In honour of my cousin's first wedding anniversary I am posting the first of a series of letters written to my fabulous daughter last year; I've also added a video clip from the wedding ceremony at the bottom of this post. If you would like to read Part II, please leave a comment and I'll post it.
Hello MY DEAR FABULOUS DAUGHTER
I trust you're having sweet dreams and will be well rested when you awaken and read the details of Suzanne and cousin Graham’s magnificent wedding. I’ve tried to remember every detail and to leave nothing out so that you may come as close as possible in your imagination to attending the gala event.
Please read the following with a slight English accent and a fashionista’s enthusiasum for reporting important fashionable events ...
Part I -The Ceremony:
After parking at Lonsdale Quay, your dear father and I walked to the foot of Lonsdale and proceeded past the busy valets toward a white canopy where we collected the wedding program, an elegant black booklet measuring 4“ high x 11“ wide and adorned with a hot pink ribbon (I've kept it for you). Next we continued on our way towards the base of a very long pier. We met Uncle Doug, Auntie Fellette, cousin Craig, cousin Jeanette & Robert near a delightful 4 piece ensemble that was playig classical music on a little boardwalk niche just to the side of the pier and we all together began our journey down the length of the pier towards a very distant cluster of white canopies. As we neared the canopies we noted long pieces of silk in colours matching the elaborate wedding invitations hanging from lamp posts and blowing in the wind. We arrived at a tidy arrangement of white chairs under the canopies and noted there was a black Japanese fan on every other chair, and also that the aisle in the middle had a black cloth on the ground with banana leaves on either edge and white orchid branches, white rose petals and small pebbles lying on the leaves. Silk screened in white ink on the black cloth was a large S & G with numbers beneath indicating the date - this we later realized was the official logo of the wedding. There was a large white ribbon tied across the aisle, so that no one would walk on the black fabric and logo and leave footprints. On either side of the centre aisle, every 3rd row or so of chairs, stood a tall narrow white plinth upon each of which stood a 2 ft tall rectangular vase that became slightly wider at the top and these were filled to within an inch of the lip with water and submerged in the water where beautiful white orchids.
We were the first wedding guests to arrive and were instructed by the wedding organizers, who were talking into cell phones and walky-talkies, to walk along the outer sides of the arrangement of chairs and take our places near the front. It wasn't until we were seated that we realized that on either side of the small stage in front of us was another, larger rectangular vase, again, filled with water and white orchids and a bit of greenery, but also with 10 or so large live goldfish. The view from this seated area was of the beautiful Vancouver skyline, ships in the harbour, sea planes landing across the water, and the sea bus and other vessels cruising the harbour. There were boughs of white orchids and greenery hanging from the white canopies overhead. On each aisle seat there was not only a black fan but also a banana leaf cone filled with white rose petals which I supposed were to be tossed over the bride and groom once the ceremony was over.
Before the ceremony began, a helicopter appeared and first circled the area and then hovered nearby - it was the CTV news helicopter and we wondered if it was filming the first wedding to be held on this new pier for the 6:00 evening news, or if GB and/or Suzanne would be emerging from the helicopter as it landed at the end of the pier, or possibly via parachute or swinging from a trapeze under the helicopter for a grand entrance. Cousin Niki’s husband Chris later told us the helicopter and videographer had been hired to film the wedding.
Our attention was directed away from the helicopter when the classical music stopped and was replaced by base thumping dance club music (!) and we all turned and squinted to the beginning of the pier and saw Candy & Graham and Suzanne's parents marching towards us. The men were dressed in black, and the women in black & white; Candy wore a white hat and Suzanne's mom wore a black hat. They arrived at the white canopies and were seated in the very back row.
Then a new tune of base thumping dance club music began and the 7 groomsmen began walking towards us, single file, and about 50 feet apart. Each was a handsome fella wearing a black tux, white shirt, no tie, and a different coloured boutenniere that coordinated with the aforementioned silk hanging from the lamposts and the stripes on the wedding invitations. The last groomsman was Chris and he held hands with Miller, also dressed in a tux and a green Hawaiian lei - the most adorable ring bearer I have ever seen! Again the music stopped and was replaced by more base thumping dance club music. We squinted down the long pier and saw a single black clad figure beginning his 650 foot walk towards us - yes! It was the handsome groom! Black tux, white shirt, white tie. He arrived and we all clapped as his parents stood and walked with him to the front of the stage - I blew him a kiss as he caught my eye when he walked past - then he took his place on the stage with his groomsmen. He looked tall and handsome, his blue eyes clear and filled with merriment and perhaps just a touch of nervousness; his cheeks held the palest hint of a blush.
