I've had a lot of fun researching this wedding. At left is a gown, circa 1854. The bridal corset below is a bit later. And the wedding bonnet at the last is from 1830 or so. White wasn't always the most popular color for brides. That's more a modern invention. During colonial times the preferred color was yellow. In the scene I'm writing, my 1822 bride wears blue ~ "Married in blue, ever true." A bit of white heather in the bouquet was considered lucky. May was avoided as an unlucky month as was January. Superstitions abounded!
Mrs. Lindsey Duncan
announces the marriage of her daughter
Louise
to
Mr. Willie J. Blanton
Thursday, June the twenty-second
nineteen hundred eleven
At home
after July the fifteenth
Berea, Kentucky
*The bride was dressed by her "best maid" and every article had to be new
*The bride's party had to reach the church first
*The groom could not see the bride the day of the wedding till the ceremony (that hasn't changed!)
*The present of a hat was often given to the minister
*Bride's cake was often hidden beneath the pillow of an unmarried girl in hopes they'd dream of their future husband
*Honeymoons, or wedding journeys, often lasted a month or more
I'd love to hear about your wedding, whether in person or on paper or the one you're dreaming of! No doubt it will help my storybook nuptials:) Did you observe any traditions or hope to?
I am not married, so I haven’t had a wedding. When I do get married (Lord willing), I want it simple! I just cannot fathom spending huge amounts of money on one day, and I don’t want the stress of a big wedding. I want something small, in a church, with family and close friends only. I have several friends who are getting married right now, and I constantly hear them talking about all the stress and the finances. Yeah…..no thanks!
ReplyDeleteEmma, You're so wise! We had a very simple wedding, too, with only about 50 people in attendance. Finances were tight so I took a second job to pay for my dress and the cake. Very inexpensive but memorable - though I do wish I'd splurged on a good photographer! I can't justify the expense either as a big wedding usually turns into a big stress. Sadly, I know a bride who spent over 50k on her wedding and reception only to have things end soon after. If I could give any advice it would be to have a nice honeymoon - or save that wedding money for a house. Do I sound like your mother here - lol;)!
DeleteWhat tiny waist on the dress in that first picture!! LOL. A little envious of that tiny waist but then again my ever expanding waist is very welcome;)
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I got married here in Scotland but we wanted to make it a bit American and a bit Scottish. I wanted hubby to wear a traditional kilt but he refused LOL. His cousin played the bagpipes as I was arriving to the church and after the ceremony. We also had a caleidh (Scottish traditional dancing) in the evening. I love love love caleidh dancing! And we have the most stunning photos as our wedding photos were taken at some ruins of an old Abbey.
Oh Eva, A Scottish wedding sounds like a fine thing!! All that history - I would so love to see your pics:) Chuckling about that kilt as I'd certainly ask my groom the same! Being a fan of bagpipes, I would be the first guest there and the last to leave - lol! The caleidh sounds wonderful as I love to dance, too. BTW, I have a wonderful book here titled "Scottish Customs from the Cradle to the Grave" by Margaret Bennett that makes for addicting reading and research! Since my Ballantynes have Scottish roots, I have to add in a Scots custom or two:)
DeleteAs for that waistline, I don't think mine was ever that small!! I hope you're feeling good and counting down till Sept:) Hope I'm getting that due date right - a wee lass or laddie, I'm wondering?!
I love the bagpipes too! I could seriously listen to them all day! Was disappointed that I was the last to arrive and didn't get to listen to it for that long haha!
DeleteI'm feeling great and yup am due Sept 14th! Have my 20wk scan next Tuesday, hoping that the sonographer tells us the gender but it's not the policy in this part of Scotland so it would be a miracle if she did! My momma gut says I'm having a boy but I could totally be wrong lol!
I don't have any wedding photos on this computer, but here is a link to the Abbey where we had our photos taken. Some good history as well!
Deletehttp://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/deer/deerabbey/index.html
That abbey is gorgeous - and so, so historic! It makes America feel like a newborn, speaking of babies:) I can just imagine how beautiful it must have been for you both that day, either sunny or cloudy. I would think an overcast day would give it a very romantic, haunting feel! Thanks so much for the link - it's certainly breathtaking and worth lingering over...
