Dave and I kept looking at one another and smiling. He winking on occasion and mouthed the words "you look beautiful" or "the dress is beautiful".
I only glanced a few times at the "audience". Other than my Aunt Connie and Dave's niece Kim not being there, everyone I wanted at my wedding was there. THIS is how I wanted it to be and I was so glad we were able to do it.
Dave and I had "written" our own ceremony. We loved it and Jim did a pretty good job only missing one item, but we caught back up.
THEN....THEN!! The biggest surprise I have been unable to blog about until now occurred finally. I had been trying for months and months to get a bag piper to perform at our wedding as a surprise for Dave. I initially hired someone who worked with my sister, but she had to back out. After more searching, I was able to locate two other pipers, but once my sister Dori spoke with John Findley from Jamestown, and he was available and willing to do this on short notice, the deed was done.What I did NOT know was whether he was actually AT the chalet for the time of his entrance. As Jim announced I had a special gift for Dave, I heard the pipes from around the corner and jumped up and down like a four-year old! Dave's face was in shocked, pleasure, pride, and love...all at the same time. PERFECT! Not only was John a good piper, but he turned out to actually be FROM Scotland and very personable and fun. He stayed most of the rest of the afternoon and played several more tunes and entertained my family with stories.
Ian held onto our ring box and brought it up and held it without incident for the ring exchange and Gwen helped us with the handfasting ceremony. Dave had made the handfasting cord and we brought my Celtic cross from my garden in Maine to NY for the ceremony to hold it.
I'll post the script for our ceremony shortly so people can read how we did this. Very special.
We had asked my sister and niece to perform the song "The Water is Wide"" at our ceremony. I had a quivering chin and a lump in my throat from the sound of their first harmony. Dori and Rhonda played guitar and sang and Jenny sang two solo verses. I knew it would be beautiful and it was! Thank you!
Dave and I were pronounced husband and wife without incident or rain and walked out hand-in-hand to the sounds of "Scotland The Brave" played by John the piper. Perfect!!
We felt a few more sprinkles through the rest of the day, but it held off. We were sooo lucky. It was still humid and muggy out, but if the sun had come out, it would have been much worse. It was a perfect day for photography too with it being overcast.
We took a group photo of everyone who attended down by the Adirondack chairs that we had set out in the slopping lawn. I hope that turns out..it took awhile to get it set up.
As we were setting up for the group shot, Dave divulged what THIS particular Scotsman wore under his kilt for our wedding: a pair of white boxer shorts with Xmas lights on them. It was a tribute to his late niece Kim, who shared a long-running joke/tradition with him exchanging gifts with Xmas lights. I loved it. When Nancy saw it, she was shocked, saddened and laughing all at the same time. I think it was a fitting tribute between the two of them and certainly made for some interesting photos that I have yet to see! LOL
The meal that Chef B prepared couldn't have been better. Everyone commented on how it was the best wedding food they have ever had and I completely agree. The only real unfortunate thing was that the freezer wasn't working up to snuff and the sorbets she had made for dessert turned into mush and only one flavor was served with the brownies.
Roger made a fitting toast that he worked long and hard on, complete with a sailing story and Dori gave a very heart-felt and emotional toast as well. I had two glasses of champagne with dinner, then after dinner and dessert, I switch to Rosé wine.....and continued to drink that the rest of the night. In fact I drank an entire bottle myself. Ugh!
It had cooled down, turned dark and a few people had left, so I felt it was now time to hit the hot tub. I found my suit and Jenny grabbed Chad's swim trunks from their car. Dori borrowed a t-shirt and shorts from me and we hit it probably around 11:00 or so. Felt SOOOO good after the stress of the last several weeks. Then Jenny was able to talk Rhonda into coming in as well. First time she had ever been in a hot tub. Once she got in, she found out what she had been missing! Dave joined us as well. It was well after mid-night when we got out and everyone went home.
The day was filled with dancing, laughing, talking, singing, crying and hugging. Pefect! Couldn't have been better. So far, I'm loving being Mrs. McCausland. I'm a very lucky woman.
