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Friday’s Tune: Perfect Union

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Faith

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Tags

faith, Friday's Tune, memories, music, weddings


This week, while resting with a cup of tea between jobs, I perused Instagram. I don’t normally check out the “suggested for you” page, but I did and there were wedding photos. I’m a sucker for ball gowns. Actress, Busy Philips, celebrated her 13th anniversary this week and she posted pics from her nuptials, including her dress, her invitations, and her “mix tape”, a gift to  was given to her guests. My guests received homemade chocolate truffles. I think I’d prefer the truffles.

Anyway, it got me thinking, since this Monday is my 24th wedding anniversary! I’ve lived more years with Hubby than without.

There were certain things about my special day that were extra important, the groom and my family aside. The dress (as Princess Diana as I could afford). The flowers (red roses like my grandmother). And the music. I selected every piece, from the processional (Praise My Soul the King of Heaven) and recessional (Trumpet Voluntary), to the hymn and 2 solos. I also selected the first 3 songs for our small dance. I danced with my father to Matthew Ward’s, My Little Ones. It made us both cry. Our wedding party danced to All the Way My Saviour Leads Me by Rich Mullins. But it was our first dance that is today’s tune: Perfect Union by Matthew Ward.

My sister-in-law introduced me to this song when she had it sung at her wedding. I loved the imagery that despite the “storms of life”, if we chose to seek God first in our marriage, we would be strengthened and love would endure. We would be joined in “three part harmony”.

During some very difficult years, I would look at our wedding photos and I was encouraged by the light reflecting on the cross on the altar in front of us. I took that as a special message from God that He was still part of this relationship and if we looked to Him, we would endure.

wedding_ed

Hand and hand we’ll seek the Father.

Happy Friday!

Lyrics
copyright: © Matthew Ward / John Andrew Schreiner Music, Megins College Fund Music

WPC: Beloved

07 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

DP Challenge, Photo Challenge, photography, weddings, Weekly Photo Challenge


My beloved Grandmother’s wedding rings. I wear them every day to keep her close.

DSC_1826 (800x523)

Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while…but our hearts forever. – Anonymous

To see more photos of the Beloved.

WPC: Ruffled Texture

09 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

DP Challenge, Photo Challenge, photography, wedding photography, weddings, Weekly Photo Challenge


This holiday Monday, I spent almost 3 hours taking over 200 photos using the ruffles in a bridal bouquet of blush and pale mauve roses. My parents were awarded them for being the oldest married couple at a family wedding. 🙂

Don’t worry – I’m only posting 2 today: something old and something new!

DSC_1826 (800x523)

My Grandmother’s Wedding Bands

DSC_1832 (800x533)

My Wedding Bands

The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It’s a choice you make – not just on your wedding day, but over and over again – and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife. Barbara De Angelis

Happy Wednesday!

To see more textured photos, click here.

10 Minute Monday:

22 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

humour, weddings, work humour


August 12th was the second hottest day of the year, the 30th day of over 30 C weather. It was, in fact, 33 but with humidity, felt more like 43.

I escaped my “cubicle of purgatory” to help bridesmaids deliver flowers and snip loose threads off their pink dresses. I also helped do a sound check for a cellist and soloist since the A/V tech was a titch tardy. All in a sanctuary where the main air conditioner is broken…

And while it was warm in the sanctuary, it was downright tropical in the custodian’s closet, where I partnered with a pretty, size 2 blonde, to repair a plant stand for a bouquet of wilting champagne roses. If she hadn’t been size 2, we wouldn’t have been able to fit in there at the same time.

We needed a Robertson screwdriver, but could only find a common blade screwdriver. It was only after we were soaked in our sweat and nearly passing out from heat exhaustion, that the custodian showed up. He was surprised to see two damsels in distress in his closet, but he did nonchalantly point out the black toolbox we had completely missed, before shrugging his shoulders…and leaving.

We removed the offending screws and added 2 small nails, but it was not enough to fix the tremulous platform, so we put a nail in its coffin. It took a couple of tries – the first nail, while long and inviting, refused to budge at the halfway point. But we persevered and the bride’s flowers were delightfully displayed before the wedding march.

