There will be a 30th anniversary celebrated in our parsonage this month! It’s truly hard to believe! When I look back on our wedding I remember that it was simple, yet beautiful. I had a very limited budget. My parents had paid for my schooling; I paid for my wedding. They did purchase my cake, which helped this young school teacher’s finances! We just kept things minimal. We had candles, flowers, and a good photographer. My twin sister let me wear her wedding gown.
We were surrounded by our family and friends that we loved and they watched and witnessed as we vowed before God to live together and love each other in good times and bad, for better, for worse. We’ve experienced both, of course – the good and the bad, but with the Lord’s help we’ve weathered the storms and have come through the hard times closer to the Lord and one another.
The only funny thing that happened at our wedding was when my father-in-law (who performed the ceremony) told me to put Dale’s ring on the third finger of his right hand. He obediently stuck his right hand out there, so I pushed slipped the ring onto the extended appendage, then during prayer, Dale worked to get it off. I had visions of it flying across the sanctuary! However, it would not budge. After we walked down the aisle as husband and wife, he slipped into the restroom and, using soap and water, was able to place it on his left hand. Oh, we also left for our honeymoon without signing our marriage license. Oops!
That was 30 years ago. We’ve added some wrinkles and gray hair, but also more love to our relationship than we thought was possible on the day we said “I do.” Staying together isn’t always easy, but it’s wonderful to be at this stage of our relationship. We know each other so well. We are comfortable with one another. We have become stronger individuals because we draw off of one another’s strengths.
My advice for any young couple would be:
1. Decide right now to stay together no matter. Never use the word divorce.
2. Don’t stop dating and doing fun things together after marriage. Carve out time for each other each week.
3. Don’t focus on things. You won’t have what your parents have now. Doing without things will only help your relationship because it will make you depend on the Lord.
4. Pray for your husband and with him every day.
5. Don’t go to bed angry. Get it resolved before you go to sleep.
Marriage is a blessing. How thankful I am for the husband the Lord gave me. How long have you been married and what funny thing happened at your wedding? I’d love to hear about it!
With love,
RefreshHer 
Denise, can you hear me laughing? I remember the excitement of praying your wedding cake would hold together in the heat of the gym. It seemed to continue slipping ever so easily.
Because my family was in SC, and Steve and I were getting married in IN, a precious lady offered her big Victorian home for my family to use.
August 9, 1980 was HOT!! Along with hairdryers, electric curlers, taking showers, (me soaking in a tub of cool water), we had fans blowing in every room.
POW!
EVERYTHING turned OFF.
The fuse box had blown, and there were no fuses to be found.
We all grabbed everything and drove to the church to get ready in it's cool basement.
Steve and the men were waiting outside next to the church. When it was time for them to go to the room next to the baptismal, they discovered the door was locked. They pounded and knocked and yelled for someone to unlock the door. Little did they realize they were at the side door of the sanctuary and everyone inside could hear them carrying on. Imagine their shock when someone opened the door and they were facing a church full of people.
Right before the ceremony, it was discovered my beautiful bouquet (Bible and roses) was left at the house. My ingenious Aunt Betty ran to the office and taped her coursage to the top of our marriage liscense. She was right… no-one noticed as I carried it down the aisle.
Our wedding cost a total of $300. Yes, I borrowed my sisters dress, the bridesmaids all borrowed dresses, and the men wore suits. For the reception, we had a homemade cake and mints, fancy nuts, and a fountain that was “supposed” to flow punch. Plugging it in didn't even help.
BUT! Here we are ready to celebrate our 31st (?!?)wedding anniversary, and this summer Steve and I celebrate knowing each other 46 years!
That's pretty awesome~ Debby
PS Though so much seemed to go wrong that day, God used the service to bring 2 New York cousins to Himself!
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Oh yeah! That cake was another problem! Those southern summer weddings can create some interesting issues!
Thanks for sharing your stories. So funny about Steve pounding on the door! I love hearing that cousins were saved bc of your wedding. With an ending like that who cares what went wrong!
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