Oldest Daughter is Getting Married in 6 weeks!!!

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by DianaB

Can she not stay where she is until he gets back home? It would probably be easier and safer for her then she can move when he gets back home.

Diana, they actually talked about this, but with the uncertainty of when he will be deployed, they don't want to be apart. What's the point of being married if they can't be together. If he is deployed, at the end of the semester, she will take summer off from school and come back to Texas for the summer. He's with the Marines, and their deployments are usually 7 months or less. She could be home 3 of the 7 months. There is so much uncertainty right now with troop levels over there, who knows what will happen.

We're concerned about what effect a deployment will have on him. We've heard some not so good stories about the guys when they return. He's a very nice young man though. Hopefully he will handle things well, or won't be in a position to see too much of the bad things. Being a medic though, it could get rough.

[2tiredmom]

Congrats Marilyn. Enjoy and post lots of picture.

[Gina]

Marilyn I overlooked this post. I am soo happy to read this post.. Wow your daughter is getting married soon. I know that your doing everything that you possibly can to make this wedding so special. Her gown sounds beautiful and the man that she is marrying sounds like a great guy and he is getting a wonderful wife too.

My best to you and your family , God bless and watch over him while he is away. Congratulations and we do expect lots of pictures when the day comes.. Good luck !

[judy]

Congratulations Marilyn! This is so exciting! I'm sure he is a wonderful young man, and that they will be very happy for many, many years to come. I will be praying for his safety during his deployment. I have always admired the Marines. It speaks so well of his character.

What a whirlwind wedding! I'm sure it will be perfect. Enjoy the planning, and post pictures along the way, if you can.

Take a deep breath every now and then, Marilyn!

Love and hugs to you

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Diana, they actually talked about this, but with the uncertainty of when he will be deployed, they don't want to be apart. What's the point of being married if they can't be together. If he is deployed, at the end of the semester, she will take summer off from school and come back to Texas for the summer. He's with the Marines, and their deployments are usually 7 months or less. She could be home 3 of the 7 months. There is so much uncertainty right now with troop levels over there, who knows what will happen.

We're concerned about what effect a deployment will have on him. We've heard some not so good stories about the guys when they return. He's a very nice young man though. Hopefully he will handle things well, or won't be in a position to see too much of the bad things. Being a medic though, it could get rough.

I was just concerned about Karen being so far from home and mostly alone. I'm sure that they've talked everything over and have planned out the best thing for them. I wish them all the best.

I know that you're worried about his deployment and the effects it could have. Just keep him covered in prayer. My new SIL was over there and did some fighting and he had some problems when he and Dae Lynn first got married but we've prayed for peace and for the nightmares to go away and, praise the Lord, they have gotten so much better. The Fourth of July is really hard on him with the fireworks going off so they usually spend the night out here. I hope that he's in a place where he doesn't have these kinds of problems.

[Marilyn]

Thank you all for your so kind words. Everything so far is falling into place. We interviewed two florists today and they both had very nice ideas to accomplish the look that Karen wants. Her bridesmaids are wearing black and will carry white and ivory flowers, probably roses with some other white accent flowers and touches of light green with black and green ribbon wrapping the stems. Karen will carry a mixture of ivory and pink roses with either white hydrangia or white orchids and white berry accents with light greenery. The stems will be wrapped with antique white ribbon and pearls.

We went to look at the church building at 6:30 this evening to see how it would look at night, and a family was there decorating it for a wedding tomorrow, so we got to see it all lit up and decorated their way. The building, being so old and historic though a very simple design, is decoration in itself. It has an old piano at the front in one corner and a pump organ in the other. The only decorations we are going to use inside are some ivory candle groupings on the piano and organ. Not the tall thin candles, probably ones that are 3" in diameter and at different heights. They had pew bows, an arch and two candelabras, but Karen is more for simple and elegant. Karen will have a matron of honor (Melissa) and 3 bridesmaids, so with the men, there will be 8 people plus the bride and groom at the front. She feels that the people and the flowers they will carry and few candles are decoration enough. We will decorate the railings on the steps and the porch in front. It's not a big porch, so a little greenery, a few ivory silk roses and some ribbon will be enough.

We are also working on the decorations for the hall. To decorate the dining tables, we rented white linen table cloths and for centerpieces we are using old style embossed square metal ceiling tiles that we are painting black. On the tiles we will place a 3" dia., 8" tall ivory candle with a pink or white silk lily laying at the base of the candle with a couple of smooth river rocks. The tables are 8' x 30" so between the centerpiece and each end, there will be some kind of container with the smooth river rocks and some tiny green silk wax flowers. For a table runner under the centerpieces we hope to use ribbon about 3" wide. We will alternate black and light green ribbons on the tables.

For flowers on the cake and punch table, we will use clear glass vases with some ivory and green ribbon tied around them and put the bridal bouquet and bridesmaids flowers in the vases. We did this at Melissa's wedding and it gave the girls a place to put their flowers and saved us buying more flower arrangements.

We're feeling better about everything. God's providence has been so evident in our lives lately that all we can do is pray and have faith that all will be well for our soon to be newlyweds. All Karen wants is a simple but nice wedding with her family and close friends and to be his wife. She has a very strong faith in God that grounds her. What more can we want!?

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by DianaB

I was just concerned about Karen being so far from home and mostly alone. I'm sure that they've talked everything over and have planned out the best thing for them. I wish them all the best.

Diana, thank you so much for your concern. They want to live in our RV to save money so we are moving it to California for them. There is an RV park on base where we would like for them to be, but right now it is full. They are on the waiting list. The park they will probably live in is one frequented by snowbirds with lots of amenities. It's a little higher than they want to pay, so we are going to subsidize it the amount over what the standard RV park rent is so she will be in a more secure location. She has decided that if he is deployed prior to the end of the Spring semester, that as soon as the semester ends, she will move back home until he returns. We may be moving the RV back and forth a bit, but that's why they are on wheels.

[judy]

The flowers and arrangements sound beautiful! So elegant, Marilyn. I hope it continues to go as smoothly as it has.

I'd love to see pictures!

[gja1000]

Marilyn, I can tell from pix you have posted (Christmas, etc) that you have a real "flair" for decorating so I just know that everything will be beautiful!!!

[Blueyes]

It sounds wonderful Marilyn! It's refreshing to hear of a young woman more focused on her marriage than her wedding. I know you must be so proud of her!

[DianaB]

Oh Marilyn, I'm so happy to hear that everything is running smoothly!! It sounds so beautiful!! You'll have to post pictures!!! It certainly sounds like Karen knows what she's wanting! I love soft and romantic weddings.