I spent the rest of the day fighting off bridesmaids for space in front of office air-conditioner.

After the wedding, the one who fixed the table with me, thanked me for my help and added: “when I came to you with my request for a hammer and screwdriver, I expected you be like ‘what?’. I can’t believe how you just smiled and asked me, ‘what kind do you need?’ like I wasn’t an insane person”.

She doesn’t know this was a pleasure compared to Bridezilla. She also didn’t know that already that week I had climbed under a rock, hid under a desk, and ate my lunch in the corner. Just another day in Paradise!

Only one week to go before I go on holidays for a week. And then…

Secretary with crossbow2

Happy Monday!

***

This has been a “10 Minute Monday” post (where I write about whatever I want for a minimum 10 minutes, no editing – mayhem, memories, maudlin mumblings, or  “mwa ha ha” moments).

 

 

Not a Clue

08 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

brides, humour, weddings, work humour


Several people have asked me “what ever happened with that bride?” I can’t exactly call her “bridezilla” since she wasn’t overtly “obsessive or intolerably demanding”. But her lack of communication, her indecision, and her (dare I say it? why not?) stupidity threatened to push me over the precipice into a bottomless pit, where there would most definitely be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Well, the wedding was June 25, and with any luck, today will be my final encounter with her.

I am “The Gatekeeper” to rental contracts for the church, which means I field calls from the sublime to the ridiculous, and the following is a true story:

I received a voicemail message on January 29, saying Someone had booked Bride’s wedding at our church –  could I forward the Rental Contract. I immediately had words with Someone! It turned out Bride & Groom stopped in during an evening rehearsal and looked around. [Mistake #1: Letting them in the door}. Someone told them the date looked free and to call me in the morning to go through the details.[ Mistake #2: Never suggest the date is free]

I forgave Someone.

So I emailed Bride the approval process, attached the requisite documents, and listed 14 basic questions so we could get acquainted. The questions included silly things like name, time of wedding, and needs (minister, organist, audio-visual technician).

On Feb 3, Someone received a phone call – Groom would drop the deposit and contract on Sunday morning. I quickly forwarded my original email, politely asking again for information. She emailed back that she’d fax the agreement in the morning. It never arrived. Groom, however, arrived after Sunday service with the deposit and an incomplete page 1 (of 2) of the contract.

I got the answers to some of my questions on Feb. 15. I confirmed on Feb 24, that the wedding rental request had been approved,  and carefully reviewed the policies and fees again.

 

I waited a month before I emailed to review and ask for a signed contract. I also asked for answers to the rest of the questions… She emailed 4 days later to call her. Eventually we connected and discussed the fees. She didn’t understand why I couldn’t use the deposit toward the fees? (Umm…in case your uncle shows up drunk, barfs on the carpet and I have to get it cleaned early Sunday morning? I’m not paying for that!) Why do we need a custodian (Stupid people, question #2) when we can clean ourselves? Still feeling magnanimous, I offered to ask the Hostess to her waive fees (since she was also the organist). I waved my magic wand and made it happen. On April 7 she asked, “when can we meet to discuss the contract?”  Huh?  I explained we didn’t need to meet in person, and I provided options for getting the signed contract to me.

A month later, she asked me again to call her. We had the same discussion as above, over the next 2 weeks, resent the revised contract two more times. I finally got a signed copy by email on May 20, with the requisite insurance certificate BUT she also wanted to know why organist fee was not reduced (because the organist only waived the hostess fee?). Her fiance was told this would cost no more than $450 (not by anyone who works here) and the deposit wouldn’t be cashed (that’s not how it works and I was pretty clear about that …). I  threw her budget off (yeah, that was my personal goal).

eye roll giphy

http://www.giphy.com – gossip girl

By now, I was hearing gnashing of teeth – my own! I let her have it! Having a legal background made it easy. I laid it all out in detail, with the dates  and content of all our correspondence and conversations. I pointed out that we are one of the most affordable churches in the area. That our costs are fixed by our board and I can’t make any more deductions. That I can’t use their deposit as payment.  And finally, if they’d prefer to terminate this signed contract in writing, I’d be happy to return the deposit to them. I gave the pastor a copy of my email to review before I sent it. He thought I was being very nice!

