Whitley's Week: Mel Mel Gets Married!

On Saturday, May 24th, our cousin Mel Mel became Mrs. James Wallace! It was surely one of the most beautiful Memorial Day weekends on record, with sunny skies, balmy temps, and a delightful spring breeze, perfectly complimenting the lush outdoor setting. As we arrived, it was clear that the Gundy girls had planned everything to a "T"! Pink lemonade was served in antique cups next to an darling antique blue truck. Mini-Polaroid photos were taken of us for the guest book, and blue-grass music played in the background. The ceremony was lovely, with the wedding party walking down an aisle lined with wildflowers and posing around a wooden arbor. Mae Mae was radiant; the bride, stunning, and I don't think there was dry eye in the crowd as Ralph and Stephen fought to control their own tears. After vows were exchanged, Melanie kissed, and the wedding party exited, Uncle Ralph revealed the secret behind the gorgeous day- a buried bottle of bourbon! Apparently it is an old southern legend to ensure beautiful wedding weather. It took him a little while, but Ralph did manage to uncover and triumphantly display the buried booze. A cocktail hour followed, and then a delicious sit-down dinner of salmon, pork, and grilled vegetables. We were seated with Jenny and Nick, who also stayed at our house for the night. (It was so fun to visit with them!) Whitley and Drew actually swapped seats, so Drew could spend the meal discussing Harry Potter with the Watsons, which was fine by me! I love a fellow Potter fan! Dinner came to a close with sweet and sincere toasts from the maid-of-honor, best man, Ralph and Stephen. Melanie and James had their first dance, and then shared one with their parents. At this point, Whitley was anxious to dance and kept asking when it was going to be her turn. Then, sure enough, James beckoned to the kids, and soon the dance floor was full as the band cranked out the hits! (All of the music that evening was provided by James's friends, as he is a musician himself. It's a talented group!) I couldn't believe how much Whitley, Drew and David danced, though I suppose it is in their genes. :) They didn't sit down again- well, except for a quick cake break- and the hours flew! Whitley didn't display an ounce of fatigue until about 10:30 when she was suddenly and completely wiped out. My doll baby fell asleep in the car almost instantly on the ride home.

The whole affair was one of complete joy. It was one of those rare moments in life when, for a short time, everything is right in the world. All night I kept looking around at the beautiful faces of my family, trying to soak up every ounce of the laughter, the smiles, and the fun. My heart was utterly filled with gratitude, and the feeling lingered throughout the holiday weekend, so that even on Sunday and Monday, my eyes would brim with happy tears. I wrote to Mary and Ralph that they gave, not just Melanie and James, but everyone in attendance, a night they will never forget. It was worth every cent. :)

Congratulations, Melanie and James! We love you!