Monday, December 29, 2008

The Wedding Story

Thirty years ago today the day was cloudy with a hint of snow in the air. There was a million last minute things to do. Flowers to get picked up, suits to try on to make sure the fit was right. Make sure the photographer was coming. Somewhere in there I had to make sure the food was being delivered. The longer the day went on the worse the sky looked. But the mood was euphoric. After all I was marrying the love of my life. By late afternoon the skies became gray, winds picked up and the rains began. OK..so it was raining, I could handle a bit of rain. The afternoon list of things to do continued on. There was still a ton of last minute things to do. Thank goodness I am a list maker and organized. By the middle of the afternoon the rains turned to snow. The snow was coming in ernest . We realized we might have a problem , the roads were already packed and beginning to get slick. We got a phone call from the gal that made our wedding cake. She couldn't come because of the roads. Dh took off to pick up the cake. I went ahead and tried to get some other things finished up, thinking he wouldn't be gone long. Boy was I wrong. A 15 minute drive turned into 2 1/2 hours. He said the ride was something else. Still I wasn't too worried. I thought the other guests would venture out to help us celebrate our love and come to our wedding. The wedding was to begin at 7. It didn't start until 7:30. The pastor had a terrible time getting there. The photographer didn't show up. The roads were just down right hazardous. Because of the roads the ceremony was short and sweet. The reception was cancelled and we got on our way. We made a 55 mile drive into the city to celebrate our wedding night. That 60 minute drive took over 3 hours. Yes, girls the roads were slick. The temperatures were dropping and it was freezing. We got to the hotel finally and had dinner. That was at least delicious. After getting to the room we realized we had more serious things to worry about. The room was freezing and there wasn't going to be any extra heat. Apparently, they were having trouble with the heat system. I would say they were having trouble. Ice had formed on the inside of the windows. We literally were freezing. So, we went out into the lounge to listen to the piano player and get warm.
The pearls were a gift from my Grandmother for my 12Th birthday. I wore them with pride. Our champagne toast to each other were out of these very glasses. The waitress felt so bad she told us we could have them. Each year we toast our love with these same glasses. The anniversary plate is now 5 years old. My girlfriend gave it to us for our 25Th Wedding Anniversary. Where has the time gone? There have been so many challenges over the past 30 years. A lot of ups and downs, mostly ups. Through all the good and bad times we've grown closer and closer. I love him more today than the day I married him. I count my blessings each and every day that I have the man of my dreams. My best friend. So to the love of my life Happy Anniversary honey.

As a little post note. We had our reception 2 weeks later at our home. We invited 250 of our closest friends. We expected them to come and go and they all stayed. Our little home was bursting at the seams. But I can't remember a more enjoyable evening.
Thank you for allowing me to share my day of joy and memories of our special day.


39 comments:

Tamara Jansen said...

Oh, what a sweet story! What a memorable start )

Jessica said...

Happy Anniversary! What a wedding day to remember!!!

Unknown said...

Congrats my friend... what a beautiful story and I LOVED the song that went with it... Thanks for letting me share such a joyous occasion with you!
Bless you and yours....
HUGS
~Rainey

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you and Bill..what a great story of Love..I was also married to my best friend so know how speical that can be...Hope you have some fun for the day girl..I'll do my own toast for the blessed couple..love ya...hugs and smiles Gloria

Anonymous said...

What blessings you have shared~~~ HAPPIEST of ANNIVERSARIES, dear, sweet Lynne~~~~ Love, Linda

Four Paws and Co said...

Oh Lynne, what a wonderful story! I bet you enjoyed your reception even more 2 weeks later. Happy Anniversary my friend! ♥ Diane

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing. And a toast to many more anniversaries together... mishelle

Lisa (aka) French said...

Ohhh Lynne what a sweet story thanks for sharing it with us! Yes where do the years go? April will be my 19th anniversary! Who would have thunk it! (lol) Hugs French;)

Carol said...

Happy anniversary Lynne! Your wedding day adventure story is something else! That's what special memories are made of. . .
Blessings,
Carol

Bo said...

Hi Lynne, all I could think of was rain, nor sleet, nor snow or still of night could keep this blessed union from happening! Congratulations...The time really does seem to pass swiftly! I'm wishing you many more happy anniversaries to come... ;-) Bo

Glenda said...

With such an eventful beginning, things pretty much had to improve. Striving together for a common goal seems to build solidarity in a marriage. It sounds like you and DH were striving together even before the nuptials.
Congrats on 30 years of making it work. DH and I recently celebrated our 32nd. While not always easy, it is always worthwhile.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

what a nice way to start the day...with such a sweet story..thanks for sharing it!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Glenda, Congrats to you on 32 years together. You're so right, even though things aren't always easy, it is so worthwhile..
hugs ~lynne~

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh Lynne!...I can't imagine what you must have gone through! But what a sweet story! What a good idea to have the reception later and how nice that so many of your friends came to celebrate with you. But the best part is that you are still married to the love of your life! Not many people have that any more, Lynne. You and your hubby are truly blessed to have had each other all of these years and to still be so in love! Happy Anniversary, my dear friend!...hugs...Debbie

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

Oh my - what a start for such a young couple. But something to share with the grandkids - and us! :-)
Happy Anniversary! Thirty years is quite the accomplishment in this day and age. Blessings to you and your groom. Barb

Salmagundi said...

