{"id":948,"date":"2011-06-12T16:49:16","date_gmt":"2011-06-12T20:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=948"},"modified":"2025-02-26T15:08:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T20:08:24","slug":"chapter-40-our-beautiful-wedding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=948","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 40: Our Beautiful Wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Euphoric Day<\/h3>\n<p><strong>On June 23, 1990 I awoke for the final time in my pink room,<\/strong> lovingly redone by Mom and Dad when I was 7 and this little girl\u2019s lair for nearly two decades.<\/p>\n<p>I remember immediately smiling, stretching in bed, and feeling a quick flash of joy mixed with nervousness. I hoped the day\u2019s elaborate plans would unfold with no snags. The sun was shining outside and the mid-morning June breezes whispered through the blinds on my window. <strong>It was my wedding day!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;Should have Been You&#8221; by Michael Cooper<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375798355471\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Michael-Cooper-Should-Have-Been-You.mp3\">Michael Cooper &#8211; Should Have Been You<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>I hopped into the shower and dressed, and went downstairs to find Mona, Dad and my brother Steve in the dining room. The table was laden with bagels, doughnuts and coffee. I was beyond excited.<\/p>\n<p>John called late in the morning to say hello and that he was visiting and having breakfast with his family at the Renaissance. Hearing his voice left me all giggly.<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14809\" style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210618_1543038972416397452469566.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210618_1543038972416397452469566.jpg 1932w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210618_1543038972416397452469566-305x300.jpg 305w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210618_1543038972416397452469566-600x591.jpg 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210618_1543038972416397452469566-768x756.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210618_1543038972416397452469566-1536x1513.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/h3>\n<p>By noon, the other bridesmaids and the hairdresser arrived, and following a brunch in the dining room, we all retreated upstairs to my bedroom to begin getting ready.<\/p>\n<p>The bouquets, corsages and boutonni\u00e8res were delivered soon after that. I sat feeling like a queen as they fussed over my hair, makeup and nails. R&amp;B music played as we chattered and shuffled about.<\/p>\n<p>There were ooohs and aaahs as Mom\u2019s wedding dress was finally unzipped from the garment bag. I was assisted with carefully donning this, my \u201csomething old\u201d as I was already wearing thigh-high stockings, brasalette and an ample \u201cScarlett O\u2019Hara\u201d hoop.<\/p>\n<p>My veil (\u201csomething new\u201d) was attached carefully to my elegant updo, and it cascaded down to the floor in a sheer, perfect off-white complement to Mom\u2019s dress. My friend Anne lent me my \u201csomething borrowed\u201d\u2014pearl earrings, and the \u201csomething blue\u201d garter was slid halfway up my thigh.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1163\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1163\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1163\" title=\"My best girls\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/bridesmaids.jpg\" alt=\"My best girls\" width=\"650\" height=\"497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/bridesmaids.jpg 720w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/bridesmaids-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1163\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My best girls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mona, Anne and Mo were soon wearing their respective frocks, adorned also by their bridesmaid gifts of water pearl necklaces and bracelets. Mo and Anne had the pastel floral dresses with plain satin pumps, and Mona as Matron of Honor wore the solid dress with lace patterned pumps in the same delicate aqua.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone looked fantastic. It wasn\u2019t long before the doorbell sounded and Dad called up the stairs that the photographer had arrived!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14802\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnandPaul.png\" alt=\"John and Paul\" width=\"650\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnandPaul.png 700w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnandPaul-335x177.png 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnandPaul-600x316.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That afternoon as I was bustling with the bridesmaids, John\u2019s Best Man Paul stopped by the apartment to meet John for the rings. He snapped a whimsical picture of John in his tux, bent over the commode pretending to lose his latest meal. That picture cracks us up even today.<\/p>\n<p>Bouquets were doled out and John\u2019s dad came by to pick up the boutonni\u00e8res for him and the ushers and the corsage for John\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14788\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14788\" style=\"width: 335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14788\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnMeCarWedding-291x300.jpg\" alt=\"Peeking into the bridal limousine\" width=\"335\" height=\"345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnMeCarWedding-291x300.jpg 291w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnMeCarWedding-582x600.jpg 582w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnMeCarWedding-768x792.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnMeCarWedding-1490x1536.jpg 1490w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/JohnMeCarWedding.jpg 1580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14788\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ready for the best party of our lives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The photographer clicked the normal battery of pictures in my bedroom, descending the stairs and then some really nice shots out on the front lawn in front of the red Japanese Maple tree. We hammed it up and posed on cue. Passers-by were admiring the goings-on, blowing their horns, and I was in my glory. I was just hours from being John&#8217;s wife!