After dating for six years, Clint asked me to marry him on February 14, 2005. On May 27, 2006 we were married at the little Church at Tannehill. A place I had always loved and thought was so simple and charming. Just the way I wanted my wedding. Nothing big, nothing special… just a pretty dress on a pretty day with pretty flowers.
To show how much fuss I didn't make over my wedding, since I never could find a pair of wedding shoes that were the perfect length to wear with my dress without having to have it altered, I just threw on the same Ariat boots I had on when I tried on my wedding dress back in Winter that year. They were the perfect length. Ha ha. And since you could not see them unless I lifted my dress, why even stress over not being able to find the perfect wedding shoes. I had already wanted to pull out my hair from trying to crunch my wedding list down to 100 family and friends! So the details of that big day were very hairy for me.
But when that day came, besides it being a scorcher, things all fell into place and everyone had a wonderful time. My Aunt Lottie (who is extremely talented and loving and one of the dearest additions to the rather large Swann family) made the beautiful arrangements, Gary Elkins (married to my mother's 1st cousin Nita) took great pictures of the wedding and filmed it; put it to music on a great DVD. His pictures were very candid and some of my favorites of the day. It was a wonderful addition to have as well as a hired photographer. And he did it all just because he enjoyed doing it. Priceless! What a wonderful gift.
Jerry Weber showed up with a rubber chicken that made a miserable cluck noise when poked that I think he intended to set off sometime during the wedding. Kathy his wife made him leave it in the car but somehow Jerry managed to get it past her. During the ceremony prayer while Kathy was bowing her head she noticed it on the floor and kicked it back out of Jerry's reach and when she did it let out that miserable cluck. J I'm sure Kathy just about died.
During the part of the ceremony when it was time for Brother Doug to ask the guests if there was anyone in opposition to our union to please "speak now or forever hold your peace" I turned and glanced to the guests of the bride section and gave them probably what appeared to be my don't you dare look [which tickled everyone]. However I knew that no one would oppose, I was actually looking to see where Jerry was and figured that's probably when he was going to squeeze that rubber chicken.
My niece Natalie Ellen, who was my flower girl, got bored during the ceremony and found Jennifer's (Maid of Honor) shoes interesting so she scrunched down to play with them – when she tired of that she decided to konk out on the floor. After comfortably sprawling out on the floor and started to dose off, so Dad scooped her up and put her in his lap. So it was quite the ceremony with a lot of smiles and laughs and thanks to Gary we have every minute of it on DVD! Fits right in with mine and Clint's personality.
Not everything went off without a hitch; basically the reception décor fell through due to my faulty plans. I wanted to do it all myself (LOL – can you imagine…what was I thinking!) But no one seemed to notice. The food was great! We decided who better to cater for such a reception in that setting than Golden Rule – BBQ Chicken and Pork with everything else. It seemed fitting.
Debbie Mays my wonderful Coworker made BOTH the Bride's Cake and the Groom's Cake. It must be said that Debbie makes the best tasting cakes I HAVE EVER HAD – and my family felt the same way. If she decided to quit her day job – she'd become famous with these cakes very quickly. She also made the wonderful punch.
What an amazing lady!
Which by the way almost ended in disaster had it not been for Daniel one of my longest running friends – ever!...spotting a crack in the punch bowl and they were able to dump it into something else before it gave way and went all over the food, cakes whatever else was in it's path. Thanks Dan, you saved the day.
One of the loops to bustle my train broke so at the end I had to hurry and get out of it anyways because I was having to hold my dress up to keep it from getting filthy. There's a nice shot that Jo Carroll our photographer got of me holding my dress up with my boots showing that cracks me up and is still possibly my favorite picture ever – notice my face is not in the picture. ;)
Since it was so hot at the outdoor reception and I was excited and trying to talk to everyone at once, I hardly remember one conversation. But I know it was special none the less.
Though I love big spectacle and beautiful weddings that set out in memory blessed unions of our friends, I knew that didn't fit with Clint and I. God blessed us on that day with the presence of our family and close friends as witnesses of the beginning of a marriage of great love and devotion.
It was a wonderful day that I'll never forget!!
Photos by Jo Carroll:
