Melanie and Brad's Beautiful Wedding at Shady Wagon Farm!

Melanie and Brad got married on October 17, 2009 at Shady Wagon Farm in New Hill. It turned out to be a beautiful day with the sun occasionally peeking through the clouds and a gentle breeze. When Marty and I arrived for the wedding, one of the groomsmen was lamenting that he had walked out of his house leaving his jacket and tie for the wedding behind. It was too late for him to make a round trip back to get it. But, it turned out just fine because he was able to borrow Brad's stepfather's black jacket, and when Cindy Carroll, the owner of Shady Wagon Farm, heard about the dilemma, she quickly grabbed a red tie from her husband's tie collection for the groomsman. None of the guests ever suspected!
After the grandparents and parents were escorted in, it was time for Brad and his groomsmen and I to make our entrance, including Austin, Brad's 6 year old son, who was our ring bearer.
Then the bridesmaids in their pretty red dresses made their entrance and here we are waiting for the little flower girl, Aubrie, and then Melanie and her dad, Rob.

Here they come! Melanie was so beautiful as she floated down the long aisle.

You can see how lovely this setting is for a wedding. It is a good distance from where I am standing in the gazebo to the guests, so my sound system is a must. I always use it at Shady Wagon so all the guests can hear what I am saying.
See the pretty sky? I love the new paver aisle that Cindy had put in earlier this year. Cindy told me she plans to extend the pavers of the aisle to each side in front of the ramp to the gazebo making a T formation for weddings with many attendants, so the bridesmaids and groomsmen can stand there rather than crowd into the gazebo. The spacious red barn across the lake is where the guests are invited to go for the reception after the ceremony.
Melanie is a first grade teacher. She asked her students for their words of wisdom on being a good husband and wife. Christie, our bridesmaid with the microphone above, shared with us these funny things from the first graders. Three of my favorites: "Go with your wife on the honeymoon. Buy your wife a teddy bear. Give your wife a puppy and a kitten. When your wife has a baby all you have to do is go to the hospital. You spend the night then they put you to sleep. When the baby comes out wash it and then bring it home." Kids say the darnedest things!

We closed the ceremony with a blessing after the pronouncement of marriage.

And out they go--Melanie, Brad and their son, Austin!

What a handsome family! I wish you all the best in the world!

Melanie is simply radiant and happy and she has every reason to be!

This lovely cake is from Cake Dreams. The caterer was 9 Lyvz. The photographer was Heather Weisenreder of Sugarshots Photography. Unfortunately I could not find her website to link it to this site. Melanie's grandmother did all the flowers and they were spectacular. Friends of the couple supplied the music by teaming up into a string trio.