As the couple exchange
wedding vows they will be
affirming their love and
making a commitment to each other.
All the spectators are
there to wish them well.
As the time approaches,
I think back to other
family weddings over many years.
My older sisters were
all married in the same church
and as brides they
carried a white Bible
decorated with tiny roses.
The receptions for their weddings
were all held in
the same church basement,
as there was no large
banquet hall in the local area.
The feast was usually catered
by a group of church members.
Today's wedding reception will
be held in an arena
that will be decorated
with just the right amount
of fall flowers in
wonderful arrays to give it
dignity yet a touch of glamour.
The table decorations will
be a masterpiece. One of
the table decorations will
be small pumpkins, used as
containers for flowers that
were collected from family gardens,
surrounded by a large wreath
made from long stalks of wheat.
There will be a few coloured leaves
placed inside the wreath.
Maybe they will use
oak and maple leaves
to show the splendour
of the autumn colours.
The colour of the outfits
that the bridesmaids are
wearing will be
fall colours as well.
The ingenious decorations will
be appreciated by the many guests
attending the festivities.
At each place setting
there will be a special paper napkin
with the bride and groom's name
printed on it and
the date of their wedding.
It will be carefully
folded placed on top
and of a linen napkin.
This will be one
of the souvenirs the guests
will have to commemorate
the special wedding day.
Also at each place
will be a few after
dinner mints for the guests.
A miniature tree will also be
placed at each persons place.
The intent is for the guests
to take the little tree home
and transplant it to
a special place. In this way,
our environment is also improved
and the tree will become a
living tribute to the young couple.
The groom will carry
her across the threshold
as is customary for
a young couple as they
begin their new life together.
The honeymoon plans will
take them to the west coast of Canada.
They will have a week
of privacy far away
from friends and family.
They will inhabit a condominium
in the town of Whistler,
British Columbia, in the Rocky Mountains.
They will feel as if
they are royalty living
in a mansion in this little bit
of paradise on earth.
Thereafter, they will return home
to Ontario where they will reside.
Their original plan to
spend their honeymoon on
board a yacht in
the Mediterranean Sea was abandoned
when world circumstances dictated that
our country Canada was a safer choice.
Earlier this month, as
I thought about the forthcoming marriage,
and knew that I would be
unable to attend, I decided
to write a message to
the young couple. The intent
was that the message would be
read aloud during the
wedding reception. In the message,
I wished them well and
urged them to cherish
each other every day. |