Sunday, July 24, 2016

A wedding! (22 years ago)

My friend Nancy sent some snapshots to me recently that she took at our wedding. I thought others might enjoy seeing them too. It's our 22 wedding anniversary today!

We met at a contra dance. My beloved was finishing his masters degree in engineering at UMASS Amherst. He had come to Tampa to install equipment in a NOA plane so that he could fly in hurricanes and take measurements. He attended a dance while there, we met, and that was the start.

He asked me to marry him on a subsequent visit at Halloween. I said yes.
We knew. We just knew it was to be. 
He was a poor grad student. I was a poor social worker. We got married one year after meeting, the ceremony was outdoors with about 60 people in attendance. The whole thing was on a shoestring budget. My dress was a lace and chiffon concoction bought at Macy's bargain outlet. The veil was new bought for $20, and I glued pearls down the length of it.
My childhood friend Lane came, and her mother played the piano for me to walk toward my partner. No family to escort me, I chose my great friend Eric to escort me to Drew and couldn't have been in better hands.Drew's Uncle officiated.
We held the reception right there inside the community center hall.
This is our first married dance to the tune, "Just in Time"

We met dancing, and planned to marry on the day of a contra dance, so that after the reception we could go dance together as husband and wife!  We are still each other's favorite dance partner. (I know his moves)
We gently fed each other cake. No smashing cake in faces for us. We match in values, and neither one of us thinks that's clever.
We still like cake!
Here we are in our going away duds. Off to meet the challenges of the world! Together! 

This is our picture from a month ago, at Elizabeth Park Rose garden in CT...
 My husband looks more handsome, and you can see our 8th anniversary gift in front.
 (8th year is "poodle" )
We enjoy travel, long walks, dancing, eating out, comfort and peace,dogs, reading, and each other. 

Not necessarily in that order. Happy 22nd anniversary to us!

34 comments:

Dorothy said...

May you have a much longer and happy life together.
Congratulations !!!!

Angie said...

Congratulations! I hope you have many more wonderful years together!

Libby in TN said...

Sweet. Congratulations to you both (and to Cole for finding such cool parents)!

Deb said...

Happy ANniversary to the both of you, love the photos and the fact that you both look as happy and wonderful together now as you 22 years ago. Wishing you and your soul mate a lifetime of happiness.

Terri said...

What a romantic story. Congratulations on your 22nd.
Hugs

Kathy E. said...

Great story of a love that was meant to be, LeAnna! You have proof that tons of $$$ isn't needed to finance a wedding for a marriage that will last or make great memories! Congratulations and blessings for many more!

Julierose said...

Happy Happy Anniversary to you both! Super pictures....
we also got married on a "shoestring"; hubster was a poor public school music teacher and I taught piano at home....we both "knew" early on in our dating too....
some people are just meant to be together....congratulations and many more happy years....thank you for sharing hugs, Julierose

gayle said...

Congratulations! Wishing you many more happy years!

Kathy said...

You two are such a love story! Every thing you write about your family could be an inspirational video on the value of love. Congratulations and I know there will be many more romantic years and tales to come!

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Great story, thanks for sharing. Congratulations on your 22nd anniversary and may you have many many more.

Jan said...

Congratulations on living a great love story and may you have many more years together.

PaintedThread said...

Happy anniversary! How wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Mari said...

Happy anniversary! You look just as happy now as you did then! Here's wishing you many more years together.

Sara said...

Happy anniversary! Loved seeing the photos and hearing your love story. Wishing you many more wonderful years together.

Jenny K. Lyon said...

What an adorable tribute - happy anniversary!

Mary in Boulder said...

You looked so cute in your short dress! Congratulations to you and Drew.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Happy happy anniversary!!!! I love the (almost) vintage pictures!

Tails Around the Ranch said...

Happy anniversary to the adorable couple, er...trio. May the next 22 be as great. 🎉

mckittycat said...

Happy Anniversary. A sweet couple. And puppy.

Joanne said...

Congratulations! What a great day you shared!
You two make a great team!
Here's to more creative years together!
Take care,
Joanne

Tu-Na Quilts said...

Happy Anniversary to the two of you! Thanks for sharing your wedding pics. You made a handsome couple on that special day and are still on that more current one.

Norma Schlager said...

What a great story! You both looked so cute and still do. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

sonja said...

Congratulations on your anniversary! I love that got married outside, we did too! Now let's eat cake!

KAM said...

Happy, happy anniversary. Thanks for sharing your beautiful memories. May you enjoy many, many more grand years together.

Kristin

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your precious memories. That makes Cole 14. I see why you spoil him. Happy Anniversary.
Cynthia

Sue said...

Happy Anniversary, and many more to come!

MissPat said...

Happy Anniversary. Just proves you don't need to have an expensive, extravagant wedding to have a long and loving marriage. Best to both of you and Cole as well.

Kaja said...

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary. Your wedding looks perfect to me and it was clearly the start of something really good.

Preeti said...

You two are adorable!!! Best wishes to a gorgeous and lovely couple. Wishing you many more years of marital bliss.
Hugs,
Preeti.

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

Oh no......Did you know that year 26 I'd Greater Swiss mountain dog? Better get ready! have a happy day!

claudia said...

You two were so cute! And still are!!! Happy Anniversary! Here's to many, many more years in wedded bliss!

quiltedfabricart said...

You are so lucky to still be in love after all these years. He sounds like a great guy - happy anniversary!

Nancy A. Bekofske said...

A sweet story! Congratulations-and best wishes for many more years of bliss.

Maria said...

Lovely couple! Happy Anniversary to you both....and many many more😍