After a brief pause, the dance music "we love girls" began and one at a time the 7 maids of honour began their long march towards us. They were dressed identically in black low-cut knee length dresses, matching chandelier rhinestone earings, matching chic ponytail hairdos, and matching black rhinestone-embellished shoes. Each lovely lass carried a different brightly coloured bouquet that matched not only the boutenniere of a groomsman, but also of the afore-mentioned silk panels hanging from the lamp posts and the stripes on the wedding invitations. Last in line was cousin Niki, the very vision of grace and beauty, following the petite flowergirl, her own daughter Anna, who was dressed in a pink cotton dress, pink sandals, wearing a wreath of green hawaiian orchids on her head and carrying a bananaleaf basket filled with white rose petals that she flung down in short angry motions as she glared at the crowd of well-wishers (we all giggled in delight - she was extremely serious and oh so very cute!)
The music stopped and we once again squinted down towards the base of the pier and there stood Suzanne, thin as a rail and beautiful as a goddess. Another dance club tune began and she marched forward on her long solitary walk towards GB - with her veil blowing in the wind behind her. Her parents joined her as she reached the back row of chairs and we all stood and applauded - her parents led her to the front where she joined Graham. The bridal party was the most visually beautiful I have ever seen. Suzanne's dress was a rich creamy coloured satin that contained the merest hint of dusty rose. There was a wide collar of pearls around Suzanne’s neck, holding the dress up, and a wide belt of pearls around her hips, and the back was completely bare and plunged to a deep V that ended just within an inch or two of, pardon my vulgarity, but I know not how other to describe it - butt crack. The front had a slit up the right front side that nearly reached her torso, and I caught myself holding my breathe when the slit parted as Suzanne began to sit down to sign the marriage certificate and I wasn't sure what I'd see next! But all was well - there were no wardrobe malfunctions (although there was a near miss by a particularly voluptuous woman in an extremely low cut black dress sitting in a row across the aisle from us, whom Uncle Robbie and Dad kept a close eye upon and poor Uncle Robbie just about peed his pants when he turned and didn't realize he was actually looking at the elbow the women had momentarily crossed over her abundant chest.
The justice of the peace, a severe looking woman in a beige skirt and jacket, beige crepe soled nursing shoes, and blue aviator glasses, presided over the ceremony. Auntie Candy and then Suzanne's Mom were asked to recite from a card as first GB and then Suzanne held the other's hands face up towards the sky - this was a lovely idea, that was only slightly diminished by the “whoop-whoop-whoop” of the helicopter that had veered towards our handsomely assembled group and hovered close for a tight shot of the ceremony. Uncle Graham and Suzanne's father then each read a lovely list of “I do’s” from their cards, again these were somewhat drowned out by the helicopter, however I’m sure the video images captured will be lovely and the “whoop-whoop-whoop” will be dubbed over with something more appropriate.
Suzanne and GB exchanged their self-written vows from cards, and included GB saying he would kiss Suzanne every morning, let her sleep-in, and would try to make her a fruit smoothie for her breakfast every day. I don't remember what Suzanne said, something about Smarties, but it was equally as amusing. GB was just a tad emotional - Suzanne was clear voiced, witty, and in calmly matter of fact at all times.
The handsome bridal couple kissed, then headed back down the long pier and we tossed rose petals from our banana leaf cones over them. A singer sang something fun and jazzy as we walked down the pier behind the wedding party - half way down the pier we were treated to fizzy designer fruit drinks and bottled water (bearing the official S & G wedding logo on hot pink labels) from ice-filled classically styled silver urns. At the foot of the pier, we lined up to shake hands and kiss Suzanne's parents, the newlyweds, and Graham & Candy. The bridesmaids and groomsmen sat in a tent partaking of light refreshments and waiting for the receiving line to be over - a stretch black limousine bus waited for them - a stretch limousine waited for Graham & Suzanne.
Then we left for the mountain.
Click here to see a video clip from the wedding.
Stay tuned tomorrow for Part II
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