27 August 2011

My Wedding Story-52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History

Week 35.  Wedding.  Tell us about your wedding.  You may also talk about your future wedding, the wedding of a relative or shape this question to fit your own life experience.

My husband, Kirk, asked me to marry him on Saturday, September 13, 1980.  Linda Ronstadt and The Muppet Movie records were playing.  He asked me to marry him at his home at the time, which was perfect as I am not a fan of public displays.

My engagement diamond was his grandmother's.  It was a beautiful, old cut, round solitaire. Kirk had it reset in a white gold setting with a matching wedding band.  It was a very simple setting, which I loved. 

Our wedding took place six months later in March of 1981.  Kirk was going to be attending graduate school in the summer of 1981 and we wanted to get married before he went, so we decided on a Spring Break wedding.  Can you tell we were teachers at the time? 


The Michigan weather, in March, can be anything from a blizzard to an ice storm to rain.  We lucked out.  The morning started out a little chilly, but by the 5:30 p.m. service the sun was shining through the 'Jesus praying at the Garden of Gethsemane' stained glass window on the altar of St. John's Lutheran Church, Palms, Michigan.



Our marriage ceremony was a traditional Lutheran ceremony with scripture readings, vows, exchange of rings, lighting unity candle, prayers and benediction.  Music selected by Kirk and I was sung by a family friend, Richard Klaus.  I wonder if my choice of musical theatre songs was a sign that our children would like musical theatre, one of them anyway.  I love it when I hear "Sunrise, Sunset", "Wedding Song", or "Day by Day", it takes me back.  And I love to hear "The Lord's Prayer" sung.


Our Wedding Party
L-R:  Michael Williams, Joanne Werkema, Gerry Czyzyk, Linda Elson, Me, Kirk, Nancy Glover, James Haskins, Mary Hentschl-Early, James A. Leyndyke 


My attendants included my sister, Linda, as matron of honor; my sister, Nancy; Kirk's sister, Joanne; and my best friend, Mary.

Kirk's attendants included a good friend, Gerry, as best man; friends, Mike and Jim; and his brother, Jim.

Ushers were my brother-in-law, Jeff Elson and Kirk's friend, Andy Ylisto.

A reception for about 220 people was held at St. Joseph's Parish Hall, M-19, Argyle, Michigan, which was about 20 miles from the church.  Friends and family from throughout the United States joined us in celebrating our wedding.


We honeymooned in Toronto, Canada.  We stayed at the Chelsea Inn, for $52 a night!  Current prices are about $150 a night.  We were on the 23rd floor and the view was fabulous. 

Kirk and I celebrated our 30th anniversary this year.  Would I marry him all over again?  You bet, without a doubt!

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History by Amy Coffin, of the We Tree blog, is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2011) that invite genealogists and others to record memories and insights about their own lives for future descendants.

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