WEDDINGS!
For those who are unaware, this is the year of weddings for our family. Between November 2009 and September 2010, we have 3 cousins and 4 siblings getting married. Not only are we attending six of the seven, but we also have “roles” in five of those six. Caleb ushered in his cousin’s Iowa wedding back in November and read Scripture in my sister’s wedding in Georgia in May. He will also be a groomsman for his brother’s wedding in Iowa in August. Simona made a dazzling flower girl for my sister’s May wedding in Georgia and my older sister’s June wedding in Oregon. She will be making repeat appearances at the August/Iowa wedding and at my youngest sister’s September wedding in New York. I am a bridesmaid in all three of my sisters’ weddings. We were “just guests” at my cousin’s May wedding in Maine and were unfortunately unable to attend my other cousin’s June wedding in Germany.
Confused yet? Overwhelmed by all of it? Just think of my parents- three brides in four months!
Despite all of the jokes about wedding marathons, wedding burnout, etc., we have enjoyed immensely the chance to be involved in such a major life event for so many people we love dearly. Plus, we’ve loved getting to see our extended family (especially on my side!) much more frequently than we normally would.
Here is the report on the first of the 2010 weddings.
L&S, May 8, 2010, in Peachtree City, GA
My co-middle-sister got married days after we moved to the Peach State. We joke that her wedding was so important to us that we brought everything we own when we came down from DC. My parents’ house was full of friends and family for several days, and we had a great time visiting with them. More importantly, it was a great privilege to be involved in the union of Linda and Sam’s lives. Caleb is thrilled to finally have a brother-in-law, as the female-skewed family is finally starting to balance out.
Caleb and I were drafted into helping with “Kranz binden,” or binding the wreath that is traditionally placed around the doorway of a marrying couple’s home. (A similar wreath is made by friends & family to mark milestone anniversaries, too.)
The wreath:
The official wedding festivities began Friday morning with a bridesmaid brunch at my parents’ house.
After getting our nails done (a rare occasion for me!), we had a short break before convening at our home church for the rehearsal.
This was followed by a beautiful, fun rehearsal dinner, which included the bridal party and family.
After the rehearsal dinner, we all headed back to my parents’ house for the Polterabend, which is the traditional German party that takes place in the days before the wedding. Typically, the wedding itself is attended only by the innermost circle, but the Polterabend is a more casual event that includes neighbors, colleagues, and casual friends. Guests break porcelain dishes on the doorstep of the marrying couple, an act which supposedly brings good luck. The couple then sweeps up the shard as their first act of working together.
Wedding day itself brought another full day of activity for the ladies, while I hear the men enjoyed a relaxed morning followed by a leisurely lunch. (I still think we had more fun, though. . . and hey- it takes time to look as good as we did!!)
Hair and makeup were first on the agenda:
After lunch, we got to put on our beautiful dresses for some pictures.
We headed over to the church for an elegant ceremony. Simona did a knock-out job as a flower girl, and the bride and groom were stunning.
The evening concluded with an amazing reception, complete with great food, a rocking band, and a happy couple.
Congratulations to the newly weds! We wish you many, many years of happiness. Welcome to the family, Sam!
