Storybook wedding

(click on invitation to read it easier)

From the first, you could tell it would be a fairy tale story, the kind you could read to your kids evening after evening. After all Tami had been looking for a "perfect" husband for several years and Jim had been in a blue mood ever since his wife decided she didn't want their marriage to continue. What if these two young people were to get together. They had lots going for them including being in the same church congregation, in fact singing in the same choir.

We were really excited when we heard that they had gotten engaged and so supportive of the idea that we even offered our back yard for the wedding and reception. Of course, at that stage in the planning it was going to be "just a few people" with the number "less than forty" floating around. By the time of the actual wedding, the number had grown to over 100 so we were glad they had turned down our offer of the back yard.


The decor of the cultural hall was Princes and Princesses, grand ballrooms, and pink rose petals. In front of each seat around the tables was a small (2 inch long) glass slipper with a mesh bag of candy which had no discernible taste as far as I could tell.

Although the groom and others of the wedding party were mingling with the crowd, there was no sign of the bride.

Then on the DJ's cue, the youngest of Tami's sons came marching down the aisle holding a pillow with a silver slipper on top.


He was followed by the flower girl and the bridesmaid.

So we had the flower girl, the bridesmaid, the bishop, the groom, and the slipper carrier all waiting. But for what....? At this point Marcus, a good friend of the groom's, carefully took the slipper and began looking at the feet of all the women in the room and visually comparing them to the slipped. The comparisons were superficial and rapid but got the point across that the prince was looking for his Cinderella. Marcus was getting more and more frustrated when suddenly the curtains on the stage opened and there was our beautiful bride - wearing, of course, only one slipper.

Marcus, after putting the slipper on Tami's foot, ran back to inform Prince Jim, who told him to bring the Princess to him at once so they could be married.


So Tami's escort and oldest son brought the lovely Tami down the aisle to join the rest of the wedding party.


For the next 10 to 15 minutes Bishop Smith presided over the actual marriage ceremony and concluded with a brief exchange of rings and an introduction to the congregation of Mr. and Mrs. James Swihart.


This was followed by people taking pictures of the new bride and groom while they posed kissing;


or just standing;
or dancing, exhibition type and otherwise.


There was plenty of food that not only looked great but tasted wonderful.


And a wedding cake that was absolutely gorgeous and wonderful tasting. Of course I would say that about a chocolate and pudding cake.

Jim and Tami enjoyed cutting the cake and feeding a piece to each other. They didn't really try to smear it on each other's face but the size they were feeding made it almost impossible to get cleanly in a mouth.

We were all having such a good time that we were surprised to suddenly hear that gonging of a bell and the DJ announcing that Cinderella and her Prince had to leave before the 12th chiming of the bell. Jim took Tami by the hand and, waving good-bye to us, escorted her quickly from the hall leaving the rest of us to wind the celebration down. It was a well planned and well executed party. Thanks Jim and Tami and all those who made it possible!!