The next day, she asked when can we meet – after 4:30 worked for them! (Why do they need to meet in person?) On May 26, an email  said the groom was coming the next day at 10:30. I made sure there was someone in the office with me, but he didn’t call or show up.

He showed up on June 1, the day my Grandmother died. He wanted to discuss the fees. We went through the why you need a custodian conversation again. He even went so far as to suggest he could tell guests they can’t use the loo.

“People should have chips implanted in their skulls that explode when they say something stupid.” – Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory 

Then he asked why Bride hadn’t heard from the organist? (At this point, I knew the organist had left Bride several voicemail messages, with no response. Groom left in a hurry – he had shorted us by $25.

Later that day, the organist told me she talked to Bride, and Bride would call her back. The next day, Bride informed me she didn’t need a pianist (pianist?) I asked for clarification – did she mean organist? It took a week and 3 emails to sort that out.

I met Bride for the first time on June 23 when she showed up unexpectedly to check on some measurements for decorations. If looks could kill, I’d have been a wet puddle on the carpet that the custodian would have to clean up. Her handshake was limp and she avoided all eye contact. She wondered when they could get in to decorate – I told them during the rehearsal or Friday during office hours. I just wanted this deal to be done!

 

The wedding was set for June 25 at 2:30. By 2:25, the staff and 1 guest had arrived. The wedding started at 3:20.  No one took down the decorations – the custodian had to do it. Only half of it was picked up the following week, after I had gone home for the day. They forgot their candlesticks!

I emailed this week to say their cheque (deposit plus adjustment) was ready. I didn’t mail it because of the impending postal strike and the missed decor. She agreed to come on Friday before 2, but was pretty sure I had miscalculated the fees. She was forgetting that if she wasn’t paying an organist, she was paying a hostess. I explained the breakdown, but she didn’t reply to my email.

I’m leaving today at 2 – if she doesn’t show up on time, I’m tempted to leave the cheque and candlesticks outside. Or give them to Professor Plum…

chickenclue

Thanks to Doug Savage at http://www.savagechickens.com

Some people just don’t have a Clue!

Photo 101: Treasure

29 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

black and white photography, family, photo 101, Photo Challenge, PHOTO101, photography, weddings


I treasure many things: my faith, my family, my family heirlooms . But today, on our 19th anniversary, I wanted to let Hubby know that I also treasure him and the life we are building together. These rings are not the ones he gave me on our wedding day. I loved the rings he gave me, and when my engagement ring broke beyond repair, I was heartbroken. And while I now wear a new set of rings, I still wear my gold wedding band on my other hand. Our life together hasn’t always been easy, but it reminds me of the promise we made when we were kids (back when the earth was cooling), who promised to forsake all others until death do us part.

“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. ” -Rita Rudner

Wedding Rings - b/w

Wedding Rings on Stones

Happy Anniversary!

Humble Pie

11 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Family

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

family, weddings


Humble pie doesn’t slide down so well. Less than a year ago, I wrote a post called Engaging Absurdity wherein I marvelled at the excessive prices of engagement rings these days and questioned the priorities of those demanding exorbitant bling in the name of “love”. I shared how precious my little engagement ring was to me, not because it was expensive or had valuable gold or gems, but because the meager price was a sacrifice for two kids in love back in the day when the Earth was still cooling…

But then something unexpected happened…my ring broke in the Summer. One of the garnets fell out and while I was upset, I figured it was no big deal to get it replaced. I took it into a jewellery store once sunny September afternoon and left there with a black cloud hanging over my head. They couldn’t simply replace the stone – they had to rebuild the entire bridge and it was going to cost a lot of money to do it! I took it to a family-owned store for a second opinion. The sales lady was exceptionally nice and took it to the back for a quick preview of the “damage”…I could tell from the look in her eye that it wasn’t good news. With genuine warmth, she started with “It’s going to cost hundreds of dollars to repair; it would be less expensive to buy a new one…” Not only would the bridge have to be rebuilt, but it was cracked in 2 places on the underside and would likely crack again after the repair.

