Hubby and I attended a wedding and reception today for one of the fellows who worked summers for him during his college years.  Now that the fellow has graduated, he has decided to marry his sweetheart of the last three years and move on to the next season of life.

The wedding was simple and sweet.  The reception was simple and sweet.  This was the kind of wedding and reception I hope for someday for our own two daughters ~ simple and sweet.  The bride was bubbly and pretty, and the groom was serious and handsome; they really do balance each other out and "fill in the gaps", as Rocky so elegantly phrased it.

I loved that the bride's father spoke during the wedding; his message moved my hubby to tears.  I loved that the reception tables had photos of the bride and groom at various ages of life on them.  I loved that the groom had put together a slide show of the two of them when they were babies, kids, in college, meeting each other, falling in love with each other, engaged.  The groom had interspersed snippets of the movie "Shenandoah" showing Jimmy Stewart giving advice about women to Doug McClure and showing Dough McClure asking Jimmy Stewart permission for his daughter's hand in marriage.  It was priceless.  And I loved that each guest was asked to write down a fond memory or bit of advice for the newlywed couple to peruse when the dust settles. 

We were seated at a table with four young men, ages 21-23, all in different stages of life:  one had just completed his first year of teaching in a Christian school; one was about to begin his first post-college job as a Youth Director; one was seeking his first post-college job and getting ready to be married in August; and one was ready to embark on his senior year of college.  I'm not sure how they all felt about being seated with a middle-aged couple, but hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

After 31 years of marriage, it is always a special trip down memory lane for hubby and I when we attend a wedding and reception.  We are reminded of the love we had then that drew us together and the love that we have now that keeps us together.  Face it, marriage is full of both joys and struggles, ups and downs.  It is not for the faint of heart nor for the commitment-phobic.  It is for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday than to witness another sweet and simple tying of the knot.