Not Your Average Wedding

A coworker of mine (the bride) got married on Saturday night and Tim and I were invited. Since Tim's parents were here for Maren's confirmation, they agreed to take care of the kids and we went to the wedding. Ho-hum, you say?

A little background:

The bride is, shall we say, a little on the unconventional side anyway. The groom, by virtue of being around the bride for so many years, is too. His first marriage, not hers. They were not ones that were going to have your run-of-the-mill wedding in a church with "love, honor and obey" vows, the bridal march as she comes down the aisle and cookies and punch afterward. No, not this bunch. The wedding was scheduled for the last Saturday in October with a theme of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Costumes were highly encouraged.

Having been indecisive about costumes until the hour of the wedding approached, Tim and I went as zombie wedding guests.

We picked up another coworker, a nun, and went on our way. By the way, you'd have to know this person to understand how completely ironic (and therefore hilarious) this costume was for her.

After an hour and 15 minute trip, we arrived. The wedding and reception was being held at the bride and groom's house (which they have built by themselves) on their beautiful piece of property in the country.

We parked on the road and hiked up a long, steep hill. Almost everyone was in costume. All in all, there were about 100 people there and I only saw a couple that were in everyday wear.

It was quite an event. See for yourself.

The property was decked out for the "spiritual" occasion.

















All the guests were in fine "spirits" as well. (I just crack myself up.)

There was even a monk caught red-handed dipping into the spirits.


Then the ceremony began. The groom, a musician, played the mandolin as family was escorted to the front. The attendants came down the aisle...


...then the bride and groom's parents, and finally, the bride. They wrote their own vows and also repeated vows from the minister (a bumblebee). The musical interlude in the ceremony was given by the Scarecrow (not pictured) who sang "If I Only Had a Brain (a Heart, the Noive)." This was great, but the only part of the ceremony I didn't really "get" as it pertained to marriage. Funny, though.


The ceremony ended with all the guests joining in singing "All We Need is Love." This was a very different kind of wedding, but it still made me cry. I love weddings.

Next was a buffet dinner and then the cutting of the cake. There were also lovely table decorations befitting the theme. Being an artist, Tim loved these sugar skulls and probably would have liked to pocket a couple.
















After dinner, plastic glow necklaces were handed out. You know, the party favor kind that your kids beg for at carnivals and Disney on Ice. We thought that was pretty cool and since we left shortly after, in the DARK, going down that very steep hill I mentioned earlier, in heels, they were quite helpful. They gave off enough light that we could sort of see where we were going.

And Tim now says, "Once you go glow necklace, you never go back. I don't think I can go to another wedding if they're not going to have glow necklaces!"

We had a great time and wish all the happiness in the world to the happy couple!