Jean

Doug & I have been blissfully (lol) married for 23+ years....believe me, there have been trying times!! We have 3 beautiful children, a boy 22, and two girls 20 & 18 :) we have one grandson 1 year and a granddaughter due any day, literally any day!! I would not change anything for the world!! :))) This past weekend we attended an outside wedding that was done right down to the basics! Decorations were out of the bush, food was brought by everyone, and a pig & beef roasts were cooked in an open spit! It was soooo relaxing and enjoyable that it had Doug and I looking at each other and thinking...what were we thinking 23 years ago to end up doing our wedding in a church, and a hall??? that was sooooo not us!! So that night on the way home I said "ya know, our 25th is only 22 months away...how about we start planning the party for at our house and do the same kind of outdoor party?" Doug agreed and the next day we decided to also do a vow renewal! You see, we live on a river known as the Blanche River and Doug has always thought it would be nice if "someone" was to be coming down the river in a pontoon boat and got married right on our "shore" so I offered to be the "someone" lol. So on to the plans...lots of landscaping will be going into this weekend, hence the need to start so early to plan a basic vow renewal day. We need to tear down a building that is very old, so I will be using the boards off of it to make 2 ft candle holder centerpieces, I will also be using the boards to make some seats around our two trees in the yard. Flower beds will be made. I will be hanging mason jars around with sand and candles in them for dramatic lighting effects. I will be using the old boards to make an "arbour" for Doug and I to stand under to renew our vows. We have wonderful friends who have large tents to lend us from which I will be hanging silver billowing sheets to cover the sides. The food, besides the pig roast that Doug wants to have, will be pot luck and with each dish brought the owner is also being asked to bring the recipe to help compile a recipe book that I will compile afterward...and will make copies for all who request one. the music that we will have played during the ceremony has already been picked out. The song that we will dance to has been chosen. I need to find a DJ but I am sure one of my many nephews or nieces (I have 34 and counting) can help with that...lol I am trying to find the original dress material that my bridesmaids wore, to use for accent decorations. I have the one my flower girl wore but it was a lighter blue and the bridesmaids was dark blue. I have sooooo many ideas to do for the renewal that it is actually surprising my husband lol but like I told him...I am older, wiser and...have the benefit of the internet to see others ideas to help me!! :))) more to come :)