The question changed from “how much will it cost” to “how much is it worth” and I wrestled with it for the next several weeks. Sentimentality overwhelmed me until passed store windows and got distracted by sparkling things…

After expounding the virtues of sentimentality over “bling”, I purchased a new engagement ring… Hence, the first slice of humble pie…and then the second slice of humble pie…

When I got home from the store, Hubby asked me if I was happy, but to be honest, I wasn’t…not because I didn’t get the original ring repaired, but because I didn’t buy the really expensive one I had my eye on (and by expensive, I mean $1,000 not $7,000). How many times in my life have I compromised and accepted second best? Now for the second slice of humble pie…One of the reasons I was unhappy with the ring was because it is made of white gold but my wedding band is yellow gold. I know it’s considered acceptable to mix white and yellow gold, but my uptight nature doesn’t like it. So after several conversations with Hubby, I also purchased a new sparkling wedding band.

I have to eat my own words about sporting an expensive engagement ring over my original engagement ring: “I wouldn’t trade it for the ring I’m sporting now”. Hubby didn’t have to scrape his pennies together this time, but I know he loves me…even with pie on my face.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Layers

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

black and white photography, brides, photography, wedding photography, weddings, Weekly Photo Challenge


After my fiancée called off the engagement, I didn’t have the heart to put my wedding dress on. But before I put it into storage, I took some time to admire it, the layers of satin and lace and tulle. I ran my fingers over the sequins and beads on the bodice. I traced the details in the lace. I stroked the white satin ruffles and bows. When I lifted it, I noted its heaviness; when I swished the skirts, I listened to the rustling fabric, and watched the shadows play in the folds.

This wedding dress had not been my “dream” dress, but it did represent a dream… to be someone’s wife, someone’s “beloved” forever.

Wedding Dress 1

Wedding 2

Wedding 3

Wedding 4

I wore this dress a few years later for my next sweetheart, and we’ve been married for 18 years.

***

To see more amazing photos for the challenge, “Layers”, click here!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Layers. Layers can reveal, conceal, and make something more complex. They can vary in size, texture, color, or functionality. Each layer can have its own story, meaning, or purpose. They can overlap, blend, or be distinctly separate. A layer doesn’t have to be a part of a single object but can even be a slice of a multifaceted image or scene.

Big Wedding Crashers

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Fashion, Foolishness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

brides, fashion, humour, photography, weddings


With weddings getting bigger…and wilder, the competition to out-do the next bride and groom growing fiercer…It was only a matter of time before the traditional wedding party photographs also took a rather large step forward!

My traditional wedding party pose (feel free to laugh...)

My traditional wedding party pose (feel free to giggle…)

 No longer will the fashion and hair styles out-date wedding pics (causing squeals of laughter from younger generations), but the shots of a wedding party fleeing a wedding-crashing monster. It started with a T-Rex…and now includes photos circulating the web with Star Wars AT-AT Walkers and Sharktopus (a B-movie inspired invention), all aiming for more international “hits” and “likes”. Some would call it “a fitting commemoration in the age of social media”.

Snapshots of every major and minor celebrity in the country has become big business. And with television shows like “Rich Bride, Poor Bride”, “4 Weddings”, and “Say Yes to the Dress!” (my personal favourite) promoting “Brides’ Night”, it’s no wonder North Americans are obsessed with all things wedding! According to author Elizabeth Abbott (A History of Marriage), the original celebrity couple was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840.

Wedding_of_Queen_Victoria_and_Prince_Albert

Engraved by S Reynolds after F Lock [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Within weeks of their nuptials, detailed sketches appeared in magazines, starting the wedding picture trend. Couples used to pose for a single wedding photo, but now hire a crew of photographers and videographers to capture every moment of the day. The next trend is to capture those moments on Instagram. Here’s something I’d like to know – does capturing those moments include the contortions and complexities of getting a ball-gowned bride safely in and out of the loo?

References: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wedding_of_Queen_Victoria_and_Prince_Albert.jpg

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/07/06/who-invited-the-sharktopus/

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