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.









9 comments:

Unknown said...

Congratulations to all of you. Many blessings to the happy couple.
We celebrate 21 years on Thursday. I cannot imagine my life...any life, without my husband.
Thanks for sharing such a personal event with us. I am honored.
Pam

Unknown said...

Sorry I had to laugh at the one picture of you standing straight, hands at your sides with no smile... My daughter was married last November and all of the pictures with me in them were the same way. I was so nervous and tired I could hardly make it through the event. Very stressful for this old man.

Congratulations!

timfromohio said...

Congratulations to your family! Also, that is one fine looking sport coat.

Herrick Kimball said...

Unknown—
I'm sure I would have looked even stiffer and more serious if I had a daughter getting married.

Tim—
Thank you, and thank you.

But, technically, I should point out that I am actually wearing a blazer. And specifically, a blue blazer. There is a difference between a sport coat and a blazer (and a suit coat) but I don't remember offhand what the differences are. I learned the differences, before I bought the blazer, by watching some YouTube videos. :-)

Herrick Kimball said...

Pam—
Thanks, and congratulations to the two of you on reaching 21 years!

Unknown said...

Being curious regarding your comment about the different types, I did a quick search and learned the following:

"Sport coats have patterns, unlike blazers, which are solid and have contrasting buttons. Suit jackets are a different story altogether. They are smooth, have tonal buttons, and should never be worn with anything other than matching suit trousers."

I learned something today...

Elizabeth L. Johnson said...

So neat, Herrick! I know you have a beautiful smile; I remember the photo with you and Futureman. Haven't been to Cancun, but have heard good things many times, about the place. Neat pictures! What a growing, wonderful family! (I keep praying for Futureman's parents.)

Herrick Kimball said...

Jonathan—
Glad you learned something new. And I believe a blazer typically has gold (or silver) buttons with anchors embossed on them. I learned how to iron a shirt properly on YouTube too. :-)

Elizabeth—
Thanks for the comments. And the prayers. I'm sad to say, that marriage is progressing to an official end.

Dreen said...

Sounds like a beautiful day! Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

I understand your comment regarding the exhaustion you felt afterwards far too well. We introverts just vibrate at a different frequency. :) Lots of people don't understand it at all.