DeleteI'm so excited about your new baby - it's like opening a present on delivery day, not knowning which it will be. I didn't want to know for mine! But your mama instinct might very well clue you in;) You're over half way there, Eva!!!! And no more morning sick 4 u, or so I hope, though my second baby kept me a bit off for 6-7 months. But no queasiness the first time round at all...
Bless you and your family today!
Hi Laura, hope you're having a good week. Wedding scenes are fun. :-) My wedding was quite comical. Ignoring my better judgement, I pressured David into agreeing on October 1st (we had just met that April) because my dad lived in Russia and would only be in the States for a few weeks that September. There was no way I was waiting until the following year. And so, we did our wedding on an extremely tight budget.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that went wrong was the song I walked down the aisle to. My maid of honor and I had picked out a CD of wedding songs a few days before, and I hadn't listened to them. So I walked down the aisle to a choir singing the wedding march. Then, David couldn't find the ring. I stared at him like, "really?" Then laughed when my seven-year-old brother holding out the ring bearer's pillow. Someone had tied it to the pillow.
I was so nervous that I blew out the unity candle instead of the single candle I had used to light the unity candle. (I couldn't make this stuff up.) During the reception, a cake tier fell on the floor. (One of the worst decisions of my life -- me and a friend had MADE my wedding cake, and we hadn't used the supporting collumns correctly.) And last but not least, our DJ got David's playlist mixed up, and we danced to a very suggestively worded country song for our first dance. LOL!
Oh Gwen!! Can you hear me laughing - more in delight than anything else!! NO, you couldn't make this stuff up;) It's priceless. And much more memorable than a flawless ceremony and reception (that kind only exists in our imagination, anyway). And you've given me a wonderful idea to insert a little "oops" into the wedding scene I'm writing. Bless you for that!!
DeleteI would have loved to have been at your wedding!! I think you must be the queen of composure now after all that... I can totally understand about the rush. Randy asked me to marry him in May and we married in September. Not a lot of time to get things right! But strangely enough most of the happiest couples I know met and married within a few months, some as little as 3 weeks!
Thanks so much for sharing your day here. I won't forget it:)
Not married yet but when I do get married if it's in God's plan for me. I want a simple outdoor wedding somewhere in Kentucky. Unlike most brides I want a May wedding which is almost next to impossible in my hometown, because of everything that goes on during May in my hometown. But a girl can dream. I want to walk down the aisle to violin music instead of the wedding march. I want to do the whole two different colors of sand in the vase instead of the unity candle which doesn't work for an outdoor wedding. My dream location for my wedding if I could afford it would be an outdoor wedding at Locust Grove.
ReplyDeleteOH Carissa ~ love the violin idea! Nothing sweeter or more romantic than that:) And I nearly swooned when you said Locust Grove! I fell in love with the whole estate when I researched TCL there. I imagine they've seen quite a few weddings!! A sunny but not too warm day in May would be heavenly. Kentuckians love May. I'm remembering May is Derby month and then May Day celebrations and maybe a few I'm forgetting. Love the sand idea - that is new to me as I'm an older bride - so hearing fresh ideas from up and coming brides is sure fun. The sand brings to mind two people becoming one as the different shades of sand blend together. OH MY! Can you tell I love weddings?!
