There were many memorable aspects of our wedding this past Saturday, but I thought I’d go through a few just because it seems like a fun thing to do…and because it really was a pretty memorable day.
The scene of the crime: Terrie and Dave Handy literally offered their property on the Columbia River just outside Longview, WA, for nothing. Their graciousness and generosity in opening their home and allowing 300+ people to traipse around their back yard and riverfront is something neither of us could ever hope to fully repay. Never mind the fact that they allowed us to use their home for nothing, thereby saving us the considerable sum it would have taken to rent a venue capable of holding a party for 300+ guests. The fact that they did that while also quietly putting in considerable effort to make things as easy as possible for us was an amazing display of selflessness and generosity of spirit unlike anything I’ve ever seen…and will never forget.
Seeing Erin in her wedding dress: Erin’s a beautiful woman under any circumstance, so it was no surprise that she was stunning in her dress, which incorporated material from both her mother’s and grandmother’s wedding dresses. There aren’t many times when I’m at a loss for words, but seeing Erin in her wedding dress and an ear to ear smile left me absolutely awestruck.
Walking my parents down the aisle: Many people have commented on how great it was that I was able to walk my parents down the aisle. It was a very special moment for me, but my primary concern was that neither Mom or Dad tripped on the uneven sandy ground. My parents are in their mid-70s and not nearly as nimble as they used to be, so ensuring their safety and stability was no minor concern for me. They made it down with me just fine…and made it back down the aisle without incident after the ceremony.
The ceremony: After I walked down the aisle with my parents, I stepped up on the stage and looked out over a crowd of 300+ people, all of them there for Erin and me. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more loved than I have at that moment. Even being the center of attention, something I normally avoid, felt like the most natural thing in the world. At no time did I feel ill at ease or self-conscious, which is my norm in a crowd. It was awesome to feel so comfortable, and the fact that my brother-in-law Burke McMahon, one of the coolest people on the face of the planet, was officiating, made it even better. And then there was Erin, whom I loved more in that moment than I’d thought possible.
A large oil tanker sailing by during the ceremony: During the ceremony, I had my back turned to the Columbia River, and I was focused on Erin. I was literally the only one of the 300+ people present who didn’t see the tanker sailing behind me as we were saying our vows. In fact, I’d had no idea what had happened until I heard people talking about it afterward. Seeing the pictures made for a pretty special moment; I can’t imagine too many wedding ceremonies have been photobombed by an oil tanker.
Playing with the band: I’ve been taking guitar lessons for almost four-and-a-half years, so I have a reasonably good idea of what I’m doing. Still, playing with the band- professionals who’d been playing together for a couple decades- was rather intimidating. Turns out they didn’t know the songs I wanted to play, so we found four songs that worked pretty well for them. I had one 90-minute rehearsal with the band about 10 days prior, and I was able to practice the chord progressions, but I didn’t have time to become comfortable with them. I was nervous when it came time for me to take the stage…mostly because I was about to do something I’d never done before. I felt as if I had NO idea what I was doing, but no one noticed anything amiss, and in fact people seemed rather impressed. Now I can call myself a musician, and that’s one more thing crossed off my bucket list….
The meeting of the families: Two days before the wedding, Erin’s mother and father hosted a dinner party for both families. I’d been concerned about how my family and Erin’s would get along…and it turned out that I’d been fretting for no reason. Everyone got along as if they’d known each other for years, and it helped to make a special day even more enjoyable. Seeing my mother deep in conversation with Erin’s mother will always be a highlight of the weekend for me.
Me emerging from my shell…if only for a day: I danced, I socialized, I played with the band, and I just generally behaved and enjoyed myself in a thoroughly uncharacteristic manner. Normally, I’m intensely uncomfortable in a crowd- particularly one so large. I went into it promising myself that since all 300+ people were there to celebrate and support us, I was going to enjoy the HELL out of the experience. I found it within me to do exactly that…and it felt like the most natural thing in the world. It was awesome to let myself go and realize that I can be myself in a crowd without wanting to run as far away as possible. No one will ever accuse me of being an extrovert, but I feel like this experience did wonders for my self-confidence.
Now that we’re a few days into the future, both Erin and I look back on Saturday with a combination of wonder and awe. It was a helluva party- easily the best one I’ve ever attended- and a day I’ll never forget. It seemed virtually everything came together perfectly for those few hours, and I’m grateful to have been able to share (and enjoy) it with so many who came to celebrate us. We have few hundred pictures to remember the occasion, and a mountain of gifts (and thank you cards) to tackle.
When all is said and done, it can safely be said that it doesn’t suck to be Jack and Erin. To those who came to our wedding, saying “Thank you” seems wholly inadequate, but we are truly grateful you were there to celebrate the occasion with us. We created a memory that will last a lifetime.
