We are officially in the season of life when many of our friends have children who are getting married. We recently attended a wedding at a rural venue not far from our home. Our friends built a family home last year and their oldest son and his wife wanted to get married out there with a beautiful backdrop. However, they also wanted a spring wedding. We all know April showers bring May flowers. April showers can often threaten an outdoor wedding day. So, they opted to book this beautiful venue in Madison County outside of Elkins.
The young couple still had high hopes of getting married outdoors and then moving inside the venue for a reception. The weather forecast was threatening that Saturday all week. It even rained that morning. But the evening of the wedding offered perfect weather. The chairs were set outside with a breathtaking view. There were horses close by. The flower arrangements were pristine. The wedding party looked sharp and the bride was stunning. It was lovely to say the least.
My husband has a group of friends who have been friends since elementary school. The wedding we went to celebrate was one of the “buddies” son’s. It is always fun to have an excuse for these long-term friends to get together. After the nuptials, we enjoyed a cocktail party while the wedding party took photos. We enjoyed getting to catch up with our friends and some of their children.
Finally, we were all invited into the venue for dinner. The meal was catered and perfect. Once dinner was over, the DJ fired up the music, and the bride and groom enjoyed their first dance together. It was not long before the music was turned up a notch and the young wedding guests joined them on the dance floor. We took full advantage of the photo booth for a group photo of this clan getting all together.
We joined our friends and danced to some of our favorite 1990’s classics. My husband had to go make a couple of requests for some slow dancing music. The DJ played exactly two slow songs and then it was back to dance music. As we were dancing, I reminded my husband that we were now officially part of the generation of “old folks” at the wedding. He thought that was hilarious but agreed.
I look back fondly at all the memories we have of friends’ weddings. We have enjoyed years of solid friendships with these people. I am looking forward to the memories we will make of our own children taking this next step (hopefully not for a few more years!). Nothing beats a wedding in the country surrounded by dear friends, good food and good music, neighbor.
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
