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Presenting Mr. & Mrs. McWhirter!

9/4/2015

12 Comments

 
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I’ve not been blogging all week, shame on me.  I was exhausted and I’ve not had much sleep over the past while.  Out every evening and staying up too late at night, this social butterfly has a broken wing. Between the wedding and company I’ve needed time to recover.  

At the reception, I danced so much I had muscle spasms in my thighs so I’ve been a bit stiff and sore and pretty slow moving since Saturday. Generally, I’m a bit of a stick in the mud but get me fired up and I’m the last one to leave a party although I find as the years pass, the recovery time lengthens. I guess I have to stop thinking I’m a still a spring chicken that can keep up with the youngins and address the old broiler hen within.  


I tipped my elbow a bit more than usual at the reception.  Alcohol and I are not close friends, more like ships that pass in the night.  Tolerance takes years of practice to get to the point where two drinks won’t do you in.   As it stands, the sniff of a cork can send me into Slursville and if I wear out my visit there, I can head on down the road to Hangoverville with only four drinks under my belt.  I’m still a cheap drunk at 56 and proud of it!   Despite what others might call it, I was delicately tipsy at the reception, loosened up for a good time but still in check as not to make a fool of myself.  After all I am the mother of the groom, a pretty important, dignified role; second only to the position of mother of the bride…everyone knows the star of any wedding is the gal in the flowing, white dress.    

The weather was perfect, warm with a periodic breeze and no humidity or bugs.  There were moments when the sun blazed down and some fanned themselves and wiped their brow, mostly the groom and groomsmen under the weighty cloth of their three piece suits, but everyone agreed we were graced with an exceptional day.    

The wedding went off without a hitch, except of course for the flawless hitching of the bride and groom. I think there were tears all around, my Kleenex was surely damp.  Call me bias but they make one beautiful couple and I can’t stop looking at the pictures and misting up. I’ve been looking at my child for years knowing he’s a looker, but seeing him in the tuxedo, I was blown away that I gave birth to such an incredibly handsome man and he is as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside.  The day before the wedding, I asked if he was nervous and he said assuredly,  “No, why would I be nervous marrying the woman I love?” I thought, darn good answer!  

I’ve been very emotional since they married, sniffling at the drop of a hat. I’m so full of happiness it’s oozing out my eyes.  I’m so full of pride and love I could burst.  I find it hard to describe how I feel, how does anyone put into words this kind of emotion?   My son, my beautiful boy is a husband now, married to the woman of a mother-in-law’s dreams.  Sue tells me I have a case of mother-in-love and that sounds about right.   I want to embrace them both and never let go.  It’s weird because I’m not the clingy type…I’m just so dog gone happy! Did I say I was happy?  I’m so excited for them to begin their wonderful journey together I want to do a happy dance.  It’s exciting to be young and in love with the whole world at their feet.  Sure there will be bumps along the road of happy-ever-after, but these guys are dedicated to one another and deeply in love.  They'll go the distance…I’ll bet my life on it.   

No mother has ever been more proud of her son.  Yes, I’m sure some will argue, but really, I’m over the moon!   I watched him stand in the gazebo waiting for his bride to appear.  My beautiful boy is a man, has been for some time but today it really hit home.  He held himself so elegantly, tall and straight and full of confidence.  You could see the softness and love in his eyes for his bride as she neared on the arm of her father.  His heart was on his sleeve for all to see, good gravy, I’m crying again! .....As a mother, it was one of the most emotional and perfect moments of my life…..     

Ashley’s dress was a show stopper.  The front was elegantly sophisticated and garnished with a bejeweled accent while the back was equally stunning dipping into a deep V to perfectly accentuate her shapely figure.  The train was several feet long, that trailed behind for the ceremony and pictures and then was buttoned on the back for ease of walking and dancing. 

The bride is of course first and foremost the highlight of any wedding but Shane was a dapper second.  His tuxedo fit him like a glove, the soft gray was perfect for the season and an excellent balance with the blush of the bridesmaid dresses.  The maid of honour, Ashley's sister Erica was lovely in her sophisticated, soft blush coloured, floor length gown.  The identical dresses of the bridesmaids flowed in the summer breeze, soft and feminine, the material and cut were perfection, dispelling the age old tale that bridesmaid dresses are usually satin nightmares. The best man and groom’s men had blush ties and vests beneath their grey jackets, Shane's attire, to stand out as the man of the hour, was all in grey.   


The lady's hairdos were all crowning glories, perfectly quaffed in an up position and the bride’s style was big and bold per her request, this was not a day to be ordinary but rather to be steeped in extraordinary. The bride was absolutely stunning from head to toe.  

Their ceremony was an exchange of dedication and heartfelt emotion.  They both wrote their own vows and it was clear they compliment one another perfectly.  One might say they are definitely on the same page, best friends first, last and always.  They looked into each others eyes, locked on one another as if they were the only two people in the world. At one point he brushed a hair off her face and said, "You look so beautiful". 

Ashley has a beauty that’s a blend of movie star radiance mixed with girl next door.  As a couple, they complement one another well even though they are physical opposites in stature, but you know what they say about opposites and these kids attract like magnets. Shane might stand head and shoulders above her, but you can tell she loves to look up at her man. 

As in the wedding, the reception didn’t follow the letter of tradition which was perfect. I like how they blazed their own trail, adding special touches to personalize their day. To name a few, they had a very popular candy bar with little bags printed with their names and the date.  You could help yourself to scoops of M&Ms, gummy candies, Werther’s candies, chocolates and more.  They had a signature drink called the “Marry McWhirter” of Vodka, grapefruit juice and club soda.  Tasty and the red grapefruit created a blush shade to cleverly coordinate with the colour scheme. 

