THE WEDDING

Shane and Jess are married! And I am so thrilled. The family he is now a member of are some of the greatest people I know. I know that he and Jess will have so much support of love and guidance as they make their life as husband and wife. The McParlands and Regans are wonderful and gracious people. And so are the Weirs and Kaufmans (Jess's sisters).

This is my first posting. Many more to come. This first posting is only about the rehearsal dinner and wedding. I still need to write about just the entire week and the ice cream sundae shower.

August 3rd (Monday) was the rehearsal dinner. We had it at a Mexican Restaurant in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Jack gave a very warming toast. So did Brent. Jessica's Dad McP and her father gave very nice toasts as well as her mom, Kathy. Oh, and five-year old Nathan told the best "knock knock" joke I've ever heard. Hot sauce bottles with Jess and Shane's name on them were given as favors. Sombreros were on the table and the younger kids got to take one home. The menu was a fajita buffet. Jess received a gift from the groom's parents of pearl ear rings and a watch. Shane received a gift of two watches (one for hiking and one for law school) and a nice backpack to use for school. In the back pack was Black's Law Dictionary and a book on legal writing. He got the backpack because in one of his Mexico pictures I noticed that he was still using the backpack he bought in Australia several years ago. It looked pretty worn out. I guess that wasn't really a wedding gift, just something he needed.

After the rehearsal dinner everyone came back to the Orr chalet for a wedding shower. Jessica and Meghan hosted it and we enjoyed wonderful ice cream sundaes. She got some wonderful gifts! I will have pictures from that later.

Wedding Day was August 4th (Tuesday). Shane went out on a run and I could tell he was getting a little nervous. Gary, Shane and I took Anna Claire to a little amusement park. It was hot and we didn't stay very long. Everyone else in the family was out sight-seeing.

The rehearsal practice was at 3:00 p.m. and Mother, Shane, Brent and I went to that. We all had to be at the wedding chalet by 4:00 p.m. Anna Claire decided she did not want to get dressed. She cried (i.e. screamed) and I felt so sorry for Jessica. We really didn't know what to do because Shane was the only one who knew the way. Finally, she agreed to put on her dress but not her pretty headband. Technically, Shane was late to his own wedding.

The ceremony was breathtaking. Brent and Shane walked out on the chalet deck/porch and then Jess walked out. You could hear the gasp of the people sitting under the tent. She was the most beautiful bride! Just so stunning! But....Jess was facing the sun and she was blocking the sun from Brent and Shane. Hot doesn't even describe how she must have felt. Her wonderful grandmother got up and walked over to Jess and handed her some kleenex. Her dress was beaded and was gorgeous.

I glanced over at Gary and tears were coming down his face. Later he explained that he had just realized that both of his sons were on the deck. Brent, the oldest, was marrying Shane, the youngest. You have to watch the video to really see how awesome Brent was. I kinda wish I was marrying again (to Gary) just so Brent could perform the ceremony.

Mother (Nana) and Jess's grandmother (Mrs. Regan) played a very special part in the wedding. Both of them read either a scripture or a poem and I thought it was so sweet.

Shane's grandmother (Mrs. Carey) and Jess's grandmother (Mrs. Regan)
Johnny, my brother-in-law, video taped the wedding and William handled the music. Nathan passed out programs before the wedding. Even Meghan had a job. She dropped flowers around the deck. Dropped isn't the correct word but I don't know how to describe it. Jason and George copied pictures on memory cards to the engraved "Jess and Shane" flash drives for everyone.

The reception was very festive and fun. On the tables was a flash drive with Jess and Shane's name engraved on them. Everyone that had cameras was able to give the memory card to Jason and George and they downloaded pictures on the flash drives. I thought that was the neatest idea. The tables were decorated with beautiful orchids. The tables had a white tablecloth with a lavender runner. Small votive candles were placed around the centerpieces. Shane and Jess sat at the head table and they had their favorite wine, Frosty Dog, and silver engraved wine glasses. The silver engraved wine goblets were a gift from the groom's parents. Shane made the cheesecake for the two of them. I'm not sure what the story is but there is a story involving cheesecake.

I didn't know Johnny and Gary could dance like they did! Who knew that Johnny had knee replacement surgery not long ago and just two months ago Gary had knee surgery. Even Bennett and Nathan got in on the break dancing. Bennett only had to watch Nathan one time and then he was break dancing. He would sit on the floor and then turn himself around over and over. Anna Claire and McKenzie were out on the floor dancing also. Gary danced with Jess and performed a few moves that I'm worried his back may be going out now! ha! I had my dance with Shane and it will probably be my last one dancing with him. I'm not sure he wanted to but the pressure was on.


Johnny was video taping the wedding and reception but you can tell when the video just ends. He couldn't stand it any longer. He got rid of the camcorder and hit the dance floor! (with Gary!)

I even found out that Charles is very talented. He can dance, hold a child in one hand and a cup and saucer in the other and never drop either one! I think the highlight of the reception was Nathan singing a beautiful song to Jess.

I know the McParland's think Jess married into an Arkansas hillbilly family. My mother had on a beautiful outfit...just one problem/issue. When she bought the outfit there was a theft device attached the side of the pants. The sales clerk didn't detach it from the outfit. She told and showed it to me after she got dressed. I prayed that Shane's new family would not see it. Oh no....Mom showed it to EVERYONE at the wedding. And, then there's Johnny and Gary. After a few (?) glasses of wine they were all over the dance floor line dancing. Only the theft device would happen to Nana!

After everyone in Shane's family got home after the wedding we had a good laugh over mother's outfit. I told her that probably everyone there thought she was a thief.

Jess's parents really did an awesome with this job. Kathy started planning the minute Shane and Jess told us they would get married at the end of the summer. She had a very short timeframe and worked constantly, daily. So did Charles. I also know the sisters were a huge help. Jess, I know, realizes how fortunate she is. Her parents gave her a beautiful wedding, one that she'll remember for the rest of her life. Thank you Kathy and Charles...because by giving your daughter a beautiful wedding, you also gave my son a beautiful wedding. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The slideshow below is of the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception. Click on a picture to make it larger. Once you get to the last picture click on "View All" so that you can see the pictures at the beginning of the slideshow.