It's legal and everybody's happy!

 

Carl did his job but was a mess of anxiety the whole ceremony.  Doggos can tell when "something's happening", and he's been seeing suitcases come out at home.  We played pass the leash, and shuffle the coats on and off for photos.  Some with the dog, some without.  

The ceremony itself was brief, which was a blessing outdoors as the windchill was in the 30's.  The officiant gave the little speech about talking with the couple about their first date (at a dog park), the couple's willingness to take chances and support one another through life.  

Lacey (the bride) read a poem (I know there was a thing about finding the name of the originator, as it was attributed to someone else... go, Internet!), Jon (the groom) read from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Two Towers, then they exchanged the vows they wrote themselves, which were very touching.  

Carl wanted to get to his people.  So that others might hear, I stepped out of the little grouping to pet him while Rosa (wife of the Best Man) was holding the leash.  He was quiet as long as he was being continuously stroked.  Good boy.

The bride and groom dropped the ringbearer back at home before coming to the "after party" dinner.

The Reverend Amy came to the Wedding Dinner after with us, and the Best Man gave a lovely speech about how he's known the groom for 17 years and this is the happiest he's ever seen him (his mother, who's known the groom for 38 years agrees).  There is so much hope and love around this match!

Saturday it's on to the reception for wider family and friends.  

Clockwise from the top:

Father of the bride, Groom, Bride, Man of Honor, empty chair (Rev Amy took the photo), Mother of the Groom, Best Man, Mrs. Best Man, Mother of the Bride.  The only person who was not at dinner but was there in the shivering cold doing yeoman's work is the photographer whose work we'll see later.  And Carl, of course.  The bride wrote his photo caption, btw.  And no, NOBODY ever outshines a bride!

And Life is Good!  Spark on!