Jennie and Craig were married yesterday afternoon in a beautiful outdoor ceremony surrounded by their immediate families at a bed & breakfast in South Haven, Michigan. They planned every detail and it was beyond perfect. Even the weather cooperated with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70’s with a soft breeze.
Steve and I walked our daughter “down the aisle” following a path of fresh rose petals placed there by Craig’s nieces. 
I hung on to Jen’s elbow for dear life, balancing on those 3-inch heels. The gravel driveway slowed us right down to the slow pace required for such an important entrance. Once we got to the lawn it was much easier to walk, but the grass posed its own problems. Frequently, and yet unpredictably, my stilettos poked through the sod and I momentarily sank at a backwards angle into the soft dirt below. Jennie had her eyes on her beloved. I watched my feet trying not to catch my shoes in my hem and looking for “soft spots” as I aerated the soil.
I thought the tears would be over by time we handed her off to Craig. Up until that point I’d gone through half a box of tissue as we got ready and had some major waterworks before we rounded the corner and stepped onto the grass.
Jen became engaged with my mothers engagement ring and she would be married with my mother’s wedding band. She wore two strings of pearls, one belonging to my mother and one to my grandmother, for whom she was named. My eyes teared up every time I thought of how pleased my mother would have been to know that. And then if I let my mind linger there a nanosecond longer the tears totally leaked out of my eyes.
The ceremony was beautiful. I held her bouquet on my lap, my leaky eyes riveted to the drama of the moment. I watched in awe at the young woman we raised. Wasn’t it just yesterday I held her in my arms for the first time? She looked more beautiful than I have ever seen her. She radiated poise and confidence. The two of them looked so right together. Watching the emotion in their eyes, the tear rolling down her cheek, well, I lost it again. And so did everybody else!
After the ceremony was over we posed for photographs. With a professional photographer and the 9 adults clicking away with five cameras and seven smart phones, I think we pretty much covered every angle!
The marriage license was signed, we had a wonderful dinner together, visited, and then went to the beach to watch the sun set! What fun!
Hands down it was the best wedding ever! We could savor every moment, we had time to visit, get to know each others family, and celebrate without stress. Stay tuned for a future blog about the reception in 6 weeks. Meanwhile here are some pictures to watch.
Through The Eyes Of A Quilter 
Thank you for sharing your wonderful day with us. It sounds absolutely lovely. I choked up reading about it, I can only imagine your tears of wonder and joy. I wish them the very best in their shared life.
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Ami, she’s stunning! What a beautiful wedding. And you looked gorgeous! I love your dress! Looking forward to more. Best wishes for a long and happy life for the newlyweds. o:)
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What a lovely slideshow! The bride looked fine, but your dress, Ami, was DELICIOUS!!!!!
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Beautiful write-up and photos, Ami!! How wonderful for all of you. Please pass on my congratulations to Jenni and her husband!
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She is a beautiful young woman. And how special to be married with just the people you really love around you. That seems rare these days. Look forward to hearing the “dress story.”
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Ami–What a beautiful wedding. My favorite picture is the one of Jennie holding her bouquet—so, so gorgeous. I could feel the warmth & love–so very touching. Thank you so much for posting pictures so quickly, it was great to share in the happy day.
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Beautiful daughter, gorgeous son-in-law. and your handsome husband. How lucky can a person be?? And what a beautiful wedding to boot. Take care and love, to all. Nancy
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Congratulations, Jen! Congratulations, Ami and Steve…a new part of your life. Wow.
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And how could I forget hat the 30th would have been my 61 anniversary had Big Al lived that long. As it was it was 58 years with him. And all that on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, my favorrite Great Lake.
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What a beautiful bride! And your dress is GORGEOUS too, Ami! Congratulations and a lifetime of blessings to your beautiful daughter and her handsome husband. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures. Jeanne
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What a beautiful wedding! What a beautiful MOB and your dress is PERFECT!
Thank you for sharing your special day!
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Thank you Ami – the wedding was beautiful – but you looked gorgeous! Congratulations to you all.
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I love to hear someone speak of a wedding day as “fun, relaxed,lovely,joyous”. That’s how the marriage should be, also.
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Congratulations to Jennie and Craig. They are an adorable couple and the wedding looked so special. Love the photo of Jennie with the flowers–beautiful, as is your dress, Ami.
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Congratulations to everyone. What a lovely wedding! I can imagine this slide show in one of those video frames. Beautiful pictures. Best wishes for a wonderful marriage, Jen and Craig.
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It seems like just yesterday when she arrived… what a beautiful young lady she has turned out to be! Congrats on gaining a son!
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What a lovely day. And I know Beebe was watching with the other angels and smiling.
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Thanks, Ami, for the blog and beautiful pictures. My husband and I talked to Steve a few weeks ago re: weddings. It was wonderful to see and hear your story today. Our beach wedding with family is this Friday, July 6. So this blog gave me comfort that all will turn out well even with my tears. My husband said again, Jen is a beautiful girl and so nice. He knows Jen from being a teacher at Powers and has known Steve for years. And yes, your dress is georgeous. Outshined only by your lovely daughter.
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Lovely, in every way and from every angle. Congratulations to the loving couple and to the happy family!
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What beautiful photos! Congratulations to your family!
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Oh, gosh, golly, gee, I’m crying and I don’t even know you :-) ! Gorgeous bride, lovely dress, beautiful Mother of the Bride, sounds just wonderful. Congratuations to all of you and many blessings on the lives of your new couple !
Sue
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Beautiful pictures, beautiful bride and beautiful mom. Love your dress. To me this is the perfect wedding. Small, family and friends and a wonderful setting.
