Devin Gets Married
Today is the wedding day for my cousin, Devin Cass. She’s actually the daughter of my cousin Mary Ann Cass … which makes her my second cousin, I think. Anyway, she married a man she’s been dating for the last five years — they grew up in the same town, and today was the happy day.
Devin and her dad Steve Cass came in to the solemn ceremony, complete with Devin crying and Steve stoic.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyTRvbhAPAQ[/youtube]
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The Methodist minister who married them said this was a first in his 25 years of ministry: the marriage to two people he’s known since they grew up as children in his church. It was a lovely ceremony with lovely music, Corinthians 1:13 (always a favorite); the standard exchange of vows, gift of rings (by the cutest little ringbearers imaginable) and prayers.
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The minister then added a new twist: He had each of Harrison and Devin write a small essay about the other to give to the minister, who didn’t share anything until today. Then he took their words and wove it into an interesting description of their relationship and what they care about. Harrison talked about how much he grew to appreciate Devin when he accompanied her to a family reunion in South Dakota. I don’t know Harrison, but everyone talks about how steady and trustworthy he is. A fine character, to be sure.
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Here is the couple leaving the church:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW91uRKsUjc[/youtube]
The church was two blocks from the Inn where we stayed and the reception was right across the street. We went immediately to the reception — Heather and Max in the lead (with a stop by Max to check out the horses that were going to take the bride and groom over to the reception):
At the beginning of the reception, we didn’t know anyone other than Devin’s parents, Steve and MaryAnn Cass, who were very, very busy with all their guests. Dallas Green (Devin’s older sister) was there with her husband Larry, and her son Connor (age 4, and one of the cute ringbearers). Our last trip to Blacksburg was 7 years ago when we came to Dallas’ and Larry’s wedding.
Here is the presentation of the entire wedding party and the “traditional first dance” of the bride and groom.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2T1mRt9xUE[/youtube]
Immediately thereafter was the dance of the “father of the bride and the bride.” I talked with Steve later and confessed that I think I’ll be more emotional if/when my baby girl gets married. He is really a stalwart, doubly so given the pain he’s dealing with owing to a pinched nerve in his back. Steve is one stong person, that’s for sure!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaPSl9ufEi0[/youtube]
Diane and I met Doug Jacob’s new wife Carol. I didn’t get much time with her, but she seems really nice, and Doug is, well, the same twinkle-in-the-eye rascal that endeared him to my mother, who really loved Doug and his brother Ed.
It was too bad that Ed and his lovely bride Karen couldn’t make the festivities, but he had to remain in Louisiana for the opening of LSU’s Fall semester on Monday. (Ed is dean and has to be there, said Doug.)
Here is a picture of the four of us:
We left before the DJ put on the hot stuff for the youngin’s — fully appreciative of the circle of life that keeps on turnin’ … from the time in Leavenworth, KS when we first met Devin … my guess is that she was maybe two at the time … to when she was a teenager (at Devin’s wedding) and now, in full flower of young womanhood, happily embarking on her life as a married woman. A wonderful day, that’s for sure.
