The invitation was a shimmering beachy number with undulating sand and raised starfish. Remember?
The beach is just beyond the post and rail fence. This location is lovely, I would send anyone there.
Have I introduced you to Josh before? He was thrilled to be in choker whites in 100 degree heat and 90 percent humidity. I wore a Trina Turk beach cover-up which looks for all the world like a dress when worn with Stuart Weitzman's. Go figure. My Trina Turk dress saved my life (I always knew I would say that), it was hotter than Hattie's. And that was before the biting pestilence arrived.
Biting ants began to eat my feet and black clouds moved overhead in the flash of an eye just as I took this picture. The wedding party hiked on to the beach after the ceremony, it was then that the sky opened up. Unfortunately, it was a long walk (gown-dragging sprint) back.
Here's Josh again. The gentleman next to him greeted him that day by shaking his hand and smilingly asking, "You don't have an extra sword in the car, do you?"
This is the military, and that extra stripe on his shoulder means my Husband answered with perfect seriousness, "I don't believe so, Sir, no." Where the Hostess might have said something like, "Let me go rustle around in my sabers and check..."
They handed out these pretty fans. Did I mention it was 100 degrees and the ceremony started nearly one hour late?
I kid you not, these bridesmaids, dressed in dark dutchesse satin in Florida, in summer, in blazing heat had those brilliant smiles on their faces from start to finish. My heart broke for them as they shone, and then began to sweat bullets, but the smiles never faded. Hats off to them. 
Navy arch of swords, have toy seen one before? I had not, my Husband (see above) and all the other Navy grooms whose weddings I have attended did not have them. The ceremonial swords (often handed-down United States Naval Academy sabers) are crossed to prevent the couple from passing until they kiss. The swords are then lifted and they are permitted to pass. At the last arch, the bride is wrapped behind with the last sword and greeted with, "Welcome to the Navy!" I had the distinct feeling the Operations Officer who completed this task on behalf of the Navy that day had done this before (been the first to welcome many brides, that is).
The grooms cake was a cover (hat) which would be white on top in reality. Nicely done.
Gorgeous cake: Orchids, shells, and navy fondant a different flavor and filling on each level.
1 comment:
I have photographs of my parents' wedding in South Carolina, with full honour guard, their swords looking all wonky, unfortunately. My mother swears to this day that my father's friends had tippled before the ceremony, hence the lack of perfect symmetry.
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