Looking back at my wedding 23 years ago today
Posted on 30. May, 2010 by kchristieh in my life
On a hot spring morning 23 years ago today, I married a wonderful man, surrounded by the love and support of our amazing friends and family.
Because this was the pre-digital age, our primary records of the day include a VHS tape and a wedding album that’s starting to get sticky and degrade on the outside. My stepfather converted the VHS tape to a DVD, which we plan on watching today. I scanned representative pictures from the photo album, and hope that you enjoy them below.
Here’s a picture of me, my younger sister, and my two stepbrothers. My sister was my Maid of Honor. She’s best remembered that day for fainting from the heat in the un-air conditioned church. My stepbrothers were too young to be ushers, so they were our videographers. They called themselves Chico and Kabul in the video. We’re not sure why. The best line was when they asked my husband if he had any words for the groom, and he said, “I am the groom.” Classic, and probably better than any pro could have done.
Mark, Craig, Me, Ann
My husband grew up in Kansas City and Wichita, so the only relatives he had in attendance were those in his immediate family. I was afraid that my outgoing family might put them off, but I think they enjoyed themselves.
Donna, Boniface, Don, Bia, Donna
My parents got divorced when I was in junior high and re-married when I was in high school, so I get the love of four parents. Here’s a picture of us with my father and stepmother:
John, Me, Don, Joyce
And here’s one with my mother and stepfather. My stepfather’s name is also Don, so my mother and I refer to the Dons as “my Don” and “your Don.” My mother was 45 at the time.
Don D., Me, My Don, Gerri
Here we are at the altar of The First Presbyterian Church at Tower Hill in Red Bank, NJ. It’s the church I grew up in. Soon after we were married, I believe the pastor quit to become a travel agent.
Our wedding party consisted of the siblings old enough to be in a wedding party and friends from school. I’m sorry for the pink dresses, and laughed when I’m sure that I saw one of them at Aardvark’s second-hand store in Pasadena. But, they were standard for 1987.
After the wedding ceremony, the photographer took pictures of Don and I at the little park by the Navesink River. I’ll never ever have hair that short again. Two years later, my sister used the same wedding dress, minus the sleeves. Before my mother and stepfather moved to California, my mom had a friend cut up the dress and use the fabric to make christening gowns and two little wedding purses. I’m 100% sure my daughter will be thrilled that she’ll have a small purse for her wedding instead of a used 80’s gown. I still have the veil. Maybe she’ll use that?
Our reception was awesome. I had nearly nothing to do with the planning, thanks to the generous cooperation of my parents and stepparents. The band was incredible, and we had fun imitating the PeeWee Herman “Tequila” dance. Don and I saw “PeeWee’s Great Adventure” on our first date. I’m not sure what dance we were doing below, but we were having lots of fun.
I’ve been blessed with wonderful grandparents and stepgrandparents. Here are my father’s parents. You can see THEIR wedding video here.
Here are my step-grandparents. They were known as Grandma & Grandpa D.
Here’s a picture of my mom’s family. It’s rare to get them all in one picture like this, and I’m not sure it’s happened since.
Too bad the photographer didn’t get a picture of us driving off in my sister’s beaten-up old Subaru. I had to squish my dress into it before the door closed. It was the one detail we’d overlooked on our perfect day, but it made for a great story for years later.
Happy Anniversary to Us!!!
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