Wedding 4: Ceremony

Time for grandparents to be seated! My grandparents walked down the aisle to Rodgers's "Edelweiss". My childhood piano teacher played the piano accompanied my her daughter-in-law on the cello. It was the most beautiful music I have ever heard.  

 The mothers were seated to "Amazing Grace".

The bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel. 

And I walked down the aisle to "The Bridal Chorus" by Wagner.

Be still my heart. I am so thankful he is mine!

Deciding on a location for our wedding was a difficult decision for me (and I know my mom's reading and saying every decision was a difficult one for me). I truly didn't want to have my wedding in my hometown. None of my friends live there anymore; it's an inconvenient location for most guests; lodging is scarce non-existent; reception location was limited; etc.

However, I knew I wanted to be married in a church. We talked and talked, visited other locales, and talked some more; and we finally decided on my hometown. I am SO HAPPY we did. I got to walk down the aisle to marry my husband on the same aisle I walked down the aisle to make my public profession of faith. I was baptized behind those red curtains. I memorized "Amazing Grace" there. I played the inn keeper's wife in the nativity story (I wasn't the best actress). I sang VBS songs on the stage. I counted the ceiling tiles once or twice. I played the piano. I was shown love there. I found Jesus and my faith there. And all because my mother took me to this very church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night while my brother and I were growing up.

Bill told us to turn around and see our family and friends who were in attendance to witness us getting married. They are the ones who brought us through tough times and will be there in the future. THANK YOU to everyone who came!!!

Then the preacher's sweet wife read from Romans 12:

1"Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters in Christ, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

These verses guide us, individually and as a couple, in our daily lives, so we wanted them read at our wedding. It's like a marital "check-up" typing them out a year after our wedding.

Sweet Grannie praying

This is one of my favorites pictures. Trey and I were/are so very thankful our preacher and his sweet wife made the 3 hour trip to marry us. While Trey was growing up, Bill was his preacher. Years later, Bill relocated, and, coincidentally, Trey's job took him to the same town were Bill and his family had moved. Now we attend the church where he preaches. It meant the world to us to have him marry us. It was a "God thing" to be married in my childhood church by T's childhood preacher who is currently our preacher! It was a very sincere and intentional ceremony, and no doubt God was present!

We walked out of the church as husband and wife while my precious wedding coordinator rang the church bells. We jumped in the bronco and headed to the reception!