DeleteWe had an engagement of six months and the wedding was in January. We had a BIG wedding, 400 people in the church we were attending, which fit plenty and was still slightly decorated from the holidays. We added columns and tulle to the decor up front as well. I had 9 bridesmaids (in classic black dresses), and Rich had 8 groomsman. It was VERY important to me at that time to have all 9- sister in laws, and friends from childhood and church. My wedding dress was divine- rosettes on the bustle and it trailed a bit. It was sleeveless, and I wore vintage looking pearl earrings and necklace. My bouquet was Leonidas roses. I came down to the violin song from Last of the Mohicans and the prelude music was piano music by Robin Spielberg. We had several songs sung during the wedding- some commented it spoke to their heart because the ceremony was almost a worship service. I liked that- because we wanted the Lord to be such an important part in our marriage from the beginning and having songs such as Be Thou My Vision and Shout To the Lord in the ceremony itself was what we decided to do. We had an appetizer/cookies/cake reception at the church following the candlelight (7 pm) wedding and a string quartet played for the guests. We took pics before, and I met Rich in a room behind the sanctuary before everyone gathered for pics. There goes tradition for ya! Also, one of the most memorable things was Rich playing Moon River for me at the reception, on his harmonica. When we lit the unity candles, the one candle wouldn't stand straight up again and Rich, thinking on his feet, took a few seconds to let wax drip from the lit candle into the holder and then set the candle back in. LOL. Something unique we did was to give a rose to each mother during one of the songs. After all I have written here, you could imagine the wedding program. We wrote a few sentences about each person in the wedding party. And then writing out the songs, etc. WHEW! IT was a mini book! LOL! Printed on parchment like paper, and tied beautifully with black ribbon. As I am a different gal then I was back then, having experienced years of being a mom and wanting life simpler, I would now prefer a simple wedding in a little chapel in the woods. :) With violin, still, and with my dreamy husband, Rich. But, I'd still like the same dress. :) ~AMY
ReplyDeleteAmy, I love your memories/uniqueness with your ceremony - it's so YOU!! It reminds me so much of my brother and Nicia's wedding - 400 or so guests and lots of attendants and more like a worship service. I think it's so charming Rich played the harmonica for you:) Now that's a hero!! Your own Moon River solo:) Your dress sounds gorgeous and I'm such a fan of pearls (I wore them, too, that day). And I think your programs sound so personal and interesting and right up this writer's alley:) But then everything sounds right up my alley with all this wedding talk...
DeleteI had to smile when I remembered you walk down the aisle to LOTM - that particular violin piece. I can't tell you how many times I listened to that one song while writing Courting Morrow Little. OH MY! Such romantic music - very intense and frontier-ish, too.
And I must confess, if I had to do it over I'd wish for a bit bigger wedding and would definitely choose a different dress! Though you would probably like it given it's in a medieval style, now rolled up in a bag in the garage - sigh. Yours sounds more my style. I'm not sure what I was thinking back then! Funny the things we'd change if we could. So happy we'd both still keep our husbands, though;)
Your dress, Laura, definitely sounds like one I'd love! I have to take back what I said about still wearing the same dress- I would possibly use that same one however the one I really wanted had the wonderful look with the cascading sleeves, colonial style I suppose, and oh....goodness. I will just have to take a photo of my bridal scrapbook of all my ideas from long-ago and post it somewhere. I KNOW that dress is pictured in that notebooks as it was torn from a magazine. Anyways..I feel like I'm at tea with all your readers, talking about the delightful topic of weddings. This is SO FUN and personable!!
DeleteAmy, I really hope you do that bridal scrapbook post idea ~ endlessly creative! I'd love to see the details, though you're so busy it would be a true labor of love. Wish we could sit down for tea, too - wouldn't that be a treat?! I'm off to a tearoom around Seattle tomorrow and will post about that soon, though I imagine Ohio has some very beautiful places to have tea, too!! Very happy you like this particular post. I just never get enough of this wedding stuff so it's great to share with kindred spirits like you here:)
DeleteI actually like that dress! It's not really frilly or overly embellished like a lot of the higher end gowns of the time were. I wonder how in the world a girl got a waist that tiny though?! I don't think a 24 inch waist which is tiny by today's standard would fit in that dress even with a corset! I'm not married yet but I do love weddings. I will admit that I already have a dress in mind if that day ever comes and it's not white so I guess maybe I'll pay homage to those brides of earlier days. :-D http://www.oliviabridal.com/sottero-and-midgley-vsm7047-p-2567.html
ReplyDeleteXOXO~ Renee C.
XOXO~ Renee C.
Oh, you almost lost me there, dear Renee;) I have a weakness for sites like OliviaBridal.com! And I'm liable to not come back, lol... That particular dress is just gorgeous and I can see why it's a fav - love the color!!! And it's elegant without being overwhelming - very chic but romantic...