The bouquets by Seaside Flowers in Lunenburg were beautifully done.  I’m not up on all the different names but I don’t have to know them to appreciate their splendour and intoxicating perfume.    

The meal was wonderful.  Layers of gravy glazed, thinly sliced turkey breast encasing a surprise pouch of dark meat and dressing, delicious!  Crisp vegetables, cranberry sauce and garlic mashed potatoes were perfect compliments.  Of course dessert was the traditional cake.  There was a showpiece, used for the ceremonial cutting by the bride and groom that had a base of blush roses with two top layers of delicious buttercream frosting.  They had slab cakes cut and ready to serve to the guests.  The top layer of the show cake is frozen, reserved for their first anniversary and the rest went to family.  Luckily I qualified as a recipient! 

The cake was a slice of heaven.  One of the best I’ve had in years, twenty five to be exact, as my mother’s pound cakes were very similar in flavour.   Every bite sent me hurtling back to my childhood, wonderful emotions washing over me and I relived those moments over and over in the next few days as I devoured most of the second tier.  Speaking of my mother, my parents would have loved to see Shane wed and I thought of them often at the ceremony and reception.  My dad had a very special place in his heart for Shane, he would be so very proud.  

The Osprey Golf Club was a perfect venue for the reception in both size and atmosphere.  The caterers provided matching blush ties on each chair to coordinate with the bridesmaid dresses.  The ceiling chandelier dripped cascading prisms and was draped with long white fabric panels from the center of the room to the walls lending to an ethereal presence.  Wispy floor length shears covered the windows and fluttered in the breeze, encasing the room in a dreamy, cloudlike ambiance. 

Instead of tinkling spoons on glasses for kisses, they had a jar for donations to a worthy cause, Misfit Manor Dog Rescue Society.   This is typical Ashley, her love of dogs is one of my favorite things about her.  She’s a fabulous mom to her two fur babies.   Ashley and Shane have a rescued King Charles Spaniel.  Her name is Sadie and she’s a lovely lady.   They raised over a hundred and thirty dollars for the Manor and we witnessed some pretty fancy dipping and kissing.    

I must bring up the cake again.  It was amazing.  I’m risking losing a toe eating leftovers.  Delicious three layered white cake, I’d say a pound recipe with real strawberries in the frosting between the layers.  Pound cake gets better with age and although this one isn’t getting much chance to pack on time, it calls me from the fridge and I'm powerless to ignore it.  Thankfully I had company to help as Gregg’s brother-in-law Terry seemed to like it as much as I did!  The butter cream outer shell is divine, delicious and the perfect sweetness.  Each slice is pure bliss.  

After all the pictures and speeches in the reception room, we stepped outside to socialize while the staff set up for the dance.  We overlooked the greens of the golf course and took more pictures against the amazing backdrop until the sun began to dip behind the horizon.   When we went back inside we all watched the happy couple waltz to Neil Young’s, Harvest Moon. 

Shane and Ashley are the epitome of good taste.   All their choices were a perfect statement of who they are.  From the beautiful invitation they designed and printed to all the special little touches, they truly owned their day.   Their fur babies were at the ceremony.  Sadie and Taylor sported fancy bows to match, blush for the girl and grey for the boy.  They were very well behaved and happy to be part of this special moment when mommy and daddy declared their love and devotion to one other. 

We sent them on a little pre-honeymoon, to commemorate the nuptials.  They plan to do the big one in the spring; destination is yet to be determined. Mr. & Mrs. McWhirter came home Wednesday well rested and happy on day four of their life together.  I know Gregg and I, and Ashley’s parents Kim and David, will enjoy watching these newlyweds settle into their life together.   As parents of the bride and groom, I think we both did extremely well with this union!  

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12 Comments
Laura
9/4/2015 02:14:16 pm

Lovely read, Christine! Happy happy happy!

Reply
Deborah Schrang
9/4/2015 02:19:52 pm

Beautiful bride - handsome groom! Gorgeous gown, lovely flowers, and the cake looks yummy! Ummm - where are the pictures of you???

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Della
9/4/2015 03:06:45 pm

Fabulous day and great story mother of the groom, loved it.

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Catherine
9/4/2015 03:19:48 pm

Such a beautiful couple! They look so happy! Wishing them all that is good in life!

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Audrey
9/4/2015 04:34:38 pm

A beautiful synopsis of the awesome couple, wedding and reception . Loved the pictures.

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Janet
9/4/2015 05:45:26 pm

Thanks for sharing a beautiful time-stunning looking couple-where is the photo of you and Greg-I bet it was lovely

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David and Kim Skinner
9/4/2015 06:56:11 pm

More perfect words were never spoken. It was such a beautiful and very special day. We are so happy that Ashley as found her true love. We are so happy to have you all in our lives

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Ernestine Whynott Byers
9/4/2015 07:48:15 pm

Beautiful gown and bride, handsome groom, pictures are gorgeous and your blog is exceptional. Loved reading it. I am so happy for you,Christine and Ashley and Shane. They look perfect together. I've never had the pleasure of meeting Shane,but I know Ashley, and she is such a doll. Wishing them many happy years.

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Patricia
9/4/2015 08:31:30 pm

Beautiful story and photos. Thank you for sharing.

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Michele Nichols Acker link
9/5/2015 03:45:12 am

What a beautiful expression of your love!

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Brigitte
9/6/2015 05:12:17 pm

Loved reading the blog and for sharing your joy of this lovely occasion. Wishing them both a very happy long married life. X

Reply
Joanne Black
9/10/2015 03:48:09 am

What a beautiful couple! You can tell they only have eyes for each other. You must be so proud. Loved your description of the wedding! Thank you for sharing.

Reply



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    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
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