The farm was a buzz! The day had come. It was August 15, the date on the calendar that we had been working toward ever since that January evening that Peter and Kate told us they were to be married under the big maple in the front yard.
Yesterday, late afternoon, family and friends started to arrive, all smiles and excitement. Someone drove the old farm pickup to town and loaded up the folding chairs out of the city hall. Someone else drove to the rental store to bring home the white lattice arch that would stand under the maple tree. Peter's sisters, mother, Kate, and I drove up to the school to set up the reception, and put sandwiches, vegetables and fruit in the refrigerator. Jen, Peter's sister, had taken the huge responsibility of coordinating and catering the reception into her hands. And she was doing a great job of it! Peter's dad drove to town for the tuxes and also brought out pizzas for us all. Later that evening, Bret and Emma completed the family and friend group.
So now it was the day! Kate and Peter got up early and headed to the pasture. They picked many large bunches of beautiful white snow on the mountain milk weed and some iron weed with its purple flower. Peter's arms were full of orchard grass. They sat under the sunburst locust tree beside the deck and slowly and carefully arranged it all into three large baskets. After they were done, there were three beautiful large arrangements that they placed under the tree, measuring about three feet high, and a spread of two to three feet. They were beautiful!
The folding chairs were set up in rows in the front yard and the white lattice arch placed under the maple. Woven in and among the lattice were red and white roses and white flowing chiffon fabric puddling on the grass on either side. On both sides of the lattice stood one short and one tall planter, with green ferns cascading over the sides. The wooden swing sat over to the side swaying gently in the breeze.
Along the railing of the deck, laced a strand of red and white roses among green leaves. In front sat two wooden kegs, full of flowers blossoming red, yellow, and purple. To the side of the deck stood those beautiful pasture flower stems. You could make out the white snow on the mountain among the green grass. There were splashes of red among the white. We were ready.
Inside the house, in Mark and my bedroom, Kate was being helped into her dress by the bridesmaid and her attendants. Mark, Peter's father and the groomsmen were occupying the basement. Laughter drifted up the stairs. Those tuxes weren't their favorite to get into on a hot summer afternoon!
I decided to step outside for a bit to see what was going on out there. I slowly made my way around to the front of the house and up through the chairs to the arch. There sitting side by side on the flower bed under the tree, was the little flower girl, and the ring bearer. They seemed to be in deep conversation. Mia was dressed in a long white short sleeve dress, her hair in a braided crown around her head. Mixed among the braid were small red and white roses. In her hand she held a basket, lined in white filled with red rose pedals. Ben, Peter's nephew, sat dressed in a black suit, a red boutonniere pinned on his little suit coat. Dangling in front of him was the white lace pillow, held loosely in his small hand. Mia had her arm around him and talking softly as he studied the ground. The picture was priceless!
I wandered back through the chairs and came to rest under the locust tree beside the deck, admiring once again the beautiful arrangements setting there.
"How much did those cost and where in the world did you find such beautiful arrangements?" I heard someone say.
I looked up to see one of Peter's aunts standing next to me. "Oh those?" I asked pointing at the three arrangements. "They didn't cost a thing, Just time. Kate and Peter went early this morning to the pasture and gathered all those things and arranged them in these pots they found," I answered looking down at them.
"Oh, wow...they are beautiful and it looks like you would have to pay a fortune for them!"
"Yes those two have been working very hard. They made all the decorations plus all the corsages and boutonniere's," I said with a smile.
People were starting to come in. Cars were being parked out in front of the machine shed. I saw daddy taking Ben for a little walk out into the north grass patch. Hazel, our kids dear friend was making her way up to sit down. Her back was bent and she was leaning heavy on her cane. Aunt Edith was sitting in the back row, fanning herself. My mother and Mark's folks had made it and were sitting together in the second row. I saw Peter's grandparents visiting with their daughter in the third row. The neighbor girl came walking across the road, a gift in her hand. People were coming! I must go inside and get myself ready.
The kitchen and dining areas were full of smiling faces, men in tuxes, and laughter. I spotted Mark across the way as he pinned the boutonniere on Bret. Jen was pinning a corsage on her mom's beautiful black dress. Shanda, Peter's sister, stood there watching the whole thing, a pleasant smile on her lips as she held her three white rose stems in front of her. My corsage was pinned on and I turned to place the boutonniere on my handsome husband.