<\/p>\n<p>Now, things were starting to roll. Dad was dashing in his black tuxedo garnished with a white rose boutonniere. Tall and youthful, he was a striking sight and every bit as handsome as in his own wedding pictures 27 years before. For the first time I noticed his somber expression.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10990\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10990\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10990\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/36200_461850323218_2413494_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/36200_461850323218_2413494_n.jpg 700w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/36200_461850323218_2413494_n-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/36200_461850323218_2413494_n-600x387.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10990\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R: Mom and Dad on June 16, 1963; Dad and me on my own wedding day (in Mom&#8217;s dress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was a day he\u2019d long anticipated since the times he carried me on his shoulders and we played \u201c1-2-3 Bugaloo\u201d on that very spot where we now posed for pictures.<\/p>\n<p>Mom wasn\u2019t there to be a part of it (if only in spirit), but it was happening. And the day was ours to share.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Ready to Go<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Around 4:30, the brand-new gleaming 1990 <a href=\"https:\/\/a1limo.com\/fleet-showroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A-1 Limousine<\/a> Cadillacs pulled up in front of the house\u2014a white bridal and silver stretch.<\/p>\n<p>We wrapped up the pictures and climbed into the waiting cars stocked with champagne. Since there was no \u201cmother of the bride,\u201d Dad rode with Mona and me in the bridal car. The others piled into the silver Caddy and Steve went with Susan, Dad&#8217;s lady friend at the time.<\/p>\n<p>The Cadillac convoy arrived at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church to find cars in the lot and people waiting with greetings and good wishes. Susan was on hand to assist in any way necessary, including affixing John&#8217;s mother&#8217;s orchid corsage to her dress. John&#8217;s mom and dad looked wonderful.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1180\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1180\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1180\" title=\"Outside the church with our Cadillac Limousine\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/wedding-cadillac.jpg\" alt=\"Outside the church with our Cadillac Limousine\" width=\"650\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/wedding-cadillac.jpg 720w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/wedding-cadillac-300x221.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Outside the church with our Cadillac Limousine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We gathered in the vestry as <em>And There Is Love<\/em> duet by Linda and Rosanna accompanied by the organ drifted from the sanctuary.<\/p>\n<p>I still hadn\u2019t seen John at that point, but was ecstatic to see our college friend John (\u201cBosche\u201d) who had driven up from Washington, DC for the event. I am grateful that Nana was there among them. Ours was the final wedding she would attend.<\/p>\n<p>From the sanctuary, <em>Trumpet Voluntary<\/em> sounded on the organ and we assembled for the processional. Two-by-two, the attendants strode forward, and my excitement was brimming.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1164\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1164\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1164\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/dad-me-aisle-300x293.jpg\" alt=\"Dad and me taking \" width=\"650\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/dad-me-aisle-300x293.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/dad-me-aisle.jpg 635w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1164\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dad and me taking &#8220;the walk&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Last in line were Dad and me. Our ushers and bridesmaids leisurely made their way toward the altar as Dad and I lingered. When it was our turn, the congregation stood and I gazed toward the altar.<\/p>\n<p>There was my sweetheart, in black tuxedo with tails, with the biggest grin on his cute face. It was matched only by my radiant smile as Dad and I slowly proceeded toward the front amidst onlookers. John was so handsome. I could hardly believe this was it. After a wonderful 5-year history, we were about to embark on a 50+ year trip through life together.<\/p>\n<p>Dad acknowledged \u201cgiving this woman to be married,\u201d lifted my blusher for a tiny kiss on the cheek, retreated and my fianc\u00e9 and I turned to face Pastor Haupt.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1173\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/us-at-altar-253x300.jpg\" alt=\"At the altar\" width=\"650\" height=\"769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/us-at-altar-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/us-at-altar.jpg 564w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7180\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7180\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7180\" title=\"During \" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/sunlight-at-altar-e1333457751597.jpg\" alt=\"During \" width=\"650\" height=\"689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/sunlight-at-altar-e1333457751597.jpg 640w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/sunlight-at-altar-e1333457751597-283x300.jpg 283w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/sunlight-at-altar-e1333457751597-566x600.jpg 566w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The moment I&#8217;d been waiting for, during &#8220;Kyrie&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The ceremony was perfect. I was unable to curtail the tears that flowed as we knelt together and the voices of the CMLC choir sounded from the balcony.