TIME WARP TUESDAY

It's been a while since I have played along with Jenn's Time Warp Tuesday.  Check in to see who else is sharing family photos and the stories behind them.

This was taken 29 years ago on our wedding day.  We had a late afternoon outdoor ceremony and a cocktail party style reception on the patio of a restaurant.

When we finally remembered to cut the cake it was getting dark!  It was a small, inexpensive wedding with no wedding planner to keep things on schedule.  My mom made my dress, a neighbor made the cake, my sister's friend was the photographer. I asked for no chrysanthemums in my bouquet - as you can see my request was not honored!!  No Pinterest fantasies in sight - but it took!

SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Tom and I were married on October 7, 1984. It wasn't the wedding of our dreams. We were so broke that our honeymoon was spent in my parent's Tahoe cabin, a place Tom didn't even like to visit.

He borrowed the money for his part of the wedding expenses, including the ring I still wear. No engagement ring.

My mom and I made my dress. It was pink silk with an ivory lace overlay. Our wedding colors were pink, violet and gray - very 80's. We had our wedding in a small park with a violin and flute playing music. The reception was on the patio of a restaurant next to the park. We had a DJ playing music and an open bar - my Dad's big splurge. We danced to the Beatles song "I Will" and Jackson Browne's song "Lawyers in Love."

My mom and I made little baskets with violets in them for the tables. Even though I asked the florist for no mums in my bouquet - it was mostly mums, but it was pretty. We planned a menu to be passed on trays as the reception was meant to be cocktail party style. The restaurant, instead, made a buffet so we ran out of food. That is why people hire wedding planners! Anyway, the cake was good - lemon with a basket weave design and violets.

My dad gave us some lovely toasting glasses which still reside in my china cabinet. Doves at the base of the stem. I am taking them to the restaurant we are going to tonight as a surprise for Tom.

We were watching some show about weddings and Tom surprised me by saying someday we should renew our vows and really "do it right." For 25 years I think we have been doing it right already. But I would never turn down a chance to celebrate that!

WHAT WERE YOU DOING 25 YEARS AGO?

The weather is turning, temperatures coming down. Chilly nights, sweaters in the morning. The trees are just barely showing a new yellowish tinge. It takes a long time for them all to drop their leaves in our mild, mixed messages climate. One day we have a high of 68 two days later is it 82.

When I was planning my October wedding I felt completely confident that I didn't need a rain plan. We held the ceremony and the reception outdoors. By the late afternoon start it was so warm the flowers we had decorated with were drooping, the ribboned strings of bells we had hung from the arbors were silent in the still, warm air.

Twenty-five years ago today, I met my mother-in-law for the first time. My friends and family were gathering. We had a casual "rehearsal" dinner in front of the TV - the baseball play-offs were heating up and we took pictures saying "Cubbies" instead of "cheese" in deference to our best man. (We were actually San Diego fans.) Twenty-five years ago today was my last day as a single woman. I slept in my childhood room that night.

The next day I was married at the foot of the Bufano sculpture shown here!