Love Conquers All - A Covid Wedding

Overcome the nightmare of current times with love.

Their big dream wedding and honeymoon to Greece was ruined by Covid-19.

However, their love never faltered. 

Surrounded by their parents, grandparents and siblings, Trevor and Jordie said, "I DO!"

Mr & Mrs Quast

My eldest son fell in love with Jordie when they were freshmen in high school. Trevor fulfilled his dream to be married in the same church as his father and I as well as his grandparents.

The couple's brothers acted as Man of Honor and Best Man 

then signed the marriage license as witnesses.

We endured the heat to have some photos in a beautiful garden.

Hubby & I, still in love after 29 years.

Festivities continued at our house with an I Do BBQ. 

The house was decorated with fresh flowers from my sister's garden 

and silk arrangements from writer pal, Kallypso Masters. 

Families came together with potluck style food, gifts, well wishes and fun.

Heated games between the sexes & siblings.

The Grandmothers

CONGRATS, TREVOR & JORDIE!!!!!
We love you!

The couple spent a mini-moon in Frankenmuth.

Special THANKS to:

Patty at the Montrose Greenhouse for the bridal bouquet and boutineers

Cary Ann's Hallmark, Flushing, MI

Kallypso Masters

Ann Frost

First Presbyterian Church, Saginaw, MI

Hayes & Quast families

Remember to Breathe

During all the prep for the wedding, the dark cloud of stress tried to visit.  

Someone told me...

Just remember to breathe.

I take that advice to heart and suggest if you ever feel anxiety or stress slipping into your veins take a moment. 

I do a little thing I call the 4 by 4. I stand tall facing the north. I raise my arms while taking a deep breath to 4 counts. With my arms up, I stretch, and hold my breath for 4 counts. Exhale while lowering my arms. Breathing in good air, pushing out the bad. 

I turn and face the east, repeat. Breath in for count if 4. Stretch to the count of 4.

Turn and face each direction. During this time think beyond your vision, think of the wonderful world. Count your blessings.

Renew Your Love

My son is getting married in a few days to the love of his life in a small, intimate ceremony thus giving up their big dream wedding. However, they plan to hold a Renewal of their Vows next year on their one year anniversary in front of 100 or so family and friends. 

Renewing wedding vows is a beautiful way to celebrate love and add romance to a marriage. Some may chose to use it as an opportunity to wash away sins of the past and start over. In 2016, Linda Marx wrote a good article for the NY Times about the reasons Why Couples Decide to Renew Their Vows. The reasons hold true today.

Hubby and I discussed the topic of Renewing our Vows before. Once before son #2 was... ahem... made, we were in Barbados and witnessed several couples renewing their vows. I tried to talk him into it, but he claimed, "Which date would we celebrate our anniversary?" 

I like the idea of renewing wedding vows. It's a simple and romantic way to reaffirm your love for each other. As for the ceremony, there are no rules. No paperwork to file! You can wear whatever you want! You can include rings if you wish but don't have to. I would include at least mine. Hubby had the center stone from my original ring turned into a new, beautiful ring a couple years ago. I'd love to have it blessed and placed on my hand as he gazes lovingly into my eyes. *Sigh*

Maybe I can talk hubby into a little ceremony on a beach somewhere with our kids standing with us. What a wonderful way to honor our 30 years of marriage!

Would you renew your vows? Where would you do it? What would it be like?

In April of this year, Michelle M. Winner wrote an article, 

The Ultimate Guide to Renewing Your Wedding Vows,  

if you need a few ideas and pointers.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wirecutters

With the dream wedding canceled due to covid an ancient pair of wire-cutters comes to the rescue.

After a year long engagement, 

a hundred plus guest were looking forward to the marriage 

of my son and his high-school sweetheart. 

Then Covid-19 hit and we were suffocated by tight social restrictions. After much thought, a small intimate ceremony has been planned on the date the big celebration was to take place. I really want to make the day special for the couple and wondered how to pull it off.

My sister grabbed a familiar pair of wire-cutters and punched the sky while yelling, "We got this!"

Ann is 14 years older then me and claims to be much wiser. However, she is hands down the most  creative sibling. The wire-cutters belonged to our mom who was a floral designer for a popular florist in town. When Mom passed, Ann inherited the wire-cutters while the floral pruning shears went to me. Together the tools were used on many floral arrangements over the years. Mom used the floral wire to hold long stemmed roses in place and eventually used her wire-cutters when designing silk bouquets.

The wire-cutters have made their round through the family; cousins, aunts, grandmothers making floral decorations for weddings, showers, family reunions, etc.

Working together in my dining room, Ann shared some of her creativity and vast knowledge with Jordie who has some natural craft skills and hungry to learn. Silk flowers and soft greens soon became lovely wedding decorations and bouquets.

Another special event decorated and family bonds strengthened by that old floral tool.

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