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;Kyrie&#8221; by Andrea Klouse<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375798355471\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Kyrie-Andrea-Klouse-edit.mp3\">Andrea Klouse &#8211; Kyrie<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>The sunlight streamed through the windows as if God Himself were embracing the altar. My joy was complete. The vows were heartfelt, and our personal words to each other happened to be picked up by the mic on John\u2019s lapel.<\/p>\n<p>At one point Pastor requested the rings and Paul stepped forward, promptly depositing the little white <em>boxes <\/em>on the open book. The rings were quickly removed from their confinements and the ceremony proceeded.<\/p>\n<p>That afternoon, our dream came true and my new husband took his good sweet time when given the green light to kiss his bride.<\/p>\n<p>Following more pictures, the ride to the Renaissance included a route past the house where I grew up, car horns trumpeting all the way. Now, John and I, and Mona and Paul were in the bridal limo. We joked and enjoyed champagne as our journey to the biggest party of our lives continued.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7202\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7202\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hilton.com\/en\/hotels\/ewrbhhf-hilton-east-brunswick-hotel-and-executive-meeting-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7202\" title=\"Ramada Renaissance Hotel\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/renaissance-hotel.jpg\" alt=\"Ramada Renaissance Hotel\" width=\"650\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/renaissance-hotel.jpg 798w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/renaissance-hotel-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/renaissance-hotel-600x431.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7202\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ramada Renaissance Hotel. Click for a photo tour (now Hilton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14797\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/UsbyFountain.jpg\" alt=\"UIs by the fountain\" width=\"650\" height=\"669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/UsbyFountain.jpg 1874w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/UsbyFountain-291x300.jpg 291w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/UsbyFountain-583x600.jpg 583w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/UsbyFountain-768x791.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/UsbyFountain-1492x1536.jpg 1492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>The Party Of a Lifetime<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The stately 15-story Ramada Renaissance Hotel loomed as we exited the limousines and began another photo session in the picturesque gardens. Inside, an exquisite two-story fountain greeted incoming guests and a sign directed them to the \u201cIllusions\u201d nightclub, reserved for our cocktail hour. The reception would be held in the Brunswick Ballroom upstairs.<\/p>\n<p>The bridal party went up to enjoy a private celebration in one of the suites before joining everyone else.<\/p>\n<p>The ballroom was teeming with guests and staff. <em>The Jerry Rose Orchestra<\/em> provided a few jazzy riffs prior to the introductions. Following the bridesmaids&#8217; and ushers\u2019 entrance, we finally emerged as John pumped his fist to a ripple of giggles as he guided his new bride to the dance floor and under the bridge of bouquets.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Our wedding song (First Dance): &#8220;And I Love Her&#8221; by The Beatles<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375798355471\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Beatles-And-I-Love-Her1.mp3\">The Beatles &#8211; And I Love Her<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1171\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1171\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1171\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/reception-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"Our intro as Mr. and Mrs.\" width=\"650\" height=\"803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/reception-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/reception.jpg 583w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1171\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our intro as Mr. and Mrs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What a night. We executed our recently mastered rumba box step to our wedding song, the Beatles\u2019 <em>And I Love Her<\/em> for our first dance.<\/p>\n<p>The beginning strains of Percy Faith\u2019s <em>Theme from A Summer Place<\/em> were cue for the Father\/Daughter dance and Dad and I took our place in the middle of the dance floor. There was a hush among the guests.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Father-Daughter Dance<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>(Mom &amp; Dad&#8217;s wedding song, &#8220;Theme From a Summer Place&#8221;<\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375798355471\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Theme-From-A-Summer-Place-Percy-Faith1.mp3\">Percy Faith &#8211; Theme From A Summer Place<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>I glided in the strong arms of Dad, who had cradled me tenderly as a newborn and cared for me for so long, and who had worked so hard to give me every possible opportunity in life. Dad knew how to dance, and the steps came easily as he took the lead.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m told there wasn\u2019t a dry eye in the house. Dad later said he felt as if he were dancing with Mom again at their wedding, June 16, 1963. It was a moment to treasure.<\/p>\n<p>John and his mom then danced to <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AQseFAcWvtE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Moonlight Serenade<\/a><\/em>. It was a charming and touching sight to see them, in their own world, mother and son. She and his father had done such a wonderful job raising my new husband, and for that I will always be grateful. John&#8217;s mom looked beautiful in chiffon.