Each jar had a saying attached, like “So Berry in Love”
(there was something of a berry theme going on).
Vintage fishing reels (reflecting an abiding interest of the
groom) held flowers and wedding booklets; there were
coloring books for the kids.
A college friend of Kevin’s officiated, and the three
of them collaborated on the ceremony. Kevin and
Courtney chose the readings and prayers working from
a wedding service book, and the officiant added personal
stories and a little comedy.
Temperatures had been over 100 degrees, but on
Sunday, the day of the wedding, the thermometer read in
the mid-80s — the perfect day had arrived. “My dad and
stepdad both walked me down the aisle,” Courtney says.
“It was very special.” Kevin picked up his guitar and
played the processional as bridesmaids and bride came
down the aisle, and both their grandmothers had roles,
too. As flower girls they
walked
immediately
before the bride, tossing
flower petals on the
grass. “They had a blast,”
Courtney said. As the
bride arrived, the groom
set down his guitar and
walked her up to where
they would be married.
There was concern
that there might be some
distraction from water
sports on the river, but
nothing happened until
reference was made to
Kevin’s being an officer
in the Astoria Police
Department. Then there
was a horn blast from a
passing police boat. Was
it only a coincidence?
At the conclusion of
the ceremony Kevin kissed the bride, dipping her as he
did so. Then he said, “I can do better than that,” and
kissed her again, dipping her even lower.
“It was really cute,” the bride said. “We could feel all
the love from everybody around us.”
The couple took off in a 1930 Hupmobile which had
been restored for the wedding by Kevin’s dad, and came
back to join their guests in feasting and playing yard
games like cornhole, Jenga, and croquet. Then it was
time for peach/raspberry and marionberry pies and a
Norwegian wedding cake (the bride is Scandinavian),
with rings of pastry trimmed with icing and concealing
a bottle of champagne with which the couple will
celebrate their first anniversary.
Courtney remembered with delight how, as the day
drew to a close and only a core group of close friends
remained, her husband picked up his guitar, stepped up
to the mike, and serenaded her with a beautiful song he
had written for her.
A romantic conclusion to a perfect day.
Temperatures
had been over
100 degrees, but
on Sunday, the
day of the wedding,
the thermometer
read in the mid-
80s – the perfect
day had arrived.
12
RIVER & SEA WEDDINGS 2017