The bride, pretty in white



Mar 3,2013 = a glorious spring evening, perfect for a wedding overlooking a lake, friends and family gathered, a duo singing quietly in the background. Except that, with the wind chill factor, it was literally freezing by 5pm. OMG!!!!! was it colder than cold. So, we all shivered ,and those clever of us who had read the weather reports who knew it would be chilly (not freakin' freezing! and, luckily,me for one!), pulled our coats about us as we watched what was, indeed, a beautiful ceremony. Rocky (Rochelle) Smith (who so happens, married a Smith) is one of my dearest friends, Shirley's, oldest daughter. Brent is a wonderful guy and the two of them are truly happy and well suited for each other. A couple of Jewish traditions were incorporated into the affair. At the end of the ceremony, the groom stepped on a glass:

"There are many ideas of why a couple breaks the glass during a celebration of marriage, but there are three thought to be most authentic.

• Temple: Breaking of the Jewish wedding glass is a reminder of the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem.
• Be Fruitful: A hope that your happiness will be as plentiful as the shards of glass…or that your children will be as plentiful as the shards of glass.
• Marriage is Forever: A broken Jewish wedding glass is forever changed, likewise, the couple are forever changed by the marriage and take on a new form."

And, during the reception, the men and women each formed their own circles, men about the groom, the women around the bride, all holding hands, singing and taking turns to go inside the circle to dance with either Rocky or Brent. Then, a song I even knew- Hava Nagila!!!!. It was quite the exhilerating, laughing, joyful time!!!!! Such fun! Which continued with a fantastic DJ playing hits from the 50's all the way to hip-hop. A fabulous, fabulous buffet- open bar. A super big hit were the glow sticks, which people would connect to make one large loop, allowing for several to dance together. And, the conga line- don't forget the conga line. Wonderful tug-at-your-heart speeches from Shirley and Steve (Rocky's dad). The evening was capped off with all the guests lighting the way to the couple's car with sparklers.

Didn't have the usual one-on-one time with Shirley, but I was included in the entire day's events and even helped video the ladies getting glammed up and helped in the decorating. It means a lot to me to be part of the inner circle, as it were. Participating as family, not merely a guest- that means the world.Love Shirley to pieces- shame that England is such a long way away and we don't have the opportunity to see each other more often. But, then, it makes each visit all the sweeter.