My sister Penny got married this past Saturday. Her wedding was very well planned. All the many details were covered. Our large family and Penny’s new in-laws all worked together (some much more than others) to make it a big success.

Her colors were periwinkle ( a pastel color made from a mixture of purple and blue) and ivory. She bought her wedding dress in Russia but it was made in Italy. It was a strapless dress that laced up in the back. Her bridesmaids also wore a strapless dress. My family and I arrived early. I watched in the brides dressing room as everyone got ready. It was fun to see all the busyness as Penny and her bridesmaid dressed in every detail. The photographer was also there taking pictures of Penny in her wedding gown in front a backdrop.
The wedding ceremony began at 2pm. Things went well except for a few small occurences. When the ringbearer and flowergirl (ages two and three) walked in they both got distracted and want to stay with their parents who sat near the aisle. Then, Clint, our ringbearer got bored as the preacher talked. He became interested in the candles lit along the edge of the stage. He would sit near one and look at it like he wanted to touch the flame and then his daddy would get him and take him to his seat. Then Clint would go back. There was another detail that would have been hard to catch beforehand. My son, Samuel, and Tyler were candle lighters. When it was time for Sam to light his candle, his candle lighter went out. He had to walk across the stage to get another from Tyler. This happened twice. Then after they left the stage some of Sam’s candles went out. Then we realized that the air conditioner vent on the ceiling was blowing on them.
The pastor read from 1 Corinthians 13. When Penny and Alex said their wedding vows they said the traditional one. But they had memorized it. This was they way Alex’s parents said theirs and his grandparents also. Penny’s wedding bouquet had fresh irises and lilacs. They flowers represented the names of our grandma and Alex’s grandmother. When they asked the florists to prepare all the flowers with this combination, they said they had never done that before. But all the flowers turned out great and accented the color of the bridesmaid’s dresses well.
The cake was three tiers with tiny flowers decorated as if there was a chain of them falling down the side from the top. When Penny and Alex ate their cake unlike most they were respectful and didn’t shove it into their mouth. When they interlocked to drink some sparkling apple juice “wine” they interlocked their arms. Alex made this a little more difficult for Penny by raising his arm some. Little silver bells were placed on the table. We were told we had to ring a bell if we wanted to see Penny and Alex kiss.
My husband Danny put together a video of pictures of Alex and Penny in Russia in different settings. He used the song Valentine by Martina McBride. One picture showed Penny and Alex hugging each other in front of St. Basils.
The car definitely got decorated. Just Married was shoe-polished on the back window and a giant heart was put on Penny’s side of the front windshield. Confetti was scattered all around inside the car. Streamers were strung across the front seat and then a dozen balloons were stuffed into the front seat under the streamers. When Penny and Alex wanted to leave Alex pulled each balloon out, popping them one by one. Cans were tied on to the back of the car but when our newlyweds left someone had untied them! Everbody watching said a collective Ohhhhhhhh! when the pile of cans continued to lay on the ground. Some of my young nephews ran after them and retied the cans on the muffler of the car as Penny and Alex patiently waited and then they drove off noisily (just like it’s supposed to be!)
On the way to the car Penny and Alex didn’t get showered with the old fashioned rice or birdseed but instead Penny thought of the creative idea of using whirlygigs (seeds “with wings” that come from Maple trees). These were in homemade paper containers in four baskets. My daughter Ginny and three of her cousins dressed alike and carried the baskets and handed them out to everyone. Ginny, Adalyn, Ellen and Hannah were all born within a year of each other.
Penny’s was an unforgettable and beautiful wedding. Many family members from both sides were involved and worked together. It definitely symbolized two families coming together.