"Are you ready for this dear? Walking our daughter down the aisle?" I asked under my breath.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he said. "Have you seen her yet?"
"No. I want to wait until she comes up the aisle on your arm," I said turning away.
It was 6:00. Everyone was sitting and anxiously waiting there in the chairs under the big blue evening sky. Peter's cousin started to play, and the strands of "Breathless" filled the country side. We all got in line just outside the back door. All but Kate and Mark. They were just inside that bedroom door...waiting.
Soon the tune turned to "Cannon in D". Peter came to his mother. "Are you ready to go?" He asked looking down into her face. She gave him a nod, looped her arm through his and walked with him down off the deck and around the tree and up through those chairs to her place in the front row. He then returned for me. He smiled and took my arm. I gave his arm a squeeze and we started up the aisle to my place in the front row.
Once again the tune changed to "Chariots of Fire" Everyone sat quiet. Out of the front door came Peter, the Justice of Peace, and our minister, Doyle Copeland. Doyle took his place beside me, while Peter and the Justice of Peace took their place standing under the arch. They turned to face the aisle where she would be soon walking down, arms crossed in front of them. Up the aisle came Bret with his Emma on his arm. They walked slowly to the front, parted, Bret to the right and Emma to the left. Then came Adam with Shanda on his arm. Then came Finn, Peter's life long friend, and on his arm was Jen. They all stood there facing the back, waiting.
Adam stepped back, took up his trumpet and started to play. Out into the country side, soft and sweet, flowed the notes of "Here comes the bride". Everyone stood and turned. In walked Ben and Mia, side by side, Mia dropping rose pedals behind her.
I held my breath. I looked up at Peter. His eyes were glued to the back. He looked so handsome standing there in that tux. I turned and there they were. My Mark, dressed in his tux, his left arm bent at the elbow. Wrapped around his arm was our daughter's. They made their way around the oak tree and slowly up the center aisle, coming to a stop in front of Peter.
Mark bent his head down, and planted a kiss on our daughter's cheek. Then he quietly handed her arm to Peter. He turned and walked to my side.
Doyle then rose and gave a prayer. "Now you may be seated," he said. He then spoke some words of wisdom for the bride and groom and to all of us who shared our life with someone special. Then our friend Tim stood up beside the beautiful bride and groom and took the microphone from its stand. His deep clear voice filled the air as he sang "I Will Be Here." I reached over and took Mark's hand into mine. He gave mine a squeeze, and smiled down at me. My prayer as I listened to those words flow was "Please God always keep our children happy and walking side by side with their loved one. For always."
"This young couple has chosen to write their own vows to each other," announced the officiant. So there in a moment of time, Peter and Kate joined hands and before God and us they spoke to each other words that came from their hearts.
The officiant then asked them to hold hands and we watched as Peter slipped a wedding band on Kate's finger as he repeated the words of love and commitment that the judge asked him to repeat. Then she took his ring and slipped it onto his finger, saying the same words of the unending love that the ring symbolizes.
"I now give to you Mr. and Mrs. Peter Taylor. You may kiss the bride."
The notes of "Chariots of Fire" filled the air once again. Our daughter on the arm of her husband, turned and walked back down the aisle, away from us and into a life together.
There was a rustling of chairs and voices as folks made their way to their cars and up to the school on the hill. There were pictures taken of grandma's, grandpa's, families and couples. Some on the swing, some in the brome patch, some under the arch. Then off to the reception.
The elementary cafeteria was changed into something from a fairy tale. The tables were covered with white paper. A long table sat apart from the others. It was covered with white. At one end sat a punch fountain, falling down and over into a large punch bowl. Beside it was small black and white paper plates, along with napkins to match. There were tiny sandwiches, vegetables, nuts, and mints. At the end of that long table sat the cake. It was a simple three tier cake. Its frosting was a smooth white and all around the edges and in the middle were tiny red flowers. In the background, soft music was playing.
The bride and groom smiled as they cut the first piece out of their cake. Cameras flashed as they fed the first bite to each other. It didn't seem like they got much time to eat as they were mingling around visiting, smiling, laughing with, and hugging all those who came and had a part in the wedding.
