A wedding is a touching ceremony for all involved. But when the bride's family is an especially emotional one - tears fall like rain. Our sister Kathleen married Ben Banta on November 13th, and you would have thought we really disliked Ben with all of the tears shed by Felice, myself, and the bride while walking down the aisle. We love Ben though! It is in our nature to get overwhelmed by emotion and boo hoo; even if hundreds of eyes are on us. However, the whole weekend was not a tearful one.

Kathleen's college friends from Texas flew in Thursday night to kick off the celebration. Along with a few of Ben's comrades, we consumed a most delicious down-home meal at Jaques-Imo's. After a night cap at The Bulldog, we took Mom's advice and came home early as a long weekend of celebrating was ahead of us.

Kathleen looked beautiful in her blue and cream suit for Friday's luncheon. An afternoon lunching with her aunts, friends, and cousins permitted Kathleen an opportunity to chat with those close to her, for she knew Friday night and Saturday would be a whirlwind of people she and Ben would want to talk with.

The rehearsal dinner wasn't long enough!! Seeing so many people from our past and present in one room was overwhelming. This was just a preview of what the wedding would be like! The toasts were funny and profound, and of course we cried then, too.

Many people find the reception to be the pinnacle of a wedding. Unable to be heard in the back of the church, the ceremony (especially a Catholic one) can seem long and just a stepping stone to the party afterward. Yet, beside the bride on the altar, I felt as if time had stopped, and I was witnessing a blessed event that I wanted to record in my memory forever. Yes, the party afterwards was a great one, but the ceremony itself was beautiful and life changing not only for Kathleen and Ben. Witnessing two people committing to each other in front of a church full of loved ones is stirring, especially when it is your sister. This is more than just a new chapter in their lives; it is the beginning of Act II.

And on a side note... a whole new bead was born with this wedding. The Kathleen bead looks like a calla lily, and it looked great with her dress! Although we will never replicate the wedding necklace we made for her, we are making fun new pieces with the Kathleen beads. Be looking for them on the website...