Lady in Red

This past Saturday we attended Carm’s nephew’s wedding. I love weddings! Standing in the church, with Carm close at my side, perhaps with our fingers intertwined, and watching two people so much in love take their vows with each other is a blessed reminder of our day 23 years ago.

Right away I want to say sorry for not getting any pictures of the bride and groom. I kind of gave up as I couldn’t get any shots without other people stepping in my way so I just figured I’d enjoy the sights sure that others were capturing them.

The morning started with us picking up Carm’s mom and his aunt & uncle and driving to Maria’s house (mother of the groom). She looked radiant! Jack (father of the groom) was bustling around the house making sure all the guests were well looked after. Paul (brother of the groom) was decked out in his suit with red accents. And Rocky – he looked rather calm and sure of himself. He knew that he knew what he was doing. Lots of pictures, sandwiches, and creamy treats later we all piled into our cars to drive to the church.

The service was sweetly simple, with familiar verses of love and devotion. This is one of my favourites.

Second Reading 2 of St Paul to the Corinthians 12:31- 13:8

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 12:31- 13:8
If I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.
If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there~ are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous;
love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful.
Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.
Love does not come to an end.

This is the word of the Lord.

Throughout the service Rocky and Jade were glowing as if lit from within. They looked so much in love.

After the service we stayed at the church for a while for photographs with various family combinations. The permutations are innumerable!

For the next few hours we retired to Joe & Sandy’s house, comfortable in the cool air conditioning of their home – it was 32C yesterday! A scorcher.

Finally it was time to be off to the reception hall for cocktails followed by a totally huge meal (focaccia, Italian antipasto, cannelloni & manicotti (really! both!), garden salad (lovely fresh greens), prime rib with a nice assortment of vegetables, baked Alaska (what wedding would be complete without this tasty treat complete with sparklers!), and then later a buffet with buns, pizza, meats, fruits and sweets – OMG.

Thankfully supper was spread out over the evening, with plenty of chances for visiting with everyone. Once the last plate was cleared, “smoke” filled the air and Rocky and Jade took to the bricks for their first song (sorry I don’t remember), after which Jade’s dad took over to the sounds of “I loved her First” echoing in the hall. There probably weren’t many dad’s with dry eyes.

And then the party really got rocking!

They had a fantastic DJ who really kept the dance floor moving. Carm and I were pounding our feet and burning off our supper for much of the night. There were really some great dance songs played – I wish I knew what some of them were as they would be perfect for the treadmill (note to self: ask nieces; other note to self: get smartphone so I can record snippet as a memory jog).

Included among the fast numbers were several slow dance songs… at one point “Lady in Red” started playing, but Carm was no where in sight… then I saw him across the dance floor, walking towards me and pointing to us… my heart skipped a beat… he looked so handsome in his dark suit and white shirt… I felt swept off my feet…

I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright,
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance,
They're looking for a little romance, given half a chance,
And I have never seen that dress you're wearing,
Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes,
I have been blind;
The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing,
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side,
And when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away,
And I have never had such a feeling,
Such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight;
The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;
I never will forget the way you look tonight.
The lady in red, the lady in red,
The lady in red, my lady in red,
I love you

 

 

We had a really great time and were sorry when it was time to go. Of course we were thinking of the dogs – we had arranged for Karen to let them out and feed them around 6pm but that was a long time before 1 am. When we got home we saw the note from Karen that she had stayed with them until 9pm and let them out another time. So we needn’t have worried so much.

Reminder to Carm – I want sparklers for my 50th birthday – LOTS of them!

 

Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.
Bruce Lee