A Poolside Ceremony

To start off the long holiday weekend, Eric and I headed down to Kentucky after work to see his sister, Kelly, in a very simple poolside wedding ceremony. It was kept very casual (as in, bathing suits) and the guest list was short and simple, with just family and some friends.

When we got there around 7:30pm, the kids were still playing in the pool and the adults were still chatting poolside. They kind of did the reverse of a typical wedding (since this was NOT the first for either) and have the reception, of sorts, first, and then had the ceremony as the last item on the agenda. They initially planned it this way to make sure it was cool enough and to give the kids some 'free time' to just play since it was the beginning of the July 4th weekend. It also worked out well for those of us who still had to work that day.

The ceremony, itself, was short and simple. Kelly and Kimber stood with the army chaplain (dressed casually in shorts, as well) at the corner of the pool, and their four kids stood with them as their bridal party. The chaplain performed the perfect ceremony and had the perfect guiding words for this now blended family. In a word, it was 'perfect' for them. And after the vows, exchange of rings, and kissing of the bride, they all jumped into the pool with a big splash!

They still had a few of the traditions after the "I do's" were said. They had a small cake, which they cut, and then a toast, in which Kimber told the story of how they came together and how the timing of it all was how he knew it was meant to be. It was very sweet, actually, and a story I had not heard since they've been together. It's amazing how fate works sometimes... that's all I'm going to say.

Finally, when all was said and done, some of us had to get on the road to go home... or to hotels, at least. So as the kids started roasting marshmallows and shooting off fireworks, we headed out. Eric and I stayed at a historic hotel in Louisville called 'The Brown'. It reminded me a bit of the Davenport Hotel in Spokane that we stayed at last year, but on a slightly smaller scale. The room was quite big, though, for a historic hotel... and then we learned that it was once owned by Hilton. It explained a few things (though not in a bad way).

This morning, we got on the road as soon as we woke up. We have a busy weekend ahead of us... working on the still not complete master bath. But we're getting there. And we're hoping this weekend gets us a lot closer!