The sun was sinking into the western sky when Peter took Kate's hand and led her outside and up the steps of the twisty slipper slide on the playground adjacent to the reception room. From the top of those steps, Kate turned around and tossed her bouquet up over her head and into the arms of one of those single ladies waiting at the bottom. Peter got down on one knee, lifted Kate's gown and removed the garter. He stood up, turned, and threw that little piece of material over his head and down into the hands of some waiting single gentleman. Then Peter gently helped Kate back down the steps and into a little green wagon, which was elegantly decorated and waiting on the sidewalk. Getting her all tucked in, he pulled her away toward their car as black and white balloons drifted up into the night skies from the hands of their friends and family.
We all ran toward the parking lot as Peter and Kate approached their car. I know they were expecting it to be well decorated by their mischievous friends and family, but it was so well wrapped up in plastic wrap that Peter didn't know for sure how to even open the door! After he got the plastic peeled back enough to open the door, he soon discovered first hand that there was a blob of vaseline under the door handle! He was being a great sport though and calmly wiped his hand on the grass and continued the quest of getting Kate into their car. As everyone cheered them on, and confetti sprayed them in the face out of their ac vents, they sped away, leaving that little green wagon and us standing, our arms waving good-byes.
"Well hop into the wagon wife and I'll take you back up to the school so we can start the clean up," Mark said bringing the wagon over to me. I hopped in and off we went to clean up. To our surprise, all the tables were cleared of their paper, and chairs put in place and the floor swept. Doyle had stayed behind and did all of this for us!
After church and a light lunch on Sunday, most everyone left for home. Bret and Emma were one of the last ones to leave. We were glad because with all the excitement we hadn't had much time to visit.
As we stood there, side by side, watching their little car drive out the drive way, honk and turn east and disappear behind the trees, I took Mark's hand into mine. We just stood there for a while, looking around at the trees down by the creek, listening to the pigs bang their feeder lids up and down. From the north pasture came the moo of a mother cow, and off in the distances you could here the faint sound of a truck up on the highway.
We just stood there, holding each others hand. Finally Mark turned to me and said, "Well Carrie, shall we change our clothes and go out to feed the pigs?"
"I guess we have to start somewhere," I said smiling up at him. Caring for our farm together was the perfect ending to a life changing weekend. It was indeed my happy place. Working beside my life partner was where I found peace and reassurance through it all.
Life brings changes, some are very small each day and some are life changing. But I knew I would be fine as long as I had this man with me side by side...until death do us part.
Yesterday, late afternoon, family and friends started to arrive, all smiles and excitement. Someone drove the old farm pickup to town and loaded up the folding chairs out of the city hall. Someone else drove to the rental store to bring home the white lattice arch that would stand under the maple tree. Peter's sisters, mother, Kate, and I drove up to the school to set up the reception, and put sandwiches, vegetables and fruit in the refrigerator. Jen, Peter's sister, had taken the huge responsibility of coordinating and catering the reception into her hands. And she was doing a great job of it! Peter's dad drove to town for the tuxes and also brought out pizzas for us all. Later that evening, Bret and Emma completed the family and friend group.
So now it was the day! Kate and Peter got up early and headed to the pasture. They picked many large bunches of beautiful white snow on the mountain milk weed and some iron weed with its purple flower. Peter's arms were full of orchard grass. They sat under the sunburst locust tree beside the deck and slowly and carefully arranged it all into three large baskets. After they were done, there were three beautiful large arrangements that they placed under the tree, measuring about three feet high, and a spread of two to three feet. They were beautiful!
The folding chairs were set up in rows in the front yard and the white lattice arch placed under the maple. Woven in and among the lattice were red and white roses and white flowing chiffon fabric puddling on the grass on either side. On both sides of the lattice stood one short and one tall planter, with green ferns cascading over the sides. The wooden swing sat over to the side swaying gently in the breeze.
Along the railing of the deck, laced a strand of red and white roses among green leaves. In front sat two wooden kegs, full of flowers blossoming red, yellow, and purple. To the side of the deck stood those beautiful pasture flower stems. You could make out the white snow on the mountain among the green grass. There were splashes of red among the white. We were ready.
Inside the house, in Mark and my bedroom, Kate was being helped into her dress by the bridesmaid and her attendants. Mark, Peter's father and the groomsmen were occupying the basement. Laughter drifted up the stairs. Those tuxes weren't their favorite to get into on a hot summer afternoon!
