Did you miss me? No post last week because I had no weddings last weekend. Typically in November weddings drop off drastically from the hectic rush in October. I appreciated having the weekend free! This Thanksgiving weekend I have two small weddings. This post is about the first one which took place on Black Friday November 26, 2010! It sure was not a black day for Betsy and David though. What a love story they have!
The weather was overcast with occasional sprinkles and we found a good break from the rain and gathered for the ceremony outdoors in the backyard where ribs were barbecuing! Here's the gang tending the ribs, including Suzie, the golden lab who was such a sweet and well behaved dog.
When Betsy contacted me in September to officiate their wedding, she explained that she and David were both divorced and had known each other since 7th grade! Seems they had grown up and gone their separate ways but met again at their 30th high school class reunion and both of them "instantly felt at home." David still lives in West Virginia where they grew up. He owns a business and is also a river raft guide down the beautiful Gauley and New Rivers in W.VA. Betsy is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner in South Carolina. She will be spending the month of December moving to W.VA and starting a new job in January. They chose to meet in the middle for their wedding at Betsy's brother's house in the Oak Park area of Raleigh. They were so excited and so happy to have re-discovered each other after all those years.
David's father was Hawaiian and so they wanted to honor his heritage by having a Hawaiian themed wedding. In fact, most of their guests wore Hawaiian shirts. Betsy and David wore garments made of the same fabric. I got the chance to wear a pretty caftan my husband gave me a few years ago. Above are the two young girls holding the leis the couple will exchange during the ceremony.
That is Betsy's brother, David, standing up for her on the right. Betsy and David each wore a white flower on one ear.
The ceremony began with these words: "Aloha! To the Hawaiians, Aloha is more than just a greeting. Aloha is a way of life, so much so, they are said to live the spirit of aloha. This spirit is a sense of love and friendship to all people. It is in this respect that David and Betsy wish to say 'Aloha' to you and to thank you all for sharing in the joy of their wedding."
"Giving a lei symbolizes the love, affection, and respect you have for the person you are giving the lei to. It is a beautiful way to express your eternal love Hawaiian style on your wedding day. So now, Betsy and David, I ask you each to adorn each other with a lei along with the customary kiss on the cheek before you exchange rings." David put a beautiful lei of fresh white flowers on Betsy.
Betsy put a beautiful lei of green leaves around David's neck.
Now for the beautiful rings they exchanged.
David is just towering over Betsy and me! What a gentle giant he is. Betsy and David, aloha to you and I wish you all the happiness and love in the world! I am so happy you found each other again!
