One Wedding Down, the Big One Yet to Go

 

My niece, Rachel, got married on Friday, so that’s one down and one to go. I didn’t have to do anything for Rachel and Göran’s wedding other than show up, so it was the easy one. As the mother of the groom, however, I will be much more involved in John’s wedding.

My brother and his family don’t farm, but when he retired from his last church, he and my sister-in-law bought a farmhouse and the outbuildings that came with it. When Rachel and Göran decided to have an outdoor wedding on the farm, they knew that there was plenty of room in the barn and other buildings if the weather didn’t cooperate. Fortunately, though, it did. The sun beat down and made it rather warm when the service started, but it soon cooled off and the weather turned out to be ideal.

The full Camp contingent, including my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, was in attendance. We had a good visit without the rush that is likely to overwhelm us the next time we meet.

My brother performed the mostly traditional ceremony. Rachel and Göran wrote their own vows, as well, and it was clear that they understand what it takes to make a marriage work.

Although the ceremony and the bride’s dress were on the traditional side, not everything was. My sister-in-law grew up on a farm and is a farm girl through and through. She knows how to drive a tractor and there was one in the yard, so when someone dared her to chauffer the bride and groom around, she did, driving them along the road that leads to the farm. It was one of many wonderful photo ops.

Rachel and Göran are among the few people who actually make a living as performers. In fact, they met playing Mr. and Mrs. Banks in the musical version of Mary Poppins. So instead of the traditional couples’ dance, they performed “Everything” by Michael Buble.

The buffet was set up in the barn and the dancing was there, too, but we ate outside and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

The wedding and reception were delightful, but they are only the beginning.

My wish for the happy bride and groom lasts forever.

May God bless your marriage.