My wedding was different. I didn't wear a traditional wedding dress, I didn't get my hair done, I did my own makeup. There were no centerpieces but I did do favors. Oh, and we had my dad's funeral earlier in the day.
My husband, Mike, asked me to marry him on a Ferris wheel in Canada at Niagara Falls. It was sweet, wonderful, and perfect. Having the ring on my finger, I didn't plan much further into the future. I had a diamond, I was good to go. But I wasn't. We needed to seal the deal but I was in no hurry.
The wedding proceedings began with the death of my sweet Daddy. His passing threw me into planning my wedding. You see, my husband and I lived in Pennsylvania but my entire family was in Louisiana. I had to get married there, "here" wasn't an option. I had been to weddings "here" and there was no way I was getting married without a Silver flavored cake, in a creepy venue with four other weddings going on at the same time, a bad DJ, and cold baked ziti. No, thank you.
Planning the wedding!
My Aunt has a beautiful home in Baton Rouge on six acres with a beautiful meditation labyrinth in her front yard. I spent a lot of time on her front porch, growing up, looking out at that labyrinth, dreaming about life. It was the perfect place. All the family could be there, so we could have my Dad's funeral ceremony there, as well. Two birds, one stone.
The flowers I chose were blue hydrangea. The aforementioned porch I spent so much time on in my youth was lined with gorgeous hydrangea bushes, of course that had to be the flower.
The cake!
My cake was three tiers, white with blue dots, hydrangea flowers for accent. It was lovely. The flavor was "silver" with pineapple in the middle. Totally traditional Louisiana wedding cake flavors. Silver cake is almond flavor, in Louisiana we just call it wedding cake flavor. It was heavenly. Except my Aunt's dog licked a portion of the icing off of the bottom their and then chased me through her house and tried to bite me when I caught him. We covered that part of the cake with more flowers and all was well. (My Aunts and Mom didn't let anyone eat that part of the cake. Damn dog...)
My cake sat on my Aunt's dining room table. Earlier in the day my older sister's boyfriend noticed a part of the wood on the top of the table was damaged and scooted the cake over it. I got so mad! He felt it was embarrassing, a ruined table. However, I felt it an honor to use that beautiful old dining room table. After hurricane Betsy, my grandma fished that table out of the bayou from behind her house where the storm had blown all of her belongings. Over my dead body would he cover that damaged part of the table, it was a blessing to have my cake sit on that table after what my French grandmother went through to get it back after that horrible hurricane!
Invitations!
I found an independent printer on line that just happened to have gorgeous hydrangea invitations on clearance with matching thank you notes. Done! I wanted to incorporate the Fleur De Lis so I ordered wine stoppers topped with Fleur De Lis as my favor.
What we wore!
As for my dress, well, I didn't have money or time so I wore a beautiful white eyelet blouse and a linen skirt. My cousin made beautiful silver combs with fresh water pearls for my hair and freshwater pearl earnings. For my little dog she made a veil of vintage lace and freshwater pearls. Yes, my dog had a veil and I did not. I also wore a necklace my Aunt lent me that was made of different stones and had a large stone heart as the pendant. For Mike, my New York born husband, I had him wear light, light blue linen pants and a white linen shirt. He looked amazing!
The Ceremony!
My ceremony took place at the center of the labyrinth and was performed by my uncle. In the center of the labyrinth is a beautiful large, white fountain, that my aunt filled with magnolia leaves and flowers. We were married in front of it with my entire family and best friend standing inside the labyrinth. I walked to Etta James song "Sunday Kind of Love" and was escorted by my uncle, my dad's beloved younger brother. He gave me away with all the love my dad would have.
Our vows were not traditional. My husband and I chose American Indian vows that were beautiful. My little sister who has Downs Syndrome was my bridesmaid and stood with me with so much pride and honor. My husband's best man was his nephew, a boy I love as one of my own. After the ceremony my family and best friend followed us by walking the winding labyrinth path out and into the yard. My shoes came off and the celebration began.
The Reception!
My reception began with a May Pole dance. The night before my wedding, my Aunt and I made a May Pole of many many colored ribbons. We danced the May pole dance, my cousins, sisters, and friends joining in the dance weaving in and out in what was to be a ceremony binding my husband and I and wishing us fertility and luck. I still have the May Pole to this day. It was so much fun! We giggled and wound in and out around the May Pole. It may have been a little odd but it was very special.
The Aftermath!
In South Louisiana, the food is important! We had a traditional outdoor craw-fish boil. My Aunt's neighbor and my cousin manned the giant craw-fish pot. The ancient live oak trees were wrapped with lights and hung with round lanterns. I lost the linen and threw on a t shirt, cute skirt, and flats. My husband threw on his jeans and t-shirt and then we ate! It was a beautiful night under those live oaks in my Aunt's yard. It was the culmination of all my youthful dreaming.
My beautiful husband peeled those craw-fish like a pro. My best friend sat next to me in a lawn chair and I hugged her babies in my lap. Mike's nephew and my cousins played in the yard and we ate happily with messy fingers and craw-fish tails flying. The older ladies sat inside in my Aunt's great hall out of the early May heat. It was a true Louisiana evening, hot, muggy, and happy.
My wedding wasn't the traditional white dress affair but it was mine and it was the most special day of my life surrounded by the people I love most in the only place that I can ever call home. It was perfect.
