Sunday, July 23, 2006

My Little Brother's Wedding

Yesterday my brother got married to his long-time sweetheart, Kira.

The wedding took place in a serene corner of their backyard in Port Alberni, underneath the branches of a tree hung with paper lanterns and colourful prayer flags and beside a little Zen garden and pond.

(The Chinese stone lantern in the garden was a wedding present from me and Jeff, arriving shortly before the ceremony.)

There is something so sweet and natural about backyard weddings, especially when you're rather fond of the people getting married.

Kira looked beautiful and relaxed in a turquoise silk Tibetan wedding dress, while my brother wore a bemused grin for most of his wedding.

Sasha the dog, acting as a sort of furry flower-girl, rested between them on the grass with one paw on the bride's foot and one paw on the groom's until the marriage commissioner told them it was time to take each other's hands for their vows. Sasha, on her best behaviour, moved a foot or two away while her people exchanged silver rings carved with native frogs and moons.



They picked probably the hottest weekend of the summer to get married, but fortunately it was not one of those wedding where crowds of people sweat in uncomfortable formal wear through a long sermon in the summer heat: we were a small casually dressed lot of close family who could easily fit under the shade of one tree. It was lovely.

I have to say I became unexpectedly misty-eyed as they were pronounced married, and was still sniffling a little as I signed the registry as a witness. My brother later told me that he cried at my wedding too, fourteen years ago.

"No, you did not!" I said in disbelief.

"I did!", he replied.

Adam was eighteen at my wedding. I have to say I'm rather touched. :)

I've been to many weddings over the years, and more and more I prefer these non-formal affairs. There is simply less streess involved. Years ago, I remember a friend from high school getting married. Her guest list was near three hundred, her gown rivalled Princess Di's...and she became so anxious about the things that might go wrong, required a tranquillizer before she could enter the church. Fun, huh?

At Adam's wedding, there was thankfully no stress wasted on worrying about wedding etiquette. For instance, filling in for the bride's traditional removal of her garter, Adam did remove the bottoms of his zippered pants to turn them back into shorts. It was freakin' hot today.


Later in the evening friends of the bride and groom arrived with their children and dogs. More food was added to the tables already groaning with the weight of a seafood and salad and BBQ buffet. Apple pie and cheese-cake were devoured. Much beer and lemonade was quaffed.

People chatted and picnicked in the garden. Babies toddled around. The dogs played. A haphazard game of bocce ball broke out as the sun went down.

I got to know Kira's family a bit--they all seemed really nice. And I discovered that Kira's mom reads our blogs. "You're Spider Girl, right?", she said. Why, yes...yes, I am. :)

Heh, how about that?


Before my family left, Adam gave me some batchelor button plants from his garden for mine.... By the way, brother, your garden looked fantastic for the wedding.


19 comments:

kimber said...

Many congratulations to the happy couple!

Heather said...

Backyard weddings are much nicer than the stuffy formal types. The flowers were very pretty - it sounds like it was a wonderful day.

Pol* said...

How WONDERFUL!!!!! The wedding suits what I know about him perfectly. Congrats and long life filled with laughter for the newlyweds! Thanks for sharing the event with everyone through your pictures and words.

adman said...

so hoow about emailing some of those photo's...I'll be out on me honeymoon for a couple of nights..but it would be good to see some shots when I get back...sorry for breaking all your hearts girls.

Mz.Elle said...

Ohh how beautiful!
We had a similar wedding 12 years ago.
I love those rings. I have a killer whale/ sun one,bought in Tofino:)

Congratulations!

Tai said...

Congratulations!

Dagoth said...

Hi Spider

My one brother had a similar wedding on his 3rd (yikes) marriage, The ceremony was down on a beach by Lake Erie and the reception was in his in-laws back yard. Everyone wore loud Hawaiian Shirts...

Kellie said...

Sounds like a great, low-stress event! Congratulations to your brother and his wife.

Thanks for the comment on my blog... the LASIK surgery went great!

x said...

congratulations and warm wishes! what a beautiful, intimate wedding.

Josh said...

What an awesome wedding! The pictures are fabulous and your description made me feel like I was there. Loved all the colors, and the dog is just adorable. Very unique and beautiful.

Momo said...

It sounds (and looks) like it was a wonderful, lovely wedding. It is my philosophy that all weddings should be stressfree. If it's the right thing to do - why stress about it?

nicki said...

sounds like a PERFECT wedding :) the kind i would want if i EVER decide to get married :)

JM said...

Congrats to the couple!!

Eric said...

Congratulations to Adam and Kira!!

I hate large overblown weddings. People put so much effort into the trivial details, they lose sight of why they are there in the first place. It's supposed to be a celebration!

Spider Walk said...

What a perfect day!
Congrat's to the new couple :)

Taradharma said...

this sounds like the perfect wedding to me...lots of love, relaxed, casual setting, fun! i love that your brother unzipped his pant legs - too too funny!

they sound like a lovely couple of people who are making a sweet life together.

Anonymous said...

Hi Spider Girl, It was nice to get to know you a little too, and we're looking forward to the disc with all your pictures on it. The ones you posted are lovely. I'll send you my pix soon as I get them downloaded and burned onto a disc.
Until next time,
Kira's Mom Karen

Wiski said...

I ran away to Vegas when I got married....and I had a GREAT wedding! I personally love personal affairs. If love is the reason..they who needs all the rest?

Anonymous said...

Hi...I found your blog by my statistics and someone finding mine in some sort of hap hazard..."sounds+like+a+perfect+wedding" way. The wedding sounded great. Nice to read you.

Mercy