The Wedding

The Wedding

 

Grow old with me….the best is yet to be…..

 

As we drove up and looked across a well mowed pasture that resembled a golf course at the River Oaks Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas, cars had already begun to gather and park in the edge of the pasture close to the road. We walked over to where the wedding was to take place and a white picket fence with decorations arrayed both sides of an open gate. Large bows made of pages from old song books were attached to the gate posts with ribbon streaming down and tool draped between the posts.

 

Just beyond to the right stood a barbecue grill next to a building where people were gathered. Smoke was spiraling to the sky, which threatened rain or sunshine but for now the sunshine had won.

 

 

We walked on to a place on the left where a claw foot old bathtub stood holding the gifts for the soon to be married couple. And next to it was a large tub of iced cold drinks. The old timey kind in bottles like when we were kids, root beer, crème soda and orange soda caught my eye. Young girls were stationed at each place to help direct or answer questions. They were young but so gifted in the area of the jobs they performed. Here also was a stand with a guest book which all came to sign and then amble on toward what looked like the edge of the woods where seating of bales of hay lined up in rows long and wide all the way to a stage which had what looked like pillars with white tool draped between and a podium for the pastor to stand behind with chandeliers each hanging from the open ceiling to light the area.

 

To the right was a large barn where music was flowing across to all that had taken their seats. A young man with a guitar and on the corner of the large porch was an old washer from the late 40’s or maybe early 50’s. I know because we had one when I first married that was my grandmothers but this one was an earlier version of the one we had.

 

As we found our seat we noticed the hay did not seem to have stickers or the like. It was very comfortable. We had looked around to where to sit and our church family had gathered in the area so we went to sit in front of them. Others came and sat beside us and slowly the seats were all taken with some holding homemade fans that we missed seeing, waving in their hands. Although there was little breeze and maybe the small puffs that came once in a while actually came from those fanning around us, it was not unpleasant.

 

On the stage the sun began to slowly sink into the west and the light filtered and caught the petals hanging from the chandelier on the left. It was as if the entire piece had taken on lights and not just the top where the light bulbs stood. The trees shown with the light hitting them and causing the light green to stand out in magnificent glory as the dark greens were holding them up for all to see. It was beautiful and peaceful.

 

The isle was created by dividing the bales that was the seating area. People stood talking and laughing and time seem to stand still. To the left the trees that made a forest all along the left side of the area was as if put there after a broom had swept all clean beneath them.

 

The photographers were sitting ready to do their job and faces watched expectantly for the ceremony to begin. It was as if sitting in a theatre waiting for the drama to perform and all eagerly waited. There were stories written across many faces as was so evident in their eyes. Those stories are there’s to tell, but it was a beautiful thing to see and know just a few minute strands of those lives and what had made them who they were.

 

The announcer speaks and the procession begins. Each were escorted down the aisle with looks of anticipation of what was to now take place. The bride maids were beautiful and the mother of the bride never looked more surreal. She was about to cry or perhaps was crying, but she held her head high and persevered on to her seat. Since I am not familiar with the others I really don’t know who the groom’s family were, but all looked beautiful to me. As with all weddings the little flower girls made everyone giggle and the young men with them smiled in unison.

 

Now the big moment has finally arrived and here she comes. The bride holding on to the arm of her father looking as only a young bride could. She has a mixture of smiles and tears as she passed. As she reaches the stage her father gives her away and she goes to stand by her soon to be husband and the journey begins.  Let us hope the refrain, Come grow old with me…the best is yet to be… will forever play in their hearts and minds.