DeleteI like this dress from mid-century, too. It actually has a surprisingly modern look to it and I doubted the date on it was right. And we won't even begin to talk about waists! Wasn't Scarlet O'Hara's waist in Gone With the Wind about 17 inches? The corset-maker would have run me out of town as I am what they call thick-waisted. After reading Siri's book, She Walks in Beauty, my eyes were really opened to the tragic consequences of dressing during that time period.
On a lighter note, I pray your and Carissa and Emma's hero will come and you'll be wearing that gown you like:) Mine arrived a bit late at age 33 - but oh, he did arrive!!
Hahaha I know what you mean sites like Pinterest are great for all day distractions too when it comes to pretty stuff! Thanks for reminding me that I don't need to feel like I'm the only one whose not married in her 20s. You kind of feel sad when you're pretty much the only girl from your group of friends whose not married or at least planning a wedding you know? *Sigh* someday my prince will come LOL!
Deletexoxo~ Renee C.
Renee, I so know how that feels as I was a bridesmaid several times over and nary a hero of my own in sight! BTW, Casey is doing a great series on not compromising or waiting for "the one" in June. I thought I'd mention it here as she has some great guests lined up. Thanks so much for your great comments - you always add so much!!
DeleteIt calls to mind: "Reader, I married him." (As quoted by the bride from my favorite book.) I happen to think the yester-year books are fabulous, as per my love of Jane Eyre! I love that you're jumping in with the wedding and can't wait to read. (Books of yester-year, you have some competition coming!) And BTW - these photos are as delicious as wedding cake - just beautiful! : )
ReplyDeleteAh, I've another kindred spirit in Jane Eyre:) Kristy, it's so interesting you would bring this up as I was perusing my old copy of JE the other day and rereading the first and last of it - just can't quite get enough - and was lingering on that "Reader, I married him":) You're so thoughtful with your comments. Love the analogy to wedding cake, too - the pics really are scrumptious, thanks to the Met! Have you ever wondered what books of today will be considered classics in another 200 years or so? I think we might be surprised!!
DeleteI am "cleaning up" a wedding scene, too, right now! Just like the bride, I want it to be perfect for the groom - um, I mean for the reader! Thanks for this wonderful post, Laura! Like your books you never disappoint with your blog posts!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, It's fun thinking we're thinking/writing the same type scene;) I had to go to town today and can hardly wait to dive in again, then remembered there's Bible Study tonight. Maybe if I just let the wedding idea simmer a bit, it will be better for the groom AND reader like you said, lol... I'm wondering what your bride is wearing and if there are any "oops" during the ceremony or reception. Still trying to think of an appropriate 1822 oops here!!
DeleteOh, I love pictures of antiques! Especially wedding things and photographs! I think that you having framed your great grandparent's announcement is very special. It makes me wonder all about them. My great grandmother would have been just over 7 months old at that time.
ReplyDeleteAs for weddings, I stood up in a wedding last summer for the first time! I was my sister's maid of honor. Her wedding took place in our grandpa's backyard/flower garden. It was more beautiful than I could describe in this comment. As for an 1800s oops, I will tell you what happened before I walked down. Right before I stepped under an archway/trellis an unexpected visitor slithered from one side of the arch to the other and away into the greenery. I am not making this up. Another thing that happened is with her dress. It had a lace over - lay that a seamstress had tacked down. It was longer than the satin underneath and we decided that it was going to be ripped if she didn't carry the lace. My mom and I had to snip all the threads before she walked down. Even when we were finished and she started walking (before anyone could see) more threads were found and she and another bridesmaid yanked them out. So you have to believe me when I say I don't want to see a snake or a scissors on my wedding day!
I have had brothers get married, so for my parents this was a first for a daughter. I have quite the list of younger sister do's and don'ts! Such as don't get married outside - in July, and don't order a dress online w/o trying it on!
Oh such fun! Laugh? Cry? or Both:)
I can't wait to read everything you will continue to write.
Jennie
P.S. Have your read any L.M. Montgomery books. (Anne of Green Gables). In a book of short stories called "The Road to Yesterday" one story is called "Here comes the Bride". It is very long and wordy but so cute as you get to jump into different peoples heads at a wedding. It gives you an all around feel of what really goes on! Both positive and negative - depends on who's head you are in:) - an aunt, a mother in law, a jealous friend, the groom, a towns-person, etc.
