This is the first time I have sat down in my writing recliner in over a week. It feels good to be back in my spot with Summer patrolling the perimeter before settling in near me.
To be honest, the last 8-10 weeks feel like a dream. The stress, the worry, the tears, and the grief of the medical situation juxtapositioned with the joy, the excitement, the exuberance, the thrill of planning a wedding, blended in with a couple of thousands of miles of travel to get to hospitals, hotel rooms, and doctor’s visits have turned into an enormous mental and emotional blur.
But thankfully, all the blurriness of those days led us into the most beautiful clarity of a day celebrating the love of two amazing people and that makes every mile and every tear worth it.
They exchanged their first message on an online Christian dating site on May 22, 2020 and got married exactly a year later. How cool is that?
Since I know everyone is most interested in pictures of the couple, so I’ll share a few more.
I posted this photo on FB and it has quickly turned into everyone’s favorite. (Photo by Kay Daniels.)
Pure joy.
A Mom and Dad Smit hug after Steve saw Sarah for the first time. (These are Meagan’s photos.)
Meagan made my corsage; her dad did all the other floral arrangements.
Pure sweetness.
Love this woman. She put in more hard work and heart and energy than anyone could possibly imagine to pull off the last week of preparation and the wedding itself without working it tag team with her sister, Kristin.
We were able to use the grounds of the home of an acquaintance of ours for the photos.
The day was absolutely pristine and the loveliness unmatched–both in surroundings and the people captured in those surroundings.
My friend, Lorrie, took this one at the reception.
They are eating off of antique china previously owned by Sarah’s great-grandmother. The goblets were made by Gage’s mom, Casey.
And it all started here.
Stay tuned for much more!
Dear Becky,
All the pictures look so lovely. It looks like it was such a lovely day.
How many guests were there?
I hope you and Steve are having a nice weekend and Sarah and Gage are enjoying their honeymoon.
Were did you and Steve had your honeymoon?
What type of OI does Gage has ? Type 1? I know there are different types.
Katrina,
In the service, there were probably about 150.
Steve and I also went to the mountains, very near to where Sarah and Gage went. (Although they didn’t know that when they planned their trip.)
I’m sorry; I don’t know the type of osteogenesis imperfecta Gage has.
The pictures are absolutely beautiful! I’m so happy Sarah and Gage were able to enjoy their day! You looked lovely and your dress was gorgeous. A great
Day all around and memories to last a lifetime!
Michele,
Memories to last a lifetime. Indeed!
Dear Becky, if anybody deserves to sit in a recliner after the emotional roller coaster you have been on – it’s you! I can’t imagine a more glorious wedding, and the pictures are sooooo beautiful! When you talk to the bride and groom, please tell them that they are in our thoughts as they enjoy this magical time of being newlyweds, just as you and Pastor Steve are in our thoughts as you (hopefully) take time to relax and reflect. Love, Fred & Lucy
Fred and Lucy,
In place of relaxing, we are spending a lot of time cleaning up and putting away. But we grab a chance to put our feet up whenever possible. Such a celebration of a wonderful love.
Just stopping by for a moment to see pictures! I commented with excitement when you announced the wedding theme, and I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED! It looks amazing. Sarah’s dress is so simple and elegant, and I love that Gage wore a top hat. Not every guy could pull that off, but he does so with aplomb!
How special that Dr. Driscoll could be there. I can only imagine that he’d love to attend the wedding of every patient he sees.
Hope the happy couple are settling in nicely. Living together for the first time is such an adventure. Even the hard parts feel like a revelation about the other person.
Thinking of you and Steve and your empty-again nest, as well.
Meredith,
Yes, top hats are not the usual thing but they didn’t want a usual wedding so it definitely worked to make it unique.
I like the idea of living together being described as an adventure. All sorts of new things to discover! And yes, for Steve and me, as well, as we start down the empty nest road.
Lovely! You look great- I love your dress…and your hair. Are you growing it out?
I just smile at all of the pictures! And I’m with everyone else- that is my fave pic, too!
Krista,
Yes, I’ve been growing it out but am thinking of cutting it back off. Not quite sure what direction to go. Thanks for the compliment!
“Pure joy,” indeed! They were so adorable throughout the entire ceremony. Sarah’s was understated, but still there for us to see. Gage couldn’t have done understated if he wanted to. It was so cute, when the pastor was praying, he kept opening his eyes to look at her, as if to check that this was really happening.
So much love and happiness, and so well deserved!
Jan,
No, there is not an understated bone in Gage’s body. I didn’t know he was peeking at her. That is funny!
Beautiful, beautiful. Not sure, but when I started reading your post, I thought all of us reading your blog went – ahhhhhh. A sigh of relaxation and loving thoughts of a daughter and now son-in-law. Yep, ahhhh!
Sharyn,
I am all about “Ahhhhs!”
The ‘Pure Joy’ photo says it all! The expression on Gage’s face expresses the love in his heart for Sarah. Your dress is beautiful Becky, excellent choice. Thank you for sharing with us.
Gloria,
Thanks for your compliment on the dress. I enjoyed wearing it. And yes, there was definitely joy all around!