I decided to step outside for a bit to see what was going on out there. I slowly made my way around to the front of the house and up through the chairs to the arch. There sitting side by side on the flower bed under the tree, was the little flower girl, and the ring bearer. They seemed to be in deep conversation. Mia was dressed in a long white short sleeve dress, her hair in a braided crown around her head. Mixed among the braid were small red and white roses. In her hand she held a basket, lined in white filled with red rose pedals. Ben, Peter's nephew, sat dressed in a black suit, a red boutonniere pinned on his little suit coat. Dangling in front of him was the white lace pillow, held loosely in his small hand. Mia had her arm around him and talking softly as he studied the ground. The picture was priceless!
I wandered back through the chairs and came to rest under the locust tree beside the deck, admiring once again the beautiful arrangements setting there.
"How much did those cost and where in the world did you find such beautiful arrangements?" I heard someone say.
I looked up to see one of Peter's aunts standing next to me. "Oh those?" I asked pointing at the three arrangements. "They didn't cost a thing, Just time. Kate and Peter went early this morning to the pasture and gathered all those things and arranged them in these pots they found," I answered looking down at them.
"Oh, wow...they are beautiful and it looks like you would have to pay a fortune for them!"
"Yes those two have been working very hard. They made all the decorations plus all the corsages and boutonniere's," I said with a smile.
People were starting to come in. Cars were being parked out in front of the machine shed. I saw daddy taking Ben for a little walk out into the north grass patch. Hazel, our kids dear friend was making her way up to sit down. Her back was bent and she was leaning heavy on her cane. Aunt Edith was sitting in the back row, fanning herself. My mother and Mark's folks had made it and were sitting together in the second row. I saw Peter's grandparents visiting with their daughter in the third row. The neighbor girl came walking across the road, a gift in her hand. People were coming! I must go inside and get myself ready.
The kitchen and dining areas were full of smiling faces, men in tuxes, and laughter. I spotted Mark across the way as he pinned the boutonniere on Bret. Jen was pinning a corsage on her mom's beautiful black dress. Shanda, Peter's sister, stood there watching the whole thing, a pleasant smile on her lips as she held her three white rose stems in front of her. My corsage was pinned on and I turned to place the boutonniere on my handsome husband.
"Are you ready for this dear? Walking our daughter down the aisle?" I asked under my breath.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he said. "Have you seen her yet?"
"No. I want to wait until she comes up the aisle on your arm," I said turning away.
It was 6:00. Everyone was sitting and anxiously waiting there in the chairs under the big blue evening sky. Peter's cousin started to play, and the strands of "Breathless" filled the country side. We all got in line just outside the back door. All but Kate and Mark. They were just inside that bedroom door...waiting.
Soon the tune turned to "Cannon in D". Peter came to his mother. "Are you ready to go?" He asked looking down into her face. She gave him a nod, looped her arm through his and walked with him down off the deck and around the tree and up through those chairs to her place in the front row. He then returned for me. He smiled and took my arm. I gave his arm a squeeze and we started up the aisle to my place in the front row.
Once again the tune changed to "Chariots of Fire" Everyone sat quiet. Out of the front door came Peter, the Justice of Peace, and our minister, Doyle Copeland. Doyle took his place beside me, while Peter and the Justice of Peace took their place standing under the arch. They turned to face the aisle where she would be soon walking down, arms crossed in front of them. Up the aisle came Bret with his Emma on his arm. They walked slowly to the front, parted, Bret to the right and Emma to the left. Then came Adam with Shanda on his arm. Then came Finn, Peter's life long friend, and on his arm was Jen. They all stood there facing the back, waiting.
Adam stepped back, took up his trumpet and started to play. Out into the country side, soft and sweet, flowed the notes of "Here comes the bride". Everyone stood and turned. In walked Ben and Mia, side by side, Mia dropping rose pedals behind her.
I held my breath. I looked up at Peter. His eyes were glued to the back. He looked so handsome standing there in that tux. I turned and there they were. My Mark, dressed in his tux, his left arm bent at the elbow. Wrapped around his arm was our daughter's. They made their way around the oak tree and slowly up the center aisle, coming to a stop in front of Peter.
Mark bent his head down, and planted a kiss on our daughter's cheek. Then he quietly handed her arm to Peter. He turned and walked to my side.
Doyle then rose and gave a prayer. "Now you may be seated," he said. He then spoke some words of wisdom for the bride and groom and to all of us who shared our life with someone special. Then our friend Tim stood up beside the beautiful bride and groom and took the microphone from its stand. His deep clear voice filled the air as he sang "I Will Be Here." I reached over and took Mark's hand into mine. He gave mine a squeeze, and smiled down at me. My prayer as I listened to those words flow was "Please God always keep our children happy and walking side by side with their loved one. For always."