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6344\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6344\" style=\"width: 335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6344\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/john-mother-pop-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"John and his parents\" width=\"335\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/john-mother-pop-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/john-mother-pop-397x600.jpg 397w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/john-mother-pop.jpg 476w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6344\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John and his parents<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Once the Jerry Rose Orchestra kicked up the tempo, the dancing began. John and I began to make the rounds.<\/p>\n<p>Years ago, Mom had recommended making sure I ate and enjoy the food so I made a point to do just that. I tasted everything possible. We partied. We danced. We visited. We shared the obligatory kiss at each tapping of glasses.<\/p>\n<p>As my brother was not formally included in the festivities, I asked him to take the mic and offer a few words about Mom, which he handled with reverence and flair. Pastor Haupt spoke a blessing, and Paul gave a short and humorous toast as Best Man.<\/p>\n<p>At one point, we visited a family table at which Dad\u2019s first cousin Sabina was seated. She, an old high school chum of Mom\u2019s, had introduced Dad and Mom at one of Granddaddy\u2019s political banquets at Newark Symphony Hall back in 1955.<\/p>\n<p>John took Cousin Sabina\u2019s hand, and everyone at the table watched as John emphatically exclaimed, \u201c<strong><em>BLESS <\/em><\/strong>YOU!\u201d We were all hysterical with laughter.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14796\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14796\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14796\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ourtable-1.png\" alt=\"Our bridal table\" width=\"650\" height=\"471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ourtable-1.png 700w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ourtable-1-335x243.png 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ourtable-1-600x435.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14796\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John and me, cousin John and Mo, Paul and Mona, and Mike and Anne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There had been all the traditional reception formalities, including the bouquet and garter toss and cake cutting. There was <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">no<\/span> <em>Chicken Dance<\/em> or <em>Hokey Pokey<\/em> (at our request). When <em>Tarantella<\/em> began, everyone was out on the floor in a big circle. I left a photo session to join in!<\/p>\n<p>Instead of the corny <em>Bride Cuts the Cake,<\/em> the band offered a brief, jazzy interpretation of the tune as we sampled the first bites of the light and sugary treat with raspberry filling.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;Tarantella&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375798355471\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Tarantella-Napoletana.mp3\">Tarantella Napoletana<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>My cousin Johnine and her fianc\u00e9 caught the bouquet and garter.<\/p>\n<p>Five years before, John and I had caught the bouquet and garter at Cousin Mona\u2019s wedding \u2026 and we were together just a few months at the time! And here we were, celebrating our own special day.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1160 alignnone\" title=\"Wedding kiss\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/wedding-kiss2.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding kiss\" width=\"650\" height=\"896\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We soaked up every moment of our reception and lingered until well after 11 when the last guests were sauntering out the door. Exhausted, we knew a Jacuzzi awaited our arrival upstairs in the bridal suite. We said our good-byes and thanked Stuart, our Ma\u00eetre d&#8217;, for a wonderful job.<\/p>\n<p>Dad and Susan met us upstairs at the bridal suite, bearing our honeymoon luggage that had been stowed in Susan\u2019s car trunk.<\/p>\n<p>John and I changed out of our wedding gear and gave it to them to bring back to the house. There were sentimental exchanges and well wishes as the clock flirted with midnight, indicating that our *special* time together was fast approaching.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=15781\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding and honeymoon videos may be viewed here<\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"Chapter 41: Alone at Last\u2014Honeymoon!!\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=957\">Chapter 41: Alone At Last\u2014Honeymoon!!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-13050\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/drum-avatar-thumbnail-sm.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" \/> <a title=\"Return to Memoirs\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=13681\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Return to Chapters<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Euphoric Day On June 23, 1990 I awoke for the final time in my pink room, lovingly redone by Mom and Dad when I was 7 and this little girl\u2019s lair for nearly two decades. I remember immediately smiling, stretching in bed, and feeling a quick flash of joy mixed with nervousness. I hoped the &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=948\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Chapter 40: Our Beautiful Wedding&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1170,"parent":4,"menu_order":41,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-948","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=948"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17173,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/948\/revisions\/17173"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}