The Wedding

This past week, the wedding that was anticipated and talked about in our family was not the same wedding the rest of the world was tuned in to. Instead, it was the celebration of the love and commitment between my oldest niece (on my side of the family) and a young man from Victoria. It was a wedding that included the participation of many friends and family . . . from making the invitations, sewing dresses, collecting jars and candle holders to making desserts and setting tables. An old fashioned, involvement by many . . . and a coming together of a beautiful wedding.  The little guest signing table in the foyer was adorned with photos of the couple's parents on their respective wedding days and an assortment of little jars filled with  sprays of wild flowers.

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Dad walked the bride down the isle to violin and piano music by the grooms sisters . . . but I'm not sure she noticed them. Her eyes were obviously on him.

The ceremony began with a couple of songs that included the guests, and focused everyone's attention on Jesus. Well . . . the photo shows otherwise ... so I should say . . . almost everyone.

The pastor's words spoke of a relationship based on love, trust, hope and endurance . . . and the marriage vows were exchanged . . .  as were the rings . . .

. . . then sealed with a kiss . . .

After the ceremony friends and family visited in the foyer for a bit and then dispersed in various directions, coming back a few hours later for the dinner . . . during which time the chapel had been turned into a dining hall.

It was so good to have more of our family here to share their musical talent and celebrate this day with us . . .

I think Natalie and Landon had a good "sneak preview" of what a wedding looks like.

Tim had one brother and four friends stand up for him, while Larissa had one sister and four friends beside her. They looked like they all enjoyed their time at the head table. The odd jars with candles and girls' bouquets lined up on the table added a vintage charm to the settings.

The wedding cake was the combined effort of Larissa and her Oma. Larissa spent a good part of a day at her grandmother's place last week, learning how to roll out and bake the thin layers for the Napoleon Torte . . . I think about 15 layers for this one. Oma filled them with chocolate pudding the next day and together they assembled it for the wedding day. The kissing couple cake topper was the one used for Larissa's parents' wedding, thirty years ago.

The cake was cut and served to the guests . . . this is a slice from the top part of the cake. It disappeared quickly and I think guests would have gone for seconds, had there been more.

Larissa and Tim . . . We are so happy for you both . . . to have found the one you can dream with, laugh with cry with and pray with.  May your love continue to grow deeper as you set up a home together and may the Lord bless and keep you.