Picture Perfect

What’s on the iPod: Everything by Michael Bublé

Meet my daughter and new son-in-law. On a picture-perfect day in an oak grove in Lancaster, PA, these two crazy kids agreed to marry each other.

Nothing marred the day — not weather, not stress, not anything. The day started early with a spa trip for hair and makeup, then back to the hotel for an unusual two hours free before we had to get dressed.

My daughter sent a text that the photographer had just arrived, so I went to her room. I didn’t expect it, but the second I saw the photographer snapping photos of my kid, who was still in her robe, I sobbed. That was just the beginning of the water works, too. Luckily, daughter had gifted me a Mother-of-the-Bride hankie. It was well used.

Time to head to the venue, which is a living history museum that preserves the German settlement town story. No limo for this girl — she opted to arrive in her own car, a 2001 Jetta with 228K miles on it.

She fusses on the right things, though. The grounds and the decorations in the barn where the reception was held were perfect. We hid her in one of the administration buildings until the photographer was finished with the men’s photo session. Then it was her turn.

After a ton of photos, it was time. We lined up behind the barn in a small courtyard, then the moms went out to await the big event.

I’d seen my daughter two minutes before. But when she came through that fence gate with her dad, I sobbed yet again. That might have created the domino effect — the bridesmaids were crying, too. In fact, I wasn’t sure they were crying because I was or because the groom was fighting back tears.

The ceremony was short, beautiful, and relaxed — just like these kids. The preacher is a sweet young woman who injected humor and an easygoing vibe to the whole thing. There were laughable moments — when my daughter finished saying her vows, he said quietly “Yay!”

And when they kissed, one of the groomsman ran in circles around them waving a big flag that said “Yay!” That was our cue: we each picked up our own, smaller flag and started waving.

Then it was time to party. And party we did.

Great food, great music, great time. There were hilarious moments — when the groom took a crowbar under her dress to find the garter, when the bridesmaid who’d caught the garter did a sexy dance around the groomsman (her boyfriend) before sliding it onto his leg, when the bride licked the cake off her new husband’s face….

The touching moments were constant and personal — the way they will remain. Suffice it to say there were tears of joy in every corner and love all through the building.

And family. Lots of family.

Her brother was a groomsman, his sister was a bridesmaid, her stepsister was a bridesmaid, his half brother a groomsman — blended families enhanced each moment in ways that only people who love you because they can and not because they have to can do.

Without a doubt, a beautiful, memorable day that reflected the bride and groom perfectly. My daughter gets the award for planning every detail to his and her version of perfection. It was warm, wonderful, and a celebration worthy of two special people.

Most of all, it was fun. The Best Selfie of the Day award goes to my stepdaughter, and it sums up the mood of the day perfectly.

Thumbs up to the happy couple.