MARRIAGE MEME

Esther tagged me with a marriage meme:

1. Where/How did you meet?

We met through the News Leader Intros. It was the second time for both of us that we tried to meet someone this way.

2. How long have you known each other?

I believe we first talked on the phone the last part of May 1991.

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

Our first date was on June 5, 1991. We went to see Dances With Wolves.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

I proposed on February 29, 1992. So, almost 9 months. (Go Sadie Hawkins!)

5. How long was your engagement?

About 9 months.

6. How long have you been married?

It will be 15 years on November 21.

7. What is your anniversary?

November 21, the Feast of the Presentation of The Virgin Mary.

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

Oh, around 50 or so.

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

We had a local bakery make the cakes. We had cupcakes for the many children there and the wedding cake was chocolate with white icing and red cascading roses. The grooms cake was coconut flavored with a beach scene on top.

10. Where was your wedding?

At Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff, MO at 2 pm on a Saturday. It was overcast.

The reception was held in the Sacred Heart school gymnasium.

11. What did you serve for your meal?

We had only mints, nuts, cake and punch.

12. How many people were in your bridal party?

We had six: a maid of honor, a bridesmaid, a best man and groomsman, a flower girl and ring bearer.

13. Are you still friends with them all?

Sadly I lost contact with my maid of honor, but my bridesmaid is still here and the best man is like a brother to Norm and his eldest brother was the groomsman. The flower girl I send a Christmas card to every year (I was her nanny), and the ring bearer is Norm's nephew and godson.

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?

No tears but we were misty.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

When the priest pronounced us man and wife. And getting to sit and face everyone during the readings and the priest's homily was pretty special too:~D

16. Any funny moments?

It was sweet how the flower girl very deliberately laid each rose bud along the aisle.

17. Any big disasters?

For something blue I thought my soon-to-be MIL was going to lend me a beautiful blue bracelet, but through misscommunication thought I didn't want it, so my something blue was a medium blue hair band I held with my bouquet that my bridesmaid's mom lent me.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We were going to go to Cancun, but since finances weren't that great, we settled to stay the night at Van Buren, MO at Rose Cliff Inn. We were saving up for Cancun but instead we had a very preemie baby boy in July 1993. Maybe the boys can take up a collection some day and send us on a second honeymoon:~)

19. How long were you gone?

Just the weekend.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

Nothing really. It all worked out for the best. It was so wonderful that all his brothers and sisters and their children could make it. (Norm is #6 child and the last to get hitched) We had it in Poplar Bluff for the benefit of his mom and dad ( who suffered from bone cancer. My grandma had died in May and so wanted to honor his parents.)

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

On Norm's right side.

22. What size is your bed?

Queen.

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

We get our strength from our faith.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

Having time for just us.

25. Who literally pays the bills?

My sweet long-suffering hubby.

26. What is your song?

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is the song we walked up the aisle to. "Morning Has Broken" was the song we heard as we walked out of church as man and wife.

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

No dancing.

28. Describe your wedding dress.

Plain v-neck, long tapered sleeves, large bow in back, made with silk shantung. The lady who sewed it thought it was too plain and added some pearls to the bodice. She did it as a wedding gift! God bless her!

29. What kind of flowers did you have in your wedding?

My bouquet was lovingly made by an aunt on my late mother's side who used silk red and white roses, baby's breath, pearl sprays, red and white ribbon and a strand of pearls. Similar bouquets were made for the other girls. Red and white rose buds were wrapped and tied with ribbons for the flower girl to lay along the aisle. We used the flowers that were already in the church. This was a real budget wedding!

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?

No.