The wedding was so perfect and seemed to suit Sarah and Gage perfectly. The love just radiated from both of them! I didn’t get to see it live, so missed Sarah walking in, but I’m sure it was as breathtaking as the rest of the wedding. We planned our daughter’s wedding in less than two months, and it was beautiful as well. What a blessing Gage has been to Sarah and to your whole family! Thanks for sharing with us!
Gayle,
Kudos to you for pulling off a wedding in two months. Who knew that they could be so complicated?
The professional version of the wedding will be posted when we get it and you can see the bridal march, as well.
All the HAPPY in these pictures just makes my heart “beep” for you all. Congratulations to Sarah and Gage.
Beth,
Love the idea of a heart beep instead of a heart beat!
Love, love, love the total happiness on Gage’s face. Beautiful pictures. I couldn’t watch as I was at my granddaughters dance recital but the pictures tell the story, Thank you for sharing them all. Lots of hands make light work my mother used to tell us, and many hands made it all work out for you too.
Best wishes to the newlyweds.
Wendy,
We had a HUNDRED hands working (or it felt like it!) and are so grateful for every single one of them.
What an amazing day for all of you! The photos I am sure don’t do it justice. Now, it is time for you to sit back and relax!
Nicole,
Trying to relax a little and work a little as we get things set back to where they should be. What a weekend!
The first picture really does say it all and totally captures the emotion of the day. Love it!! The flowers were all so beautiful. Kudos to Frank (and Meagan)!
The grounds for the pictures is really something. What a perfect setting! I was going to ask who officiated but saw Phyllis’s comment. He did a really great job! Thanks for taking the time to post and for sharing the pictures. Can’t wait to see more!! Take it easy and rest and indulge in some ‘me time’. You deserve it!
LeeAnne,
Echoing your kudos to Frank and Meagan. They truly put their hearts into their tasks.
Am looking forward to sharing the professional photos when we get them.
Beautiful pictures, beautiful bride! Sarah’s hair looked great. So many times brides think you have to have long hair in an updo for a wedding. Sarah definitely proved that wrong.
How special that Sarah’s uncle could officiate their wedding. I was worried Steve was going to escort her down the aisle then jump around to do the ceremony!
Phyllis,
I really loved her short hair, too. It suited the overall mood and the style of the dress.
The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. I watched it live and smiled, laughed and cried! So much love, happiness and thought went from planning till the final result. My daughter, Elizabeth, is engaged as of April 17. She and Zach met at Ocean Isle Beach and we met at Myrtle Beach. Her dad passed away from cancer in 2010 so she will honor his memory by getting married at the beach on his birthday which is August 21, 2021! So like you we are in the midst of planning a wedding with limited time! If you all can plan a wedding with everything you all had going on then I know we can too! I look forward to many more pictures!
Lynne
What a special thing to plan a wedding for that place and that date. Excited for you as you walk down the mother of the bride road.
Love all the special meanings: 1:43, May 22, the special song, the chine and goblet. All has so many special memories. My husband and I both have birthdays on the 24th of different months. I really wanted to be married on the 24th, but it was a Sunday…so we were married on the 23rd.
Patti,
Yes, it’s nice to have special items and ceremony elements to make a day unique.
At least you got married CLOSE to a birth date! Makes it a little easier to remember anniversaries. 🙂
I hurried home from the grocery store to watch the wedding and I so enjoyed it – it was all so beautiful and tear inducing – so happy for all of you!
Patti,
Thanks for making a speedy grocery trip just to see the wedding. Glad to have you in the “audience.”
Such a beautiful ceremony! We all are waiting for more and more pictures; however, please take a deep breath and relax for a few days. I can’t begin to imagine all the ups and downs you & your family have been thru in the past several months. But like you said, it was all worth it. Just look at those lovely pictures!!
Donna,
Deep breath? Relax? Sounds like a wonderful plan!
The ups and downs have definitely been a bit crazy lately.
What BEAUTIFUL photographs! such a memorable and happy and wonderful and joyous day, all captured in these gorgeous images. We watched the livestream as it aired, right to Sarah’s glorious entrance, and then later watched the rest of the ceremony, laughing and crying with you. Which I may have said already in a previous comment.. but never mind 🙂
Our love as always xxxxx
Teresa,
Once the professional wedding video is edited, I will post that so you can see the whole thing.
Absolutely gorgeous and filled with love.
Kathy,
Love makes everything gorgeous, doesn’t it?
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Be blessed, sweet family! You are all mightily loved by the community, the world, and mostly by God!
No other words necessary 🙂
Suzanne,
Definitely can feel that love and am grateful!
So so beautiful!
I’m so happy for you all!
Love, Tammy
Tammy,
Thanks to you and Steve for your generous and happy hearts. We appreciate your family!
Loving this all so much, Becky. Sarah’s dress! Absolutely stunning and you look beautiful! So glad for their beautiful day and that you are able to rest a little now. Wishing Sarah and Gage so many beautiful blessings as they start their life together.
Brenda,
We are so thankful Sarah felt so great on her wedding day; plenty of strength, stamina, and smiles as they start their life together.