Jennie, I didn't think anything could top Gwen with her wedding mishaps above but you are very close!! The garden wedding wounds beautiful but YIKES! I have a terrible fear of snake-like guests. I would literally have shouted and thrown down my bridesmaid's bouquet and run for my life!! I imagine you were much more composed that that:) As for all those threads - I can just imagine! Oh the things we learn in hindsight... But it sounds wonderful just the same. I imagine you and your mom were way more involved with your sis's wedding than your brothers. Brothers, bless them, are probably almost boring in comparison - lol!
ReplyDeleteI love your enthusiasm over this wedding stuff. Since I was small I've always had a love of wedding things and antiques, too. It's something I never get tired of. I even told my husband that on every anniversary we should have to get married all over again - big dress and cake and all;) He doesn't agree, of course!!
And a million thanks for TRTY tip! Believe it or not, I think I have that in a box of books in the garage and am going to start digging. I love anything by LM Montgomery (my fav is The Blue Castle) and I know I'd love all that head-hopping wordiness if it's about a wedding. You have great book reccs, dear Jennie!!
Yes, I do believe Gwen tops the stories on this page!
DeleteAs for the snake, I was composed. I turned and told my dad. Oops. Thankfully my sister was thinking about a certain groom and nothing else:) Quite funny how the guys who were on traffic duty jumped into snake patrol duty:)
Yes, usually the grooms side is less involved. Not as exciting- although, you gain a new sister! And later a few cute nieces and nephews!
L.M.M. - so glad you enjoy her books! I have not read many outside of the series of 8 about Anne. My favorite short story book is called "Along the Shore". I can transport myself to the ocean with those stories:)
Speaking of books - I am reading "Washington's Lady" as you suggested. I am learning so much! The use of first person makes me feel like Martha. I teared up when Patsy died. I get shivers when they mention where they are at Mt. Vernon - because it's possible I stood there when I visited. I do wonder how much is known and how many things are imagined. N. Mozer had done her research - time for mine?
Jennie
Jennie, I forgot to mention how much I love the Anne books - and the TV series!! I'll have to look for "Along the Shore" as I love the beach and lighthouses and such. Have often wanted to write a story with that setting.
DeleteSO GLAD you like "Washington's Lady"! And you said something so true - writing in first person often takes the reader into the story in a deeper way, as if you're that person or that person is talking privately with you. Nancy does it so well. You sound like you're enjoying it as much as I am "The Many Faces of George W," thanks to you:) I find it so fascinating that he really looked nothing like we think he looked! He was considered such an amazing athlete, particularly horseman, and had that reddish hair - those wax figures make him look very English, which he was... Martha got quite a catch!!
When Dave and I were married almost eleven years ago our ceremony was in our hometown, but our reception was held thirty miles away so I created a booklet of wedding trivia that was handed out to our guests as they left the ceremony to read on the way to the reception. It was a hit and I so enjoyed putting it together. I've always loved history!
ReplyDeleteOur ceremony was very traditional (my favorite kind!) and the reception was a blast. We had almost 400 guests. The first song we danced to as a couple was Jimmy Durante's "As Time Goes By." But my favorite part of the whole day was when my bridesmaid's surprised me during the reception...
My favorite movie of all time is "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and I specifically chose to get married in June because of the song "June Bride" I also had seven bridesmaids. :) During the reception they took me on to the dance floor and had me sit in the middle of it. They had borrowed my soundtrack to the movie (yes, I own it...) without my knowledge and they had choreographed a whole routine to "June Bride," including lip synching! I cried and laughed and cried some more! It was well outside most of their comfort zones so it made it all the more special for me. They did a beautiful job and it's a memory I will hold in my heart forever. I have some amazing friends and family members.
Thanks for the invitation to take a trip down memory lane! I'm smiling as I write this comment. :)
Whoops! It's morning and I can't seem to find the reply button:) Please see below...!
DeleteGabrielle, Oh, I hope someone made a video of your June Bride surprise!! That sounds wonderful and memorable and funny and touching - just the thing weddings/receptions should be made of. You are well loved!! I can just imagine the thought and time that took!! And I'm smiling as SBFSB is one of my favorites and also Randy's. It's one of the few movies we've watched again and again. There's something about Howard Keel and his incredible voice and then his romance with Jane Powell that is truly timeless:) We own a copy, too, and get so tickled at all the brother's antics!
