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There were a lot of wonderful moments on my wedding day, but one was so unexpected and delivered with such love, I still think about it in vivid detail with tears in my eyes, eleven years later.
I'll back up a little...as a child I loved the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I have it on VHS, DVD and I own the soundtrack. I have all the songs and dances memorized and I could list off all the brides and all the brothers...but I won't.
My favorite song in the movie is June Brides and because of it, I'd always dreamed of having a June wedding. When my husband and I became engaged in October of 2000, I only had nine months to pull it off, but I knew I could do it.
During the wedding reception one of my bridesmaids (I had seven!) came to the mic and asked for the dance floor to be cleared. I was shown to a seat at the end of the floor and five of my bridesmaids went to the middle and arranged themselves to face me, the other two stood by my chair. At this point I had no idea what they were doing - until I heard: "They say when you marry in June, you're a bride all your life." And then the music started to play and my bridesmaids performed the whole June Bride song - choreography and all!
For as long as I live, I don't believe I will ever feel as loved as I did in that moment. My bridesmaids were my sister, my sister-in-laws, a high school friend and some cousins - only one of them had ever been in a play and for the rest to perform this for me was well outside their comfort zone. One of my sister-in-laws was nine months pregnant. I knew how much courage this had taken for all of them - but they did it for me - and they did it because they knew how much it meant.
I sat in that chair and I laughed and I cried and I laughed some more - not at their performance, but at their complete devotion to me. I love those ladies with all my heart and I'll never forget that moment.
What about you? What was a highlight on your wedding day? Have you seen something fun at a wedding?
A clip from the movie
So sweet! We just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary too!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary, Julie! It's been a good eleven years for us.
DeleteAw, I love that song and that whole movie!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband unexpectedly sang to me at our wedding reception. He's not a singer but he had a friend play guitar and sang to me in front of 150 people. He's my hero for that.
And someday, I'll have to write a post about the fun Star Wars thing I planned for him at our reception. Hehe.
He sang to you at your proposal and your wedding?!?! You're a lucky lady - and he's a brave guy! I can't wait to hear about your Star Wars thing! I love when people personalize weddings.
DeleteWhat a sweet memory! That is such an endearing song and to have your bridesmaids have that surprise for you is so special. That is one of my favorite movies! I could just sing along to all the songs. My favorite is the barn raising dance with all the skirts, and handsome men in those shirts :)
ReplyDeleteI love the barn raising, too! The whole movie is a winner in my book. I loved sharing it with my seven year old daughter for the first time a couple months ago - she loved it as much as me. :)
DeleteYay, I love that movie!! Especially the part where they kidnap all the girls... :)
ReplyDeleteI wrote a song and sang it at my sister's wedding--definitely one of my favorite wedding moments. Emotional, but special.
That's amazing - and takes so much courage, Melissa! I bet it was emotional - I hope you have it on video.
DeleteI love when the girls are kidnapped (it's one of those things that's cute in a movie - but in real life, eek!) When the avalanche comes crashing down and then the girls are holed up in the cabin all winter...it's such a good movie!
Awww, what at AWESOME memory, Gabrielle! That shows just how much they loved you and supported your marriage. And your dress was just beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna. We had a beautiful wedding and everyone who was there came to give their full support! Our pastor said if our marriage didn't work he was in the wrong business! ;)
DeleteVery sweet & beautiful!
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Thanks, Jennette!
DeleteWe had skits, we had dancing (I know, right? At a BAPTIST wedding!!!)we had my brother, the actual stand up comedian , as the MC and we had singing. Only, it got scarier and scarier. Our guests were told they had to sing a song with the word "love" in it. But the table full of Bible college friends re-wrote some tame songs with EXTREMELY naughty lyrics. They'd bring us their versoin then stand up and sing the regular version. John and I died a little each time they stood up. ANd they probably did 5 or 6 songs. I have the lyrics in my wedding album.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a FUN wedding to be at, Jennifer! I love when the guests get involved. We had dancing at our wedding, too - our first dance was to the tune of As Time Goes By - by Jimmy Durante. It was a wonderful day that I would love to relive over and over again.
DeleteI always loved that movie too!!! Your wedding sounds fab. :-) I liked my "exit" music, it was very upbeat. :-) Going to check out your interview!
ReplyDeleteI love the exit music at a wedding - it's the best moment in the whole day, after the I do's are said and everyone is ready to greet the new Mr. & Mrs.! Thanks for stopping by today, Jessica!
DeleteWhat a great story! Loved it! Although I have wonderful memories of my wedding day, there's nothing that really stands out. Of course, it was 37 years ago this August 1st, and as I think about weddings, I keep thinking of our children's weddings, not my own. For our daughter Sarah's wedding, our second son rented a limo and he drove us all around (hair appt., nail appt., to the church, etc... and then took Josh and Sarah to their car after the wedding). And since my husband was also the officiating pastor and couldn't walk Sarah down the aisle, our two sons walked her down . . . and they were all three crying (tears of joy) as they came down the aisle. Sweet, sweet memories!
ReplyDeleteTeri, your children sound like they love each other a great deal - it's a testament to having good parents! When my dad's sister was married, he rented a limo for the wedding party and when his other sister got married shortly after she naturally expected him to get her a limo, as well - but he thought it would be funny to get a tractor, trailer and hay bales to bring the wedding party to the reception! Imagine my aunt's surprise - but she thought it was a great twist and they laughed all the way to the party!
DeleteNow that we live in the country, I especially love the tractor, trailer and hay bales idea. What fun! Glad your aunt was a good sport and enjoyed it as well.
DeleteAnd yes, our children do love each other and are very close, despite the fact that they are now spread out from Washington DC, to Huntsville, Alabama, to Wichita, Kansas. God is good that way!
lovley
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