I have some cute blingy platform flip flops
That I might consider using later in the evening
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Sorry, I am of no help as I have not been to Alderbrook! 
Looks lovely.
D1 received preview photos from photographer today. I promise I will stop after this, but these pups were so amazing!
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Thanks for sharing. The pups look great.
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Congrats! Sounds like the day was fantastic. So happy it all worked out so well. Your grand-puppies are really sweet.
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Share away!
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Yes please share! I like to live vicariously
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Last weekend older S and GF put down a deposit on a venue. The ceremony will be in April 2026, so we have some time lol. It’ll be in a town near them, near a major airport.
But I’m excited we have an officiant. It’s the H (retired minister) of older S’ godmother. They moved away when the kids were little, but they always sent bday cards and such and came to his HS graduation. I was happy to hear after he graduated college, older S started writing them letters on a regular basis.
They are fabulous people, as close to saintly as one can get. It’ll mean a lot to all of us for him to do it.
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I think the officiant is so important. The one for our daughter and husband was a Justice of the Peace who had known our daughter since she was born. Very special to have him do the marriage.
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This is one reason I’m hoping DD2 and DF agree to get married in our town instead of in college town. She wants to have a pastor that knows her. Our pastor has been at our church since DD was 11 months old.
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S & DIL were married by a family friend who was very close to me and S and our entire extended family. It made the event more special.
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I was checking on a reservation and realized I screwed up my flight to my daughter’s wedding in Oct (it wasn’t a non-stop flight and had a 3 hour layover when the non-stop went 10 minutes later). I was thinking of changing it anyway and this made the decision easier to go one day later, thus saving on one extra day of hotel, rental car, and all other associated expenses. Then I booked the hotel through SW airlines too, which was a little cheaper than other sites online and I get 5000 points. And the rental car through Costco which was $20 cheaper but comes with Costco benefits (extra driver).
I’m exhausted and we’re still 4.5 months away.
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They are engaged and Facebook official at last! I am sure this wedding will be a very different experience than S2’s , but we will stay in our lane
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Younger s was married by his (now) brother in law, who got his certification from the “church of the internet” . And the book his bro-in-law used/held during the ceremony was meaningful to them.
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Heh! At S1’s wedding, S2 read from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and DIL’s sister read from Dr. Seuss. Entrance music was a piece from HP.
My youngest brother was the officiant for the wedding of one of my nieces. They managed to keep it a surprise from everyone until he walked down the aisle and on to the stage (niece and her H were marrried at the Ringgold Train Depot!). Now we call him “the Rev.”
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We were married by a childhood friend of mine, but because he was not yet ordained and his church would not have approved of him officiating prior to his ordainment, for his sake we were “legally” married in my mom’s living room the night before by a workmate of hers who was also a Justice of the Peace. That is the date on our marriage certificate, but we celebrate the date of the church wedding the following day.
I agree with this. My friend and I dated briefly in HS, and he always said he would marry me–and he did, just not the way he originally intended. He totally approved of DH and made it a point to stay in our lives all these years. When he was killed by a wrong-way driver on his way to a preaching engagement last year, we were heartbroken. Our wedding pictures have a deeper meaning now that he’s gone. They bring back all the good memories I have of him, not just the wedding.
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One benefit of the officiant being a friend or family member is they likely have more knowledge of the couple and their relationship journey. I know that some religious officiants have a conversation or two one-on-one with a couple prior to marriage but not quite the same as watching a relationship grow - and perhaps struggle or encounter roadblocks - through the years. (though a religious officiant may have known one of the couple for years if it is a home church situation)
I mentioned that my son married my daughter and her husband in April. Daughter said that she knew for years that that is who she would want. He did a little course thingy online, registered, got his certificate and when D and her H went for the marriage license son was listed on whatever Ohio website as legit officiant!
It was a full ceremony lasting about 40-45 mins and so not a quick in and out. More than a wedding it was like a story - a story of both of their journeys - and we all got to be a part of it. We laughed, we cried, we clapped!
I agree that the officiant is not just a prop! They can really be an important part of the ceremony.
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The priest who was supposed to marry us was sent to another parish less than a month before our wedding. New priest spoke with us on the phone once, insisted on changing some of our music and readings (which had been previously approved) and mispronounced my name during the ceremony. It was AWFUL!
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D1 and her H were married by one of his best friends last month. The friend received something online to be able to marry them. He did a wonderful job with the ceremony.
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My sister (who is a writer) married my oldest son and my daughter. She got her license online. She did a wonderful job. My youngest son and his wife were married by his wife’s brother. He also did a great job.
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