Stefanie + Matt ...
Sometimes, we really can't believe our good luck.
We ended our 2007 wedding season exactly as we began it: on a crisp Saturday afternoon in the company of a couple who are very much in love.
Matt and Stefanie were married in the ballroom of the Mansion at Pine Knob on Saturday evening.
If you follow this blog, you will realize that this is the second time we've been to Pine Knob in about a month. While we had a gorgeous day for our October wedding, we were quite worried about what surprises Mother Nature might have been keeping in reserve for us for our November visit. We needn't have given it so much thought. The day was gorgeous, the light was beautiful, and Stef and Matt, along with their families, were a joy to be around.
There was much to love here. I could tell you about the shoes; the flowers; the cake ,or the beautiful pearls that Stefanie received from Matt as a wedding gift-- and all of those things were, of course, fabulous -- but what really stood out in our minds was the wonderful love that Stef and Matt share, and their absolute joy in being together. You could hear Stefanie's sparkling laugh in the halls of Pine Knob all afternoon. Matt never seemed to stop smiling, either. And when their pastor read a letter that Matt had written about his feelings for Stefanie, I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I have never heard the distinction between loving and being in love expressed so clearly or articulately.
The wedding date was a very significant one for Stefanie: it was the anniversary of several other weddings in her family, including that of her grandmother.
"Everyone who chose this day has had good luck," Stef told me.
It was easy to believe. That same grandmother was present at this wedding and, in addition to being a fabulous dancer, she was as sparkling and vibrant as the bride herself.
And so it was that Stefanie and Matt signed their marriage license in a room where her grandmother's wedding dress, the satin now turned gold with time, stood watch. They had a wonderful day, a wonderful party and we just have a feeling that they are on their way to a wonderful life. For us, it was an absolutely fabulous way to end what has been an already terrific year.
Stefanie and Matt, thanks so much for allowing us to share in the joy of your day. Here's a little glimpse of what we saw: