Another Kimball Wedding

Dateline: 10 August 2015

Our second family wedding of the year took place on August 1st. It was an outdoor event at the upper pavilion in Fillmore Glen State Park, which is only 6 miles from our home. The weather could not have been any better. Warm but not hot. Clear skies. No humidity. No bugs. Simply perfect.

Pastor Cliff Ostrander of the Assembly of God church in Groton, NY performed the ceremony. There were around 200 guests.

The bride's family (and many friends) did a great job with all the details of the event. And Marlene made some of her locally-famous soap as favors for the guests...

One of the more unique and endearing features of the wedding ceremony was the music for the processional. Instead of "Here Comes The Bride," the old Irish hymn, "Be Thou My Vision," was played on four violins. It was absolutely beautiful. You can see and hear it at this link: Kinney & Kimball: The Processional. 

Such musical talent! My comment at the YouTube clip provides the words to the song.

Danielle & Robert

My son, James, married two months earlier, was the Best Man and gave the toast. He's the most outgoing of my sons (a real talker) but I don't think he has ever given a speech before. It was funny. It was serious. It was good. I was pleased. 

James told me he wrote the speech earlier in the day while making Baba ghanoush for the reception. Amazing. The kid can write and make Baba ghanoush at the same time!

To which I say, "What's Baba ghanoush?"

The Maid of Honor, Stephanie Tallman, also gave a good toast. In fact, it got Marlene sobbing. In short, being the bride's best friend for many years, Stephanie said she was in a unique position to judge the suitability of Robert for Danielle (the bride), and she knew this was a good match.

Later, Marlene told me that best friends really do know. 

Which brought to mind my best friend from years ago. I advised him not to marry the girl he was planning to marry. I was probably the only person who honestly advised him in that manner. I ended up being his best man. The marriage failed miserably. Upon learning of this from my friend years later, he said, "I should have listened to you."  Yeah, best friends know.

Stephanie and Danielle in the center.

Futureman was the ring bearer. He walked with the flower girl (Eva) until he recognized my sister along the way and veered off to go give her a hug. He got a little impatient with just standing up front during the ceremony and headed off into the woods to get some sticks to play with.

Futureman loved the wedding and reception. The next morning, when he woke up, he wanted to go back. "I walk with Eva?"

Futureman and the bride's 8-year-old brother, Tristan.

As for me, I woke up the next day feeling like I had been hit by a truck. I didn't do anything at the wedding except socialize and enjoy the day, but it is typical for introverts to be exhausted by social gatherings. On the other hand, extroverts are energized by social gatherings. Funny how that is.

Everyone is smiling... except me, Mr. Serious.

Robert and Danielle headed out just before dark. They left the next morning for a week in Cancun, Mexico. The trip was a wedding gift from the bride's parents. I'm happy to report that they are back home now, safe and sound. 

Cancun was a fun place. Robert told me that, "You and Mom should really think about going there some day." He said that with a little smile, knowing that I would never, ever, go to such a place. I just smiled back and told Marlene to put that on our list of things to do.... someday.

Sparklers for the bride and groom as they were leaving.

So the wedding ceremony and the reception was remarkably nice. It was a day of wonderful memories, and great hopes for the future.