Jenifer's wedding

Jenifer's wedding was full of fun experiences. She and Kevin spent hours buying and envisioning the decorations. They wrote out unique and touching vows. They incorporated American and Chinese customs to the delight of all. On Monday, two nights before the wedding, Jonna held a personal shower for her. We dressed three grandmothers in toilet paper lingerie which was a big hoot and then sent Jen on a honeymoon dressed very bizarre under blindfolding amid much laughter from her cooperative dramatization. For her new mother-in-law, it was a first shower party and she was very happy. Tuesday, John & I hauled big twigs (6 ft tall) and buckets of sand to town to begin the decorating of the ballroom that was rented at the local college campus. The wedding and reception were both to be held there. Huge swags of teal and silver cloth with Christmas bulbs were hung dangling from the ceiling. Three Christmas trees were center stage full of lovely things. The big twigs lined the center aisle laced with pearls and beads. Every table had vases of white twigs and flowers in them surrounded with tea lights, artificial snow, and teal popouri. It was a Winter Wonderland theme and was beautiful. Tuesday night our little family stayed with Jen in her new condo and we crashed into bed early, exhausted and excited.

All the wedding photos aren't yet available so my selection is few but the left photo is them in their wedding attire and to the right, Jen is wearing a second dress for the reception that is edged with the Chinese wedding color of red.

The wedding day began very early. The first photographer showed up at 8:15am with another crew of videographers coming within the hour. We and they were all in Jen's small one bedroom condo. Karen, Kevin's sister, came and began the makeup process under filming and then Jonna and her mother helped her dress. While she sat quietly waiting in her bedroom, two other Chinese girls showed up along with mother-in-law to prepare for groom's coming. Kevin, along with three other men, came to bribe his way in to pickup the bride. Games, laughter, and shouting was ringing throughout the condo for the next half hour. It was great fun and filming. Everyone was all smiles. The bride was loaded up and taken for photo shots at a local historical theatre before reaching the wedding site where family photos were taken. Then the wedding and reception followed.

The wedding was in English and Chinese (through interpreter) with unique features of the groom praying over his bride while encircled with other praying wedding persons and she returning the compliment with a lovely song to her groom. Their vows were touching reminders of where they had come from and where they hoped their relationship would develop to. One bridesmaid and groomsman were in escort along with four lovely children (2boys, 2girls). Her father and mother walked her up the aisle.

The reception was outstanding. Jacki Prettyman, Joyce's sister, made a fabulous three tier, fondant wrapped cake and supervised the food set-up. The college caterers set up all the tables and food tables, arranging them beautifully in white tableclothes and teal decorations. Four kinds of cookies were present from Joyce and Jacki and a neighbor of Jacki's. Joyce and Jacki combined efforts to make dainty hor d' sandwiches and BBQ'ed hot links. Sushi, spring rolls, and crab ragoon were provided by Kevin's uncle Joe. The college caterers brought in veg and cheese trays with crackers along with coffee, tea, water, and punch and all the necessary condiments and tableware with that. It was a sight to behold and noone went away hungry.

However, there was still more to come. An hour after the reception, a Chinese tea ceremony commenced at the home of Kevin's mother. Kevin and Jen served us tea individually and received our blessings and counsel in exchange. Then, we all went for a late family meal together at Hemingway's in the Bass Pro Shop. It was a Very Full Day and one we greatly thank our Father for.