What an icy start!! But how wonderful the way it turned out. Happy Anniversary and may you have many more. Let me tell you - it just gets better. There is nothing better than growing old with someone you love. Sally

onlymehere said...

I'm so glad that you arrived safely to the hotel. The roads truly sound like they were hazardous. I've been married 26-1/2 years and I agree that the years have flown by. How sweet of the waitress to allow you to keep the glasses. We got to keep the glasses from out 25th wedding anniversary and they sit in my curio just waiting to be used again! Congratulations on your anniversary to both of you! Your story certainly beats my story of my wedding day when I unluckily came down with the flu. LOL! Cindy

Tomarie said...

Oh my goodness Lynne! You've made me drop tears on my computer! :-)
Your wedding day is a little like life..making it through the struggles, but doing it together. And in that "togetherness", you find JOY!! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story! L~

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Lynne...and Happy, Happy Anniversary to you & Bill!!!

Ohhh my...you two had quite a start but what special memories the two of you made!!! I just adored reading your wedding day story...thank you so much for sharing your special memories with us...it's so heartwarming!!! WOW...30 years!!! That's a milestone...Congratulations Sweetie!!! I hope that you and Bill have a fabulous 30th Anniversary and many, many more happy years together!!!

Love you,
Chari

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

"Happy Anniversary". You have quite the love story. But, it shows how determine you were to make it work from the very beginning. And just look at the two of you now. Still going strong as ever.

Hugs, Terrie

PS no shopping today- bummer!!

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

"Happy Anniversary". You have quite the love story. But, it shows how determine you were to make it work from the very beginning. And just look at the two of you now. Still going strong as ever.

Hugs, Terrie

PS no shopping today- bummer!!

Anonymous said...

Lynne, Thanks for sharing your wedding story. You write as if everything happened just yesterday with all of the details and feelings that went along with it. Congratulations on 30 years! Hugs, Fieldstone/Pam

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Pam, what a wonderful surprise to see you stopped by. Thanks so much for helping us celebrate our Anniversary. It means the world. Today promises to be almost 60..I'll take that over snow any old day..hugs ~lynne~

Melissa Miller said...

Lynne this is the sweetest story. Even though things were not perfect with the weather it made for the nicest memories for you both.
Congrats to you and your hubby! I hope you have wonderful and glorious day today.
~Enjoy~ Melissa :)

akawest said...

Wow, what a wedding story! Congratulations on you anniversary.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Lynne, what a beautiful story! It appears that the 2 of you have overcome many obsticals (beginning with your wedding day)! Your obvious love brought tears to my eyes. I'm so glad you found each other and that you had the determination to have your wedding in spite of bad weather. Happy Anniversary! Love ya, laurie

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Happy Anniversary! And, what a nice story. Your guests apparently were enjoying the reception and celebration of your marriage.
Have a great day!

9405018--Pat said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!
Wow what a great story.
Lynne, how was Christmas? The weather today is great....to bad 30 years ago it was bad.but that MO. Pat H

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Pat, thanks so much for swinging by to share our day with us. Yep.. wait 5 minutes and our weather changes. :-) hugs ~lynne~

Jessica said...

Happy Anniversary! What a sweet story~ one that should be told for generations!

Life is about the special moments~

Enjoy! J.

The Muse said...

Lynne,(re: your blog comments) yes, those vintage trims were just like candy! LOL I did indeed get all that I could...! Oh what plans I have made!

Well, I see congrats are in order...and let me offer them most heartily...love is splendid thing...a true gift, that should be nurtured and nourished...I wish you many more years together!

The Raggedy Girl said...

I guess that would make your wedding day about as memorable as they come. Congratulations on thirty years.
Roberta Anne

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Lynne!

What a story! One challenge after another but the knot was tied securely through it all! Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby! We will be celebrating our 30 yrs this June. Time does fly!

Big hugs, Sherry

Happy New Year to you both!

imjacobsmom said...

Happy Anniversary! What a memorable day for sure! Thanks for sharing it with all of us! ~ Robyn

Lady Katherine said...

I just love your story! So sweet, I love you got to have the glasses! The plate is lovely as the Pearls.

Kristens Creations said...

Happy Anniversary!! What a beautiful plate! Have a Happy New Year! Kristen

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! I loved the story.

lvroftiques said...

Oh my goodness Lynne! That was a bit of a tough start! But it made for a smooth marriage! And that's far more important. Happy Anniversary (a day late sorry!) to you and your Bill. May you have 30 more! Vanna

xinex said...

Happy Anniversary, Lynne and Bill! After all you have been through from Day 1, you can just tell that come hell or high water, by hook or by crook, till death do you part, you are meant for each other and together you can whether any storm. What a beautiful and romantic story! Thanks for sharing it with us. You are so lucky to have each other. More best wishes to both of you!..Christine