't flatten her hair!)
When it came time to pronounce them husband and wife, they pastor didn't do this himself. We had printed in the program a reading for the whole congregation to give and everyone pronounced them husband and wife. It was different, but I kind of liked it.
Their vows were traditional English vows.
After the happy couple walked (danced, frolicked) up the aisle to the Turtles' Happy Together -- we had it cued to the first "I can't see me living nobody but you for all my liiife!" -- the ushers walked Nate's mom and me up the aisle, then the bride and groom returned to the front of the church where they greeted and released their guests. We had seen this done at another wedding (Dan and Pam's) and liked it so much. No receiving line, and everyone else got to sit down while they were waiting to be let out.
While this was happening in the sanctuary, I was manning the guest book and saying goodbye to everyone. Due to space limitations, we couldn't invite all the wedding guests to the reception, so it was especially important to me that one of us got to greet and say goodbye to each guest. Everyone signed the guest book (including their address to help with thank you notes). As one of our gifts to Chelsea and Nathan, Bruce and I had given them a leather Bible imprinted with both their names, so I asked our guests to also sign the front, blank pages in that. The guest book may get lost or packed away, but everytime they open that Bible they will see a tangible reminder some of the folks that love them.
The reception was so much fun. The library looked lovely. My boss, Sonya, had done so much that I know I truly can never thank her enough. Everything was perfect! Our friends really came through for us in HUGE ways and I absolutely can not repay. THAT is humbling. Our friends Sue and Lorry hosted three strangers for five days, threw us a huge rehearsal dinner, cooked a big wedding day breakfast for all the men, and hosted us for another barbecue last night. We are going over there in a few minutes to meet with Nate's family one last time before they head home. How do you thank someone who has served you so much??? I can't even imagine. I told Sue again last night how I feel about it and she said that's why the Lord was so clear when He told her to do it. She loves this kind of thing but it would've totally stressed me out. Plus we don't have enough bathrooms and bedrooms and all. I pray that the Lord really pours out heaps of blessing on Sue and Lorry and Sonya and everyone who was so good to us.
We had beautiful live cello and violin music at the wedding thanks to our neighbor, Matt, and our dear friend, Alaina. We had a great emcee and live music in the reception thanks to our friend Mark. Flowers graced our tables because of Nancy and Mel. Chelsea's friend Cassie made dozens and dozens of beautiful cookies, including her lemon ones that won a blue ribbon in the state farm show. And on and on. God's grace and favor and generosity were lavished upon Chelsea and Nathan through so many wonderful friends. I am so blessed.
Now the newlyweds are enjoying a fantastic honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. We'll pick them up at the airport Sunday evening and they'll come home with us for one night. Then Monday morning we'll deliver them to another airport and they'll fly back to England where they'll set up housekeeping as husband and wife.
We'll miss them, of course, but we are thrilled that they are so very happy together. God is good and He is faithful. Thank You, Jesus. |