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing I really missed at our wedding - no dancing. Our church fellowship hall was being built and so we had to have a reception at Randy's parents home - no dance floor! But it's fun hearing what songs you and others chose and thinking which ones I'd like to have had. I love your booklet of wedding trivia for guests!! So creative and YOU.
Reading about all these weddings makes me want to attend one - and not a wedding invitation in sight! Congrats on 11 beautiful years, Gabrielle - and 4 beautiful kids:)
How beautiful is that!!? I can't wait to read that wedding scene. :)
ReplyDeleteI dream a little bit about my wedding...more about how I would love it to be and not so much the dress...yet. ;-) I'd love a small, intimate backyard wedding and a large family reception at a more formal venue. Oh, but I have time! :)
I can hardly wait to write it, dear Casey! Am glad you'll be a guest at my storybook wedding:) Love your thoughts on your own special day. More than anything, I'm so anxious/excited to meet your real-life hero though you may not know who he is yet! The Lord loves surprises:)
DeleteYou and me both, Laura! I'm looking forward to that surprise in His perfect timing.
DeleteAh yes, in His perfect time, not ours. I have a feeling your man is going to be very special...:)
DeleteI love reading about weddings! I am such a romantic and can't wait to read your new books Laura! Dan & I married in a small church we were attending at the time. I wanted to be married in a white chapel, but it didn't work out for us. We couldn't find one that was large enough for us. The one thing that was really important was a center aisle. Isn't it funny looking back and thinking about what was important at the time? Our day was pretty much perfect, expect for our photographer. One thing, I will advice future brides is you get what you pay for for when it come to a photographer. :( That was not a high point for us, but other than that it was a storybook wedding! I would not change a thing. I remember the pastor was sweating (nerves or the heat of the lights from the church? lol I have no idea!!) I don't remember much of what he said that day, because I just remember staring at Dan and thinking "I can't believe we are getting married!". I was beyond thrilled to be marrying him. :) We did pick daisy flowers as a remembrance for Dan's mother. We used them in all the bouquets and now they are my favorite flower, too. We didn't observe any traditions, but it was our perfect day. I can't wait to read about the wedding Laura!!
ReplyDeleteStacey, You've brought back a wonderful memory - I remember standing up there, too, and looking at Randy and thinking how unreal it all was, actually marrying my groom:) Bliss! I don't recall anything we said either - the pastor might have been reciting wedding cake recipes and I don't think I would have batted an eye;) I love daisies, too, and they're my mom's favorite flower. Like you, we took a shortcut with a photographer and have always regretted it. He was a nice guy but just took photos for the local paper part-time! I heartily agree not to scrimp on pics as they're a lasting legacy for you and your children, etc. And you're so right - as we mature/age, things that once were so important are no longer so much so, if at all! I'd keep my cake but change the dress. Though I did love my viel - a headband of pearls with lots of tulle layers. Very romantic and beautiful. I keep it in a hatbox in my closet and take it out on occasion. So thrilled you are excited to read those books of mine!!! You're a keeper yourself, dear friend!
DeleteWedding on paper or in person? Well, for the first you don't have to wear dress shoes!
ReplyDeleteCathy, LOL;) You're so right!! I can't even find my wedding shoes, speaking of shoes... And I must admit, love that I can wear my bathrobe and not comb my hair for those paper weddings. Though I do miss that wedding cake!!
DeleteAww, I'm looking forward to reading your wedding scene! I love a good wedding scene. I hate to miss them :) I read "Anne's House of Dreams" (well, ok, I started it...) a while back and when Anne finally marries Gilbert it was so...ho hum. Like, that's it?! That's what we've been working for? Sometimes your readers earn that wedding, lol.