"This young couple has chosen to write their own vows to each other," announced the officiant. So there in a moment of time, Peter and Kate joined hands and before God and us they spoke to each other words that came from their hearts.
The officiant then asked them to hold hands and we watched as Peter slipped a wedding band on Kate's finger as he repeated the words of love and commitment that the judge asked him to repeat. Then she took his ring and slipped it onto his finger, saying the same words of the unending love that the ring symbolizes.
"I now give to you Mr. and Mrs. Peter Taylor. You may kiss the bride."
The notes of "Chariots of Fire" filled the air once again. Our daughter on the arm of her husband, turned and walked back down the aisle, away from us and into a life together.
There was a rustling of chairs and voices as folks made their way to their cars and up to the school on the hill. There were pictures taken of grandma's, grandpa's, families and couples. Some on the swing, some in the brome patch, some under the arch. Then off to the reception.
The elementary cafeteria was changed into something from a fairy tale. The tables were covered with white paper. A long table sat apart from the others. It was covered with white. At one end sat a punch fountain, falling down and over into a large punch bowl. Beside it was small black and white paper plates, along with napkins to match. There were tiny sandwiches, vegetables, nuts, and mints. At the end of that long table sat the cake. It was a simple three tier cake. Its frosting was a smooth white and all around the edges and in the middle were tiny red flowers. In the background, soft music was playing.
The bride and groom smiled as they cut the first piece out of their cake. Cameras flashed as they fed the first bite to each other. It didn't seem like they got much time to eat as they were mingling around visiting, smiling, laughing with, and hugging all those who came and had a part in the wedding.
The sun was sinking into the western sky when Peter took Kate's hand and led her outside and up the steps of the twisty slipper slide on the playground adjacent to the reception room. From the top of those steps, Kate turned around and tossed her bouquet up over her head and into the arms of one of those single ladies waiting at the bottom. Peter got down on one knee, lifted Kate's gown and removed the garter. He stood up, turned, and threw that little piece of material over his head and down into the hands of some waiting single gentleman. Then Peter gently helped Kate back down the steps and into a little green wagon, which was elegantly decorated and waiting on the sidewalk. Getting her all tucked in, he pulled her away toward their car as black and white balloons drifted up into the night skies from the hands of their friends and family.
We all ran toward the parking lot as Peter and Kate approached their car. I know they were expecting it to be well decorated by their mischievous friends and family, but it was so well wrapped up in plastic wrap that Peter didn't know for sure how to even open the door! After he got the plastic peeled back enough to open the door, he soon discovered first hand that there was a blob of vaseline under the door handle! He was being a great sport though and calmly wiped his hand on the grass and continued the quest of getting Kate into their car. As everyone cheered them on, and confetti sprayed them in the face out of their ac vents, they sped away, leaving that little green wagon and us standing, our arms waving good-byes.
"Well hop into the wagon wife and I'll take you back up to the school so we can start the clean up," Mark said bringing the wagon over to me. I hopped in and off we went to clean up. To our surprise, all the tables were cleared of their paper, and chairs put in place and the floor swept. Doyle had stayed behind and did all of this for us!
After church and a light lunch on Sunday, most everyone left for home. Bret and Emma were one of the last ones to leave. We were glad because with all the excitement we hadn't had much time to visit.
As we stood there, side by side, watching their little car drive out the drive way, honk and turn east and disappear behind the trees, I took Mark's hand into mine. We just stood there for a while, looking around at the trees down by the creek, listening to the pigs bang their feeder lids up and down. From the north pasture came the moo of a mother cow, and off in the distances you could here the faint sound of a truck up on the highway.
We just stood there, holding each others hand. Finally Mark turned to me and said, "Well Carrie, shall we change our clothes and go out to feed the pigs?"
"I guess we have to start somewhere," I said smiling up at him. Caring for our farm together was the perfect ending to a life changing weekend. It was indeed my happy place. Working beside my life partner was where I found peace and reassurance through it all.
Life brings changes, some are very small each day and some are life changing. But I knew I would be fine as long as I had this man with me side by side...until death do us part.
what a lovely wedding celebration dear cousin. And now starts your new life together a a couple again. <3
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