how it went

It was beautiful.

The wedding, I mean. Well, the whole weekend. Betsy in her incredible dress (and hot pink shoes), effervescent and lovely as Cinderella, and incandescently happy. The flowers, bright bubblegum bursts of hot pink and orange, lining the aisles and later adorning the tables at the reception. Susan’s tiny twins (Betsy’s nephews), Parker and Preston, who slept through the whole thing but were adored and cooed over by just about everyone. Gary’s song (Sister Hazel’s “This Kind of Love”) was incredible (he’s been a family friend our whole lives, and luckily he gave us a preview at the rehearsal dinner, so we could all get some of the tears out).

Aunt Judy walked in the house on Friday morning and started crying literally then and there – she hardly stopped all weekend, though the rest of us managed to keep the waterworks down. (We had family in from Texas, Missouri and Arizona – such fun – my aunts and uncles are a crazy, hilarious bunch.) I made it through my toast (a slightly shorter version of what’s written below) without sobbing, though I am told I heaved a huge sigh of relief at the end. My feet were KILLING me by the end of the ceremony, so I slipped back into my trusty Reefs for the reception.

The fajitas were delicious, the atmosphere relaxed, the pink dresses lovely, and the bride-and-father dance so unbearably sweet that I lost it completely. Aunt Cathy teased me later about crying so hard. Actually, we were all okay until Betsy started getting teary – and that, combined with the words of “I Loved Her First,” were enough to send most of the family scurrying for napkins to dry their tears.

Stephen helped her into the truck, stuffed the last scrap of tulle into the front seat as we all blew bubbles and waved, and they drove off for a night in a hotel and a week in Mexico. (Don’t worry – they haven’t caught the swine flu yet – but do pray for their safe travels home on Saturday.)

I haven’t gotten my photos online yet, but you can view the ones Donna took (she’s Gary’s wife, and our dear friend) here. (Scroll down to the bottom of page 1 to see photos from the wedding day – the first ones are from the rehearsal dinner. Gary is the guy in the pink tie, and those three beautiful girls are his daughters, who I used to baby-sit. My goodness, I’m getting old.) My particular favourites are the ones of Stephen stuffing Betsy into the vintage Mustang to drive from the ceremony to the reception.

My little sister is married. I can’t believe it. But I am SO happy for her. I hope they’ll be as happy as my parents, and his parents, and as happy as my own marriage is so far.

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