2013, September 1, The Sarahs’ Wedding and UP of Michigan

Gaithersburg, Maryland, September 1, 2013

Of course it was a great wedding. It united in marriage two fantastic, vibrant young women. Even the weather cooperated and the predicted showers never arrived.

Of course, one worries in advance. Will people arrive on time? How will the weather be? Will the food be timely? Will someone forget the rings or stammer stating their vows? Will the many children and young people be entertained?

Well, in my humble and certainly unbiased opinion, it was a completely fantastic ceremony and event.

Let’s jump to the ceremony, the reason for being together. It was held at a lower section of the event area, substantially in the shade. The band played music prior to the ceremony. Pastor Amy Butler of Calvary Baptist Church was the officiant. She knows both Sarahs and provided a touching and personal commentary on them and marriage. Each Sarah read the vows they had prepared. It was obvious that much thinking about marriage and each other has gone into them.

When the ceremony was completed, the band played music and we all walked back up to the Pavilion area, festively decorated in red and yellow. Smoky Glen Farm had been selected because the brides wanted a location where people could enjoy the day. They recognized that many of their friends had children, ranging in age from newborns to twenty year olds. The setting was designed so that both adults and young people could enjoy themselves. And it was obvious they did.

There was an inflated bouncing cage where children, and adults, could let loose. There was miniature golf where the competitive spirit was apparent. There was basketball and volleyball. There was a horseshoes pit. There was a ballfield that was used after dinner for a kickball event that attracted 80% of the participants who played with gusto and abandon.

After the ceremony, there was a predinner reception with fun, fair food including watermelon, cotton candy, and mini-donuts. Dinner was a buffet with a variety that satisfied both vegans and meat eaters. Dessert included a selection of pies made by Smokey Glen Farm and a surprise wedding cake that had been prepared by the fiancé of one of the girls’ friends from DC.

Thursday night after arrival, the Sarahs had met with several friends. The fiancé of one of them owns an Indian restaurant and bakery and stated that he wanted to provide a wedding cake for the ceremony. It was delicious and beautiful.

Three toasts were offered after the meal. Deb Heimel offered one as a sibling and a friend. Kate Kavlock, a co-worker from the FDA, and Emily Pierson (Pie), a rugby friend, offered toasts symbolizing the junction of the many contacts in their lives.

The people came from across the country. People were from the West Coast and East Coast. People were from the north and the south. There were relatives and friends going back to high school days. From 2 PM to 9 PM, there was active play, fun, socializing, eating and just plain good times. The band ended up playing when the Saints Go Marching In and the group did a dance line around the pavilion.

That is a summary. Of course, there are many vignettes. I will let those with Facebook pages give their own impressions. As parents, we were extremely proud of both of the young women as people and the planning that went into the ceremony and the celebration.

Ed and Chris Columbus Ohio Tuesday Sept. 3.

(Once again, if you click on a picture, it will expand to full screen view.)