Our next-door neighbors Brett and Carla got married this past Saturday, and our three children were in the wedding. Brett moved in a few years ago and has been a great neighbor. He met Carla and courted her for a year or two. She eventually moved to a nearby condo just across the river. Since our garages face each other through the pear trees, we often see each other coming and going. Our kids often run over to talk, play with their dogs, swim in their pool, and “help” when they work in the yard.
This past Thursday and Friday Will helped Carla’s parents set up the flowers for the wedding, several large, beautiful arrangements that you’d never would’ve known weren’t professionally done. The rehearsal dinner was in Roswell at Sugo, the Italian restaurant just north of the river.
As the diners went back and forth from the buffet, I recognized a red-haired face from the past. Beth Sanders was in senior high when we both sang in the Second-Ponce de Leon Chapel Choir. Later Ceil got to know her parents and younger sister Catharine when we worked in the SPdL youth department. Beth was there to officiate the wedding. She told us that after college she went to seminary, and later served as singles minister at Peachtree Road United Methodist. She was leading the Bible Study where Brett and Carla first met, and Saturday she did a great job weaving several personal stories about the couple into the ceremony. Beth is currently a pastor at a smaller church in College Park, where she said there were more funerals than weddings. Catharine, now a pharmaceutical sales rep, shared a condo with her older sister until Beth moved down to College Park. Beth says her parents are doing well, and attend Peachtree Road Methodist.
The wedding was held in downtown Roswell at Naylor Hall, an old Southern house used for weddings and parties. I have driven past Naylor Hall on Canton Street dozens of times and had not paid much attention. I noticed when I arrived that down the street another wedding was about to begin as well. The wedding program was lovely, and included personal information about each person in the wedding party, texts from readings, and other memorable information. There was a nice paragraph on our family.
Ceil did a great job getting the kids ready for the wedding. Anna spent most of Saturday with her hair in curlers. Friday Anna attended the bridesmaid’s luncheon, and then went with the girls to have their nails done. Will couldn’t wait to put on his tux, and I worried that he’d get it all wrinkled. The kids were needed at the wedding at 3:30 for pictures, meaning Will couldn’t play in his 2 pm game (or the Friday and Saturday night games). Will was the usher, and handed out the wedding programs.
After Brett and Beth came out of the front door of the house, the groomsmen and bridesmaids marched up the aisle and took their places on the front steps. Ring-bearer Matthew and flower girl Anna then processed together and stood at the base of the steps. Anna was the oldest of three flower girls. The groomsman standing next to Matthew had a spider scooting around on his back, and sometimes creeped dangerously close to his neck. Neither the groomsman nor Matthew ever noticed.
Carla arrived with her parents in a horse-drawn carriage. As the wedding was starting threatening dark clouds filled the sky, and we felt three or four drops of rain. But by the time Brett took Carla’s arm and escorted her to the top of the steps for the ceremony, the afternoon sun shown brightly down on the front of the west-facing house. Immediately after the wedding Brett and Carla hopped on the carriage and took a short ride around downtown Roswell, returning to take pictures with the wedding party.
The reception was a sit down dinner inside Naylor Hall, complete with dinner music from a live band. The wedding party was introduced, including Will, Anna, and Matthew. We had a great time eating with the best man and his wife, and a groomsman and his family who now live in Fredericksburg. Anna and Matthew danced, and Matthew created a tall Dagwood sandwich, made up mostly of crackers. Will made his rounds and hung out with the men in a quiet side room in the house. We left somewhat early only because Anna was so tired. Will and I stopped at Kroger on the way home, and older teenage girls were asking Will what prom he was attending.
Early Sunday evening Brett and Carla flew out on a two week honeymoon in Italy. Monday the dogsitter misplaced their housekey, and that night I had to help get into the house in the dark. I entered the house with the huge dog aptly named Bear eyeing me and barking. I hadn’t been around Bear in many months, and didn’t know if he would lick me or eat me. I survived.
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