For the Rest of my Life

Since I was a little girl I’ve loved looking through my parent’s wedding album, and since their 44th wedding anniversary is this month I thought I’d share some of my favorite photos.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - MomMy mom made her own wedding dress, but my grandma picked out the crown and veil. Mom said she never liked the crown but I think she’s beautiful in it. I could be biased, but I don’t think so.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Mom, Betty and GrandmaHere are my grandma, mom and aunt. My mom has always regretted not having her older sister as a bridesmaid also, but Sharon was on the heavier side and it “just wasn’t done” back then. I’m glad times have changed!

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Walking up the AisleGrandpa looks so handsome (and dapper) in his suit with the narrow tie. Although it’ll be nineteen years this fall since he died it sometimes feels like just last week. I still miss him terribly.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Mom & DadMy dad looks like the stereotypical 1960s clean-cut all-American guy. He looks like he should be wearing a letterman sweater.

 

The photographer took a great sequence of photos after the service:

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Exiting the Church

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Turning Toward Each Other

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - The Kiss Think they’re just a little happy to be married?

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Dad's FamilyThis is my Dad’s family. (My grandparents don’t usually look so weird – maybe they were in shock from the wedding??) I love my grandma’s matchy-matchy hat, earrings and gloves – it’s so ’60s!

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Mom's FamilyMy Mom’s family – again with the 1960s hats. Everyone thinks of hippies and “Flower Children” when they think of the ’60s, but I think the gloves and hat are more typical of “everyday” people.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Both FamiliesHere are both sets of parents with the bride and groom. Notice how both of my grandma’s have hats and shoes that match their dresses? My dad’s mom even has matching gloves and purse. I never asked Mom if my grandma’s chose aqua to coordinate with the bridesmaids or not, but I’m guessing they did.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - MomThis is my all-time favorite photo from my parent’s wedding. I especially love the look on my dad’s face – he still gets that expression when he looks at my mom.

I’d asked Princess and Cowboy’s photographer to do a similar thing for them but she didn’t know how. I’m guessing it could be done with layers in Paint Shop Pro, but haven’t taken time to try yet.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - ReceptionThis is what a small-town Wisconsin wedding reception looked like in 1966. The two older couples on the near end of the table are my mom’s grandparents. I’m guessing Great Grandma wore aqua on purpose too. There’s a LOT of aqua in the crowd! The family-lover in me enjoys picking out familiar faces at the tables, while the history-lover is fascinated with the clothing, shoe and hair styles.

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Rings by CakeAnother of my favorite photos. I think Teacher and I had a similar one taken at our wedding; I’ll have to dig out our album and look.

Oh my goodness – are those little cupids on the cake? In all the many, many times I’ve looked through their wedding album I’ve never noticed that until today. Eeep!

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - Cutting the CakeA familiar wedding tradition; cutting the cake. The knife they used was a “favor” from one of my mom’s sorority formals.

Another of her sorority “favors” that I thought was really cool was a lamp with the sorority letters on it. Yes – they got lamps for formal! When I was in college our formal “favors” were wine glasses, shot glasses, beer glasses… It’s interesting to consider the sub-conscious implications of a lamp and cake cutting knife vs the implications of booze glasses, isn’t it?

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding - SilhouetteMy mom and dad’s “song” is a familiar one by Anne Murray. Whenever I hear it I think of them dancing in the kitchen to my dad’s off-tune humming:

“I’ll always remember the song they were playin’,
The first time we danced and I knew,
As we swayed to the music and held to each other,
I fell in love with you.

Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner every night?
When we’re together, it feels so right.
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?”

 

Mom and Dad's Wedding “I’ll always remember that magic moment,
When I held you close to me.
‘Cause we moved together, I knew forever,
You’re all I’ll ever need

Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner every night?
When we’re together, it feels so right.
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?”

 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad, and may you be blessed with many, many, more happy years together.

Amy Sue

3 Comments

  1. This is so wonderful. My mom and dad have been married over 50 years now. It’s going on 57. Small wedding. Church basement for reception.

    I didn’t realize they had weight requirements for bride’s maids back then. I suppose. Ever see “Mona Lisa, Smile”? That’s that period to a T.

    I sent the link to my mom. I hope she can open it up.

    Someday, I’m going to find a great man who will have that certain look for me, instead of glaring all the time. You seem to be lucky that way, too. You’re very lucky.

    • Karen,

      Thanks for taking time to comment!

      From what my mom said it sounds like the bridesmaid thing was more of an unspoken “rule” than anything else. She always felt bad for not bucking the trend at the time. I haven’t seen “Mona Lisa Smile” yet but will add it to my “Movies I Want to See” list.

      I certainly am very lucky to have Teacher! I hope you find your someone special someday too.

      ~Amy Sue

  2. That’s so cute! What great photos – you have a really adorable family.

    I found your site when I was googling 60’s flower hats – my mom recently gave me my grandmother’s hat, similar to your grandmothers’ aqua hats, and I was trying to decide how I was going to wear it. Really enjoyed looking at all these photos!

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