...and the celebration continued...(the conclusion of the surprise wedding!)

...we ate...(and, yes, this roll WAS sacrificed for the purpose of artistic representation ... I did it for you!) ...we rejoiced...




...people gave speeches, including my Dad ...
...who brought the whole house down when he said "I celebrated my 80th Birthday last night at a big shindig and now this surprise wedding! I may not make it to 81 if this continues!"

My sister and her ex-husband made a lovely speech...it's nice when people can come together in spite of their differences to share their love of one of their children......this totally adorable girl got up and made a teary speech about how she had been best friends with the bride since 7th grade and she always knew she would be a bridesmaid. And now there has been this surprise wedding and she didn't get to be a bridesmaid and then she wailed "and the dress I'm wearing doesn't even MATCH the wedding!" It was really cute. And made most of us tear up.
And then the Bride and Groom made their toasts and speeches...and they were lovely and emotional and sweet ...

...and they danced...



...and I even got to dance with the groom. It made me all teary cuz I just adore him...it's hard for me to believe he is no longer the little sunburned boy swimming in our backyard pool...
...love was everywhere in the air...

The bouquet was tossed.....the cake was cut......cupcakes were served......and sugar overload resulted...

..which is the way it's supposed to be at wedding...happy and silly and teary and sentimental...a few last photos...
...and we headed home in the star-filled night...quietly content...holding hands in the car with the radio playing softly.

Truly a night of romance. And truly a night to remember forever.

Congratulations Tom and Kris! Mignon McLaughlin wrote, "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person". This is my wish for you both, for always.

Love,
Aunt Jenny

Did you miss part two of this love story? Just click here to read it!

And to paraphrase Mastercard...100 elegantly dressed guests, five people in the know, an amazing Bride and Groom. Pulling off a surprise wedding? PRICELESS!

...and all the beautiful people went to their seats ...( surprise wedding continues)

...and waited impatiently for dinner to be served. OK, the truth is I waited impatiently. I was starving. All that arguing with my husband over the GPS thing had worked up an appetite.

But as I was reading the menu...ravioli? yum! ...I missed what was happening in the front and when I next glanced up our nephew, Tom, was standing in the front with the other guy that had told us to sit down in the first place.
And the other guy said "Tom and Kris have a surprise for everyone. They are getting married!" And suddenly the Beatles song, "All You Need is Love" starting playing...

There was a collective "gasp" all around the room.

And an even bigger "gasp" when Kris walked through the back door and started up the aisle wearing a spectacular wedding dress!
Unbeknownst (isn't that a cool word?) to only about five people Kris had scooted out wearing her sleek purple cocktail dress......changed her clothes......grabbed her gorgeous bouquet......and strode confidently in her cobalt blue shoes to walk up the aisle to meet her groom... ...and then they proceeded to get married...
... in front of a spell-bound group of family and friends... Vows were exchanged. A ring was dropped. As our nephew says "there were three of them and they were small AND I only dropped one!" A kiss sealed the marriage......and everyone rejoiced as the newly joined couple shared their radiant smiles......happiness scented the air as everyone in the intimate room shared tears and joy with the lovely couple...




...and since this is getting way too long I'll just have to finish the rest tomorrow!

Goodnight! Sweet dreams!

(a romantic...) sigh....

Click here to read part three of this romantic little story.

If you missed the first part of this story, just click here!