These four and no more

Turns out I have a few pictures of the actual wedding. I'd forgotten about them when I posted on Monday.

These phone photos (hence the quality) were sent to me by someone on Sunday afternoon. I'm not even sure who took them, or I'd say.

Here we have TG walking Erica down the aisle. You can tell he doesn't relish being in the spotlight. Not for very long, at least. But what a handsome gentleman.

Weren't her flowers wonderful?

They reached the front, where our son-in-law Joel delivered the charge to the couple just before they took their vows, administered by our pastor.

Can you tell which two bridesmaids are my daughters? Haahaha. My three girls in some settings appear nearly interchangeable. Especially when dressed alike.

But one of these things is not like the others. That would be our dear friend, Anna. Anna from Atlanta (originally from Michigan) who came with her husband to celebrate with us and take part in the wedding.

Anna's husband, Alan, sang two solos during the wedding. Sorry but I don't have a picture of him.

The couple ascended the stairs and said the first part of their vows.

Then they faced one another and said some more vows, while exchanging rings.

That will have to tide you over for now. Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos but isn't it nice that these were taken and sent to me? I love and cherish them.

I'll share more later about our pre-wedding festivities, because they're worth telling about and I'm sure you want to know.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Wednesday

Well. That was pretty great.

Photo Credit: Charlie Mather Photography

OK first let me say, I hope you didn't show up looking for photos of the newlyweds. Together. On their wedding day.

I don't have any. I took not one single picture on Friday.

Yes; I meant to. Yes; I failed. Apologies. I was too busy to remember my camera, and when the time came to use it, I would have been too tired to carry it.

Plus, wouldn't I have looked silly, mother-of-the-bride and all, in a beaded evening gown and wearing a wrist corsage, telling folks to pose up while a hired professional and his assistant were walking around doing that?

Later, at the reception, I was too hungry to do anything but raid the buffet. I wish I'd eaten more but distractions were plentiful. I didn't have a single bite of wedding cake until Saturday, when a few trayfuls of delectable leftover morsels were sitting on the counter in my kitchen, waiting to be dealt with.

It was delicious. Simply amazing. Some of the filling was custard; some was raspberry. I only heard about the raspberry; it was pretty popular with our guests and they ate it all.

Oh look. Here's a pretty picture of Erica with Audrey, taken at her pre-bridal shoot a few weeks before the wedding (the shot at the tippy-top of this post is from that shoot too).

Photo Credit: Charlie Mather Photography

I know; right? Beautiful girls. God bless them.

If possible, they were even more exquisite on the day, as were the rest of the wedding party. 

But more about that later.

Here's one I took of the lovebirds a few months ago. This shoot took place at the historic bridge in Peak, South Carolina, where Chad and Erica got engaged last October:

You have to be careful with graffiti when shooting in such settings where street art is likely to be prevalent. Just carefully read the message, hahaaha. You don't want to be surprised later.

I thought I am Loved was appropriate, though. No; I didn't put it there. I'd forgotten my spray paint.

The way they look at one another. Dear me.

Now I'm recuperating while surrounded at home by enough tulle to sink a battleship if you add all the pink velvet ribbon in North America (don't go looking for any, is all I'm saying. I got the lot) and toss on a sprinkling of cake crumbs.

I've got a few of those favor boxes left too. Styled to look like butterflies in keeping with our garden theme, they were stuffed with Hershey's almond kisses and conveyed the couple's gratitude:

The ring-bearer's pillow -- minus one of the little plastic rings, which fell off at some point during the evening -- is tossed on top of a bunch of table number cards in a box:

Fake -- but convincingly velvety -- roses in blush pink and ivory combined with real baby's breath sigh with relief in another box on the front-room floor, cheek-by-jowl with reserved-table signs:

We had real roses too. The florist provided big ones for the cake ...

... and smaller, more delicate ones to decorate Chad and Erica's sweetheart table.

I particularly loved our cake topper. I'm sure the photographer got a shot of it poised sweetly on top of the cake, but I barely saw it. I love how the porcelain figures resemble Chad and Erica:

It was somewhat hard to find. Cake toppers featuring actual couples tend toward the faintly lewd -- I mean, the bride in the groom's arms with her dress hiked up and her legs thrown around his waist -- really? Really? -- these days. It's discouraging but I was undaunted and eventually unearthed a gem that we'll treasure.

Speaking of treasures, I had fun with some posters I custom-made for the doors of the church, for guests to see as they approached and walked in. There were four, but here are pictures of two:

That's a picture I took of Chad last year. Beside him are photos of both sets of his grandparents, and also his parents, on their wedding days.

Here's the same for Erica:

It was nice. I really liked doing that. It's all about continuity, and a goodly heritage.

Our centerpieces featured glass cylinders from the dollar store, decoupaged with South Carolina maps and lit from within with tea lights. This spoke to Chad and Erica's love of exploring and hiking in South Carolina.

I have eighteen of these, just in case you want one.

I'll share more later but now, I need a nap. TG is relaxing on the golf course today.

Here's a parting shot of a glowing Erica, from her pre-bridal shoot at the South Carolina State House. 

Photo Credit: Charlie Mather Photography

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your many prayers and well-wishes, the thoughtful congratulatory emails and calls, and the gifts and cards sent by blogging buddies dear friends in advance of the day.

I wish you all could have been there. Later this week I'll share more details.

Meanwhile, the newlyweds are enjoying a leisurely several days in Savannah, with plans to travel down to St. Augustine for a day or two before coming home. 

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Monday