Monday, January 18, 2021

Good Things Come In Small Packages

Where to begin? My head is swimming and I need a nap, but I know from experience if I don't start to put some of my wedding-related thoughts into words the blog mountain will grow and feel insurmountable. I'm sure I'll write several posts diving into all the fun details but I need to start somewhere so let's start here.  

We hosted a wedding this past weekend. Yes. In the middle of a pandemic. And it was all the things a wedding should be...sacred and serious and beautiful and fun. So much fun! 

It was also small. Should weddings be small? Let's start there because I have a few things to say about that. 

If you know us in person you know we're social people. We've moved a lot and have friends scattered around the globe, and our daughters are both social creatures as well, with lots of friends scattered around the globe, and in fact our daughter1, the brides sister and bestest friend in the whole wide world is herself around the globe, which I'll get to in a minute, but the point is we like people. We like parties, social gatherings, laughing, dancing, music, and great big bunches of our friends and family in the same place at the same time. 

In 2021 that is just not meant to be. So what do you do? Do you postpone? Until when? Until summer? Next year? Nobody seems to know, and so we make a choice. We set new expectations and we laser in on the truly important. We find new ways of celebrating and marking life's milestones because by golly, they need to be celebrated and marked. 

Daughter2 and her oh so special groom joined hands and lives to become Mr. and Mrs. on a blue sky January day.  I think we all wondered how this wedding would look and how it would feel and I am here to tell you it looked amazing and it felt fabulous. 

For the record, I don't have many photographs to share because everyone was fully present which is how a wedding should be. I'm sharing a few phone snaps people have given me, but our fab photographer uses real film so the professional shots will take some time. 

We would not have chosen a small wedding were it not for Covid, but I can honestly say I loved everything about the size of our gathering. It was so wonderfully intimate and the venue was gorgeous. 

Then there was the bride. This girl was positively beaming, relaxed and happy as she marched confidently through the door God opened many months prior. She and her groom were able to thoroughly enjoy time with each other and with every guest present. We all were and that is so very special and something we've all taken away from the weekend. 

Quite a few of you who read here regularly have asked about the bride's sister, if she was there. In a word no. She had every intention of being there, she booked her trip, and later rearranged and rebooked her trip, but in the end she was unable to travel due to restrictions and complications on re-entry into S. Korea upon return. So that's that. Nobody needed the added stress of worrying about her coming to the states and getting stuck here while her boys were in S.Korea. We had many people praying specifically for clarity and the door was shut for her. It doesn't get much clearer than that. 

And you know what? There were some tears shed over this, BUT! they did not rule the day. If I were to make a list of my favorite moments of the entire weekend the video daughter1 made for her sister would be near the very top. She recorded herself giving her matron of honor speech and I have never in all my life heard a more perfect speech than this one. We played it as a surprise at the rehearsal dinner and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It felt like she was there and that was important. 

Our wedding planner (Beckon Events if you're in my part of the country-they are the absolute best!!) helped us set up a Facebook live feed so she could watch the ceremony, and we had other family members who were unable to travel view it there too, so that was something. Not the same as being there in person, but we are all doing our best in this season of uncertainty. 

And that's all I'm going to say about that, because it was not the main thing and I want to keep my eyes on the main thing. 

The adorable newlyweds. 

Who charmed their guests, danced every dance, and who know with God all things are possible. 

20 comments:

  1. Tears are falling down my cheeks! I am so happy for D2 and also so sad that D1 couldn't be there. But it sure looks like a beautiful wedding and a very happy (and beautiful) bride and groom!! Looking forward to more photos when you get them, Joyce. By the way, you look fabulous!! Great MOB dress. Beautiful.

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  2. Oh thank you so much for letting us enjoy the wedding on your blog. The couple is beautiful. I just love how happy and comfortable they look.

    You are dealing well with the realities of the restrictions due to COVID -- demonstrating to the rest of us that solutions can be found.

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  3. I was so excited to see this post! Congratulations! Absolutely beautiful!

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  4. Oh I am soo happy for you all. Cant wait to see all the pics. She looks beautiful and so do you!

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  5. This made my heart smile really BIG! I am so happy for them and for y'all. The pics are so, so sweet and I am so sorry that Shannon was not able to make it but so glad for streaming. I can't wait to hear and see more.

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  6. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us. I came to check to see if there was a wedding post, I was excited to see pictures. I assumed the wedding was soon with the last Hodgepodge theme. :) Congratulations!

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  7. Congratulations! I'm so happy for your dear daughter and the whole family. You both look beautiful and glowing with happiness!

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  8. Oh how wonderful. I'm so happy to read this and that all went well and will be a wedding to remember. Congratulations and God's blessings on all!

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  9. Aw, that sounds wonderful! Despite obstacles life does have to go on and what a wonderful way to march into the new year. I just love all these smiles. Best wishes to them both.

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  10. OMG! I saw the picture on IG but didn't realize it was Daughter2! I had no idea it was happening this quickly...I had in my head it was going to happen this summer. Even though Daughter1 wasn't there, it had to be a perfect wedding...intimate enough so they COULD be present!

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  11. Tears of happiness for you all. Congratulatiobs.

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  12. Oh Joyce, I'm so glad it all turned out so wonderful in spite of the disappointments. Congrats to the new couple!!

    My daughter is having some of the same issues. In fact, one of her bridesmaids live in Korea and she is now unable to come too. Another is a new mommy and her hubby is National Guard & has been called in and won't be able to assist her in coming from Ohio to Florida with the new baby, so she probably isn't going to make it either. But Kelli is taking it well and making changes where needed. The most important thing is that they can still have a beautiful ceremony and start into their new life together as your daughter has done.

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  13. I am so glad this was able to go ahead. Congratulations to the happy couple. (Here weddings are limited to 6 people (excluding registrars etc) and can only happen in exceptional circumstances right now.) D2 and the groom looked so happy and I'm sure it was a very special day despite all the changes you had to make given the current circumstances. Look forward to seeing more pictures.

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  14. Congratulations!! What a lovely couple, huge, happy smiles!!

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  15. Your daughter is absolutely gorgeous on her big day!!! Glad it was a success!

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  16. What a glorious occasion, radiant bride, handsome groom, beautifully attired mother, and sister and nephews watching on the other side of the world. That sounds almost as perfect as it can get. Can't wait to see and hear more.

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  17. Congrats to Maggie and her now husband. You all look amazing but that's not anything new. As a mom of 2 daughters who did courthouse weddings for 2 different reasons at the same courthouse (might be a new family tradition now for us haha) I can vouch for the small but intimate wedding. Was never something we ever planned on in a million years but it was oh so very special anyway. It helps you really focus on the most important things. SO happy for Maggie that she that she found happiness especially in these challenging times when being social is complicated. We wish them many blessings!

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  18. Congratulations! Looks like an absolutely beautiful wedding. Your daughter looked stunning and so happy!

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  19. I'm so happy everything went so well. Congrats to the happy couple! Looks like they did everything perfectly for the times we're in. Thank you so much for commenting on my post about my son's wedding. I wish his bride would reconsider the huge wedding, especially one where masks aren't required. I sure hope she doesn't regret her decision.

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  20. The picture of you and your daughter is absolutely beautiful. This post is so sweet and I'm so happy it all went well for all of you. Congratulations to the bride and groom!!!!

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