ReplyDeleteWe got married in a little glass chapel nearby, it will be 8 years this October! I remember there was thunder and lightening in the distance, and it was already dark dusk when the ceremony took place. Very dramatic, hehe. Especially since the room was glass on 3 sides. Our wedding cake was apple spiced flavored and we had the the icing made to be a sort of off-white cream color to match our wedding cake topper--- which was my grandparent's wedding topper, and it was 50 years old that year. Hmm, now I wish I had some cake ;)
I'd love to hear more about YOUR wedding!~ :D
Heather! I'm smiling because your wedding day, right down to the stormy, haunting weather and apple spice cake is so perfect and so what you like:)!! Reminds me of the story you're writing! I hope you do a post someday about the cake topper! I've found that the vintage ones are so well made and of much better quality than the new ones (but guess that's kind of a no brainer - sigh). That's sure a treasured heirloom for you - and I love thinking it might adorn your little miss's cake someday...
DeleteOH MY! I love your query/question about my wedding:) I'm thinking it's not the paper one but mine and Randy's real one. So strange the things you remember - or don't! I do recall eating a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch before the 2pm ceremony. I was so sleepy as I didn't sleep a wink the night before because I was so giddy with excitement. Everything was kind of a blur (this was 18 years ago, after all) - but I do remember Randy showed up at the church in a beautiful black tux and was SO PALE! I thought I was marrying a dead man! I'd never seen him in that shade of white. My hand was shaking so badly the bouquet looked like it had sprouted wings. Somehow we got down the aisle but the football game going on next door and all the cheering sort of drowned out the vows. Randy's parents looked very grumpy in all the wedding pics - lol! Not sure what happened there... We had hours and hours to drive for the honeymoon at Lake Quinault Lodge deep in Olympic National Park (think Twilight and Forks, WA though I've never read the books). Everything was very drippy and cold and wet. I was starving (as usual) and the dining room was closed. The nearest McDonald's was 8 hours away. We were so shy we just sat on the dock overlooking the lake, stomachs growling, till bedtime;) I'm sure I've told you way more than you ever wanted to know but honestly, that's what I remember - bless you for asking!!
Aw, those are sweet and funny details. Isn't it funny the things you do--- and dont--- remember? Wedding days are a bit of a blur. I know brides like to fuss and fret over every last painstaking detail but I'm always like "you're not going to remember; you'll barely get to taste the food; take good pictures to remember!" haha, before the wedding my only wedding nightmare was that something would go horribly wrong with the photos! We had a professional photographer, but the style of all our photos are so formal and staged, they're really not my favorites now. Sometimes I wish you could get married every 10 years or so because when you get a little older sometimes you know what you want more! And now I know so many crafty people that I didnt know at the time :)
DeleteWell, I'm guessing you both eventually got some food since you survived these 18 years ;) congratulations on coming upon the 20 year mark! I think the year you do, we'll hit 10!
We'll celebrate together, Heather:) I think Will is a keeper like Randy!!
DeleteJust wanted to drop by and say: "Hello, can't wait for your next book!" I know I haven't been around much but I never forget dear Laura and her scrumptious love of history. A few things as far as wedding traditions go...and you may know thse: 1. My husband grew up in Amish country (only a few generations removed from being Amish himself.) The bride often wears blue. 2. A lot of people in my grandparents' generation went away to be married in a civil ceremony or at the preacher's house (my mom's parents went to Georgia.) There wasn't a lot of fuss. 3. Appalachian weddings started the tradition of the "stack cake" in which members of the community brought a layer of cake. The higher the cake, the more popular the bride (I have this in my first book. But at the rate I'm going, it may never see the light of day. So at least I can share it here.) Jesus be with you. ~Britt
ReplyDeleteSo good to see you, Britt - you've been missed!! I love reading your wedding traditions and had forgotten about the stack cakes - some of those must have been towering!! So interesting hubby grew up in Amish country and the brides prefer blue. There's something so peaceful about that color. I think my own grandparents were married at a preacher's house. I want to ask my mom for details as I've forgotten so much and only recall the date - July 13.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you want to read Eden's story in Love's Reckoning. Not much longer now. YIKES! You're often in my thoughts - in fact I was just on your FB page this morning! And then here you are:) Prayers with you for your writing and any challenges you're facing. You are a dear friend.
Beautiful. :) Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful is the perfect word, Rachelle:) I so love these historic fashions and the romance they evoke. Bless you for commenting and enjoying!!
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