Wedding!

Well, the wedding, so looked forwarded to and planned for, has come and gone, so quickly it seems. It was a great day, a great time all around.

James and Catherine came up the week of the wedding to spend a bit of time with us and do some last minute stuff. Catherine had to get a new license, and she and James allowed me to go along when they purchased more centerpiece makings. Between James's great ideas and Catherine's ability to put those ideas into action, the centerpieces were wonderful: varied shaped glass vases filled with red stones holding various white flowers. Add those to the personalized baseballs and tiny boxes of candies and the tables were beautiful. (Due to a glitch, they didn't get decorated until the last minute, but friends and family stepped up to the plate and took care of it.) We also had a great time on James's birthday, the two of them and the two of us going to see Star Trek and Up.

James and Catherine each had celebrations with their respective wedding parties on Friday night, and William and I went to dinner with his sister and brother-in-law, Patty & Kevin from the Atlanta area, and my cousin and Aunt, now living in the Orlando area, after which we six sat in the lobby and talked and visited with incoming guests.

I could go into GREAT detail about the wedding day itself, so will concentrate on the wedding itself. It was beautiful. Catherine & James had, with the minister’s help, organized a moving service. Before the ceremony, Catherine was a tiny bit stressed. I can’t say “scared,” because she wasn’t. I can’t say “nervous,” because she wasn’t. But I could see the build-up of energy inside of her, but she handled it. When the doors opened, James’s face was transformed: excitement and over-whelming happiness. I was so pleased that such a nice man is so in love with my “little girl.” William said he had to hold Catherine back from galloping towards James (which was short and he wanted to enjoy walking his daughter down the aisle!)

They wrote their own vows, which were beautiful. They didn't try to memorize them, as if they had just thought them up. Catherine even stumbled over a word, correcting, which indicated to me that she knew what she wanted to say and said it. She laughed and apologized that her vows were longer than James's, an dit spoke of how relaxed they are with themselves, each other and their commitment. The exchange of rings was smooth, and they lit the unity candle, which went off without a hitch. I may be getting some of this out of order, but I do recall the kiss, and the pronouncement of them as "Mr. and Mrs. James and Catherine Pickrel!"

The reception at Wrigley Field was really fun, once they got there! They had a table with just two chairs, which was a great idea. They got some time alone and people came up to take photos and chat. William and I ended up sitting at separate tables to eat. When we had arrived the table where we were supposed to sit had been taken over by too much family and there wasn't space for two. My sister helped me drag another table over, but by then William was sitting with friends, and ended up returning there, which was actually nice as we got to talk to lots of people.

The food was great. Catherine and James had selected two great cakes: the wedding cake with a passion fruit filling, lightly decorated with red baseball-like stitching, and a chocolate (which I never got to sample!) groom's cake. The cake cutting was sweet. The DJ's query of a "neat" exchange of cake vs a messy one prompted Catherine's "neat!" So of course, I could see James Pop the cake neatly into her mouth. Lots of dancing and talking. I was very emotional but changeable: Peggy's comments about the wedding elicited a laughing response, but Melissa's same comment two minutes later turned on the waterworks! Catherine and William's bride & father dance also turned on the tears, not form sadness but from happiness that they had that special moment. James's brother Edward was so nice. He noticed my tears and came to give me a hug, saying that I'd really gained TWO sons, not just one!

I really appreciated all of the friends and family that came: the Chapmans, the Culbertsons, the Shimkuses, Colette & Patrick, and of course, Peggy, our sisters and husbands, my cousin and aunt, William's mom and her friend, his aunt, cousin and his wife, Jerry and Elizabeth from SL, and Bobbi & her hubby who "crashed" the party. It was great seeing everyone and having them celebrate this wonderful day with us. It went so fast but I will remember it forever.

Thank you! Now, on with life!