Wedding Day

It's almost surreal to think that Spencer is married!  What a weekend of all the feels.  Spencer even had his moments of being emotional.  

The kids had their last hurrah at Spencer's apartment on Friday night and spent the night together.  Saturday, we all met up for breakfast before all the busyness of the day started. 

I went back to Spencer's apartment to put the bride's bouquet and boutonniere together.  Ashtin chose peonies as her flower which took some miracles to get my hands on.  Thanks to my friend who manages the floral department at Broulims, I was able to get 15 white peonies even though the growing season ended last week.  It was nice to spend a couple of hours alone with Spencer, helping him get his suit ready and his apartment cleaned, ready for Ashtin to officially move in. 

By early Saturday afternoon, it was raining sideways.  The wind was horrible, and from Spencer's apartment window, you could hardly see across the street.  There was no plan B, the wedding was planned to take place in a beautiful garden in Highland. Plan B was about praying for a miracle. 

We arrived to the venue and the rain stopped but the wind was howling and continued to howl throughout the ceremony.  But, all in all, it was a sweet moment. The Bishop delivered a sweet message on the importance and permanence of marriage. It was perfect to have such a small ceremony; just Ashtin's immediate family and our little family.  It gave us more time to get to know her family better. 

We had about 20 minutes of pictures after the ceremony before the rain started back up and it turned bitterly cold but we went ahead with dinner which was at Sugar House Park.  We had rented a pavilion and had the food catered by Chipotle. 

When we arrived, there was a random stranger named John playing a hand drum with is similar to a steel drum.  He was invited to stay and play and eat a free meal, so it was kind of cool.  Again, it was just two families all together at one table, sharing a meal and getting to know one another.  

Ashtin's family is so easy to get to know.  They are very kind and outgoing.  All of her sister's and their husbands are super friendly.  Fun fact, Ashin's sister was suppose to have a grand wedding and reception in March but that was cancelled due to the virus so they went ahead with a civil marriage.  Her husband served in the very same mission as Spencer!  They never served together but they met and were friends while in Colorado.  So, Cody was especially excited to have Spencer as part of the family. 

After sharing a cupcake, Spencer and Ashtin left to start their life together.  They won't be going on a honeymoon because of the virus restrictions and lack of jobs and money but they are very simple, unassuming kids who were more than content with just the fact they are now married. 

It was a beautiful and hard day but I am so happy for Spencer.  He is happy, happier than I have seen him. 

Ashtin with her father

Spencer's first look at his bride walking down the aisle

I decided the best way to describe the day your son/daughter marries is 'Hormotional'. My thoughts and feelings were all over the map.   Wedding are odd I've decided.  It is a happy moment, a very happy moment but at the same time so many feelings of loss and change and fears and overwhelm.  Everyone cried during the ceremony and I can just imagine, there were few listening to the words being spoken as we were all lost in our own thoughts, reliving all the great and awful moments that got us to this place. 

Tears are our souvenirs of a life well lived! Spencer has lived well.