Sunny January Wedding for Natalie and Dale in my Wedding Garden!

Natalie and Dale emailed me on January 23rd to see if they could get married in my wedding garden--soon. We settled on January 30th at 3:00 in the afternoon, just one week later. As Natalie put it "we are way beyond the big white dress wedding" and were inviting just a few close family members. 

Monday January 30th turned out to be a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 50s--quite comfortable as long as the wind stayed away which it did. Natalie and her brother Jim wait on the deck for the signal to walk down the aisle.

Present at their wedding were Dale's mother Rose, Natalie's brother Jim and his wife Paula and their daughter Jimmi Anne, and Dale's cousin Steve who videoed the wedding on his iPad.

 After Jim gave his blessing on behalf of Natalie's family, Dale and Natalie turned and faced each other. 

 The view from my upper deck. The garden is still quite green despite it being January. 

I welcomed everyone, recognized each person there, then remembered those that could not be with us followed by a prayer and some words on love and marriage. Natalie and Dale both love dancing and had admired each other from afar until they literally met on the dance floor and became dance partners. It was only natural that their affection blossomed into a soft comfortable kind of love they celebrate this day. 

 After the vows they exchanged rings. Dale places Natalie's ring on her finger.

Natalie said the words "With this ring, I marry you and pledge my heart to you" and put the ring on Dale's finger. Then on behalf of everyone present I gave them a blessing.

 The pronouncement of marriage! 

I invited Dale to kiss his bride and he surely did. Right here I am saying that I did not have to prompt him to make the kiss long enough for us to get a photo of it!

 That sparked the laughter from everyone! 

 Introducing them to their families! 

Natalie and Dale, congratulations on your love and marriage! Thank you for choosing me to officiate. I loved having your wedding in my garden. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple. May you dance through life together forever!