Our oldest got married last year. We celebrated with some wonderful family traditions.
They got married in the morning at the Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple on a bitter cold January day. They were married by her grandpa, who is a sealer at the temple, which was a real treat.
Then we had a family luncheon, and later in the day, a beautiful reception with a wedding cake...
...and dancing with her daddy.
We had great photography, and friends and cousins made beautiful music to entertain us.
We sent them off with confetti - and their friends of course decorated their car.
It was a completely lovely and wonderful day! Doesn't she make a beautiful bride?!
But wedding traditions weren't always the same in our family.
On another cold January day - this one in 1889 - Virie Mendenhall and Nephi Perkins took a bobsleigh - and two of their school friends to act as witnesses - and rode up Dayton Canyon in Idaho. They arrived at the home of the Justice of the Peace and were married. Just like that.
At the Mendenhall ranch, everybody was waiting for them. There they had a wedding dinner, and rolled back the rugs for dancing. Several guests gave recitations and Nephi and his cousin, Dave Evans, sang duets. (I wish I knew what songs they sang!) So far, it seems a lot the same, doesn't it?
This is where the traditions get really different...
It was a custom at the time to "put the bride and groom to bed."
Friends would put the bride in the groom's nightshirt and the groom in her nightgown - usually over their regular clothing. Then they were tucked into bed together. (I'm sure it was way more fun for the friends than for the bride and groom...)
During the evening, Virie knew what was coming. She quietly tucked a key in the top of her high-buttoned shoe. When the festivities came to an end, it was time for the great joke. But the couple was missing.
No one had seen them slip away. Soon everyone was laughing and calling through the locked door of the little upstairs bedroom. Someone asked George, her father, for the extra key - but all the keys were gone.
There was not going to be any "putting to bed" on this night!
Celia, Nephi's older sister, pounded on the door with both hands and shouted, "You just wait until the next time you two get married!"
What are your family wedding traditions - and how do they compare to the traditions of your ancestors? I hope you'll leave me a comment and tell me about it!
Post Script:
I'm so excited and honored that Uphill Both Ways is featured this week on Genea-Musing's "Best of the Genea-Bloggers" list!
Every week, Randy Seaver selects from hundreds of blog articles written by genealogy bloggers, and posts his "Best Of" list on the blog "Genea-Musings." THANKS SO MUCH Randy for including me in your list for March 1-7! And thanks Becky for nominating me! The article he selected from Uphill Both Ways is "Two Wrongs Never Made One Right." There are so many wonderful blogs and great writers. I'm really flattered to be included with them.
And can you believe the time it must take every week for Randy to read all of our articles and publish this list for of us?! You can read his list at Genea-Musings - be sure to take a look at all of these blogs. There's lots of good things happening in the Genea-blogging world!
I decided to look for some wedding traditions that our ancestors would have possibly experienced.
This one is interesting: It was in ancient Germany that the Western European tradition of a Best Man began. In olden days it was sometimes necessary for a man to kidnap his bride from a neighboring village and he needed his strongest friend (his Best Man) to help with the kidnapping and to stand by him at the wedding ceremony to fight off any relatives that might try to take her back.
Sounds like the family really approved of this relationship! Can you imagine what would happen now days if this were to happen?!
Taken from: http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com
Posted by: Jenna | March 10, 2009 at 10:31 PM
I would have stole the key too. Those Perkins are smart.
Posted by: Mike J | March 11, 2009 at 05:59 AM
Love the German best man tradition - apparently they weren't to worried about getting the father's blessing!
Posted by: JoLyn | March 11, 2009 at 08:58 AM
How funny! I know that back when my granparents got married, everyone went to Lucedale, MS to get married at the courthouse. I am not sure why considering we live in Mobile. If you check our local paper on Sundays for anniversaries, almost everyone is there that is celebrating 45+ years were married in Lucedale. I fund that odd????
I however got married in Hawaii at Turtle Bay Resort. My husband and I never wanted a big formal wedding. I never knew where I wanted to get married, but when he brought up Hawaii that was it!
Posted by: Dirt Princess | March 11, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Turtle Bay! I've never stayed at the Resort but I know the area. What a
perfect place to get married!
Isn't that neat that they post all of the anniversaries in the paper - and
they've all made it that long and are still together!
Posted by: JoLyn | March 11, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Our reception was supposed to end at 6pm. Of course folks were still coming and my guy (at least he waited for a lull in the crowd) said, "its supposed to be over, lets go." And we did. Wish we would have had dancing. I would love a pic like your girls with my dad!
Posted by: Jenny-Jenny | March 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM
The wedding pictures are just lovely-looks like a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple! Love the history of your ancestors wedding too-Granny and Pap ran off to the justice of the peace's house-but there wasn't a party waiting on them at home-only a mad momma!! But 45 years later-I'd say they made the right decision!
Posted by: Tipper | March 11, 2009 at 03:42 PM
One good thing about running off to get married...think of all the money you'd save. I'd say they did made the right decision - 45 years! That's awesome!
Posted by: JoLyn | March 11, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Love the stories and pictures! I want some copies! I love to read the comments and thoughts from everyone!
Posted by: Dawn | March 13, 2009 at 08:25 AM