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Congratulations to the entire family! Thank you Ami for sharing all the photos and details. We just returned home from a trip to VA to see my nephew get hitched last weekend. There’s nothing quite like the joy of a fabulous newlywed couple and all the family being together.
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looks like it was perfect! : )
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Congratulations to you, also. I know you must be so proud of your wonderful family. Glad the event went off without any major hitches! You have every reason to be so proud! Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
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Awww . . . Ami — what a lovely and celebration filled day! Thank you for all your sentiments and pictures. Fun to share in your joy!!
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Ami – Congrats! What a beautiful wedding.. looking forward to reception.. I didn’t notice any quilts.. will there be any at the reception?
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Thank you for sharing.
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Beautiful photos of a beautiful day!
Where was Scooter on this auspicious occasion? I mean, he’s now Craig’s dog-in-law.
Thank you, Ami, for sharing these with us.
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Lovely, lovely! June bride
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Ami, thank you for sharing and congratulations to you and your family. I went through three tissues just reading your blog post, and another four looking at the photos. Lovely family, beautiful photos, and cherished memories all rolled into one. I’ll bet you are pretty worn out! Best wishes to Jennie and Craig for a long and happy life together. Congratulations to you and Steve on gaining a son and on raising such a poised and loving daughter.
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Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. Your daughter was a beautiful bride. Your dress was gorgeous. There is a picture during the ceremony with the couple pouring from 2 separate containers into one. I’m not familiar with that. Would you mind explaining the significance?
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Katie,
You’re referring to the “sand ceremony.” It symbolizes their two lives joining as one. There are two colors, one for the bride and one for the groom, in individual containers. After they are poured into the new container they blend as one, impossible to be separated into the individual colors again. Helpful hints: I learned from my kids to keep the sand DRY until the ceremony and make sure the “marriage” container is large enough to contain all the sand from the individual containers. I’d add one more…a wider mouth is easier to pour into.
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Just beautiful.
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What a stunning couple…thank you for sharing her special day. Your dress was gorgeous….love the style and colors.
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What lovely day! The smiles say it all, thank you for sharing Ami. And heartfelt wishes for a lifetime of joy and happiness to Jenni and Craig.
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Absolutely gorgeous, Ami! Congratulations!
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Thanks for sharing your special day. I felt joy for you all. May this day be etched in all your hearts as one of those moments when the world spun perfectly. Godspeed to the new couple.
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Congratulations to one and all — our son and DIL just celebrated their sixth anniversary (they shared a beautiful outdoor ceremony in New Mexico – no water like your event, we had mountains instead). SUCH a special time (and yes, I teared up a lot then, and even now reading your post and enjoying the photos). Thank you for sharing with us!!!
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It was simple and beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
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My eyes are all leaky and she’s not even mine! Lovely wedding, thanks for sharing the day with all of us.
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God bless the happy couple with a long, loving life together. Ami, loved the pictures and loved your dress. :)
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Fabulous! Amazing couple, so beautiful.
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Really, Really pretty! My youngest is getting married in August…I totally understand the flow of moisture…I can’t stop it!
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Ami – thanks for sharing this joyous event. Jennie and Craig make an amazing couple, and you and hubby look so proud!! Best wishes to the newlyweds!!
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What a lovely wedding Thank you for shareing such a wonderful day.
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Thank you for sharing this with us. It was a beautiful wedding and the two young people have a wonderful life ahead of them. Congratulations to them and best wishes. And way-to-go mom and dad – a beautiful wedding. I know you’re proud.
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What a beautiful event at a truly beautiful area in MI. Was looking for the shoes that Scooter had redesigned.
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Hi Ami – Thank you so much for sharing this day with us. I echo what others have said – Jennie is beautiful, they look soooo happy together, and your dress was *perfect*. So it was just a very small group at the wedding? And the reception is later? Sounds like it was truly a perfect day.
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Brought tears to my eyes to see such happiness.
Your dress is beautiful also!
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I too teared up at the pictures.. If you, Ami remember. Many years ago I contaced you about little girl oriental fabric to make for our families new addition, Maggie from China. She is now 16 and has a sister Christina who is 13. both from different parts of China. My favorite picture is of Jennie with flowers in front of a white door. You have good reason to be proud. It looked like a beautiful day. fondly, Barbara Gesell
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Jennie looks beautiful and so happy. I wish them a long and happy life together. Loved your dress too. Thanks for sharing the pictures
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Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful pictures. Congratulations! I really enjoy your newsletters and blogs.
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Congratulations to you and your family. It looked like a beautiful ceremony. Much happiness and good health to all.
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What a lovely wedding, Ami! The bride is gorgeous, the groom very handsome and you and your hubby looked great. Congrats to all and thanks for sharing photos with us.
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Hooray… wedding blessings all ’round. We’ve just reached 42 years! Stick with it, it’s worth it, Jennie and Craig. Thank you, Ami, for sharing with your AAQI friends.
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Absolutely beautiful……..everything looks perfect! Congratulations to the whole family!
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Ami, how lovely everyone is and what charming photos of such a memorable day. Congratulations to all! Thanks for sharing these.
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what fun! as I’m not so sentimentally over the top romantic, I just love that you can enjoy wearing these dresses, shortened perhaps, again and again. PS–
Ami, did you dye your panties for this event?
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What else can I say? A very happy, beautiful couple is beginning their life together. How exciting! And now you can add another title – mother-in-law. Can grandmother be next? Not now, but in a year or two!! Congratulations and best wishes to all.
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Dear Ami, How beautiful this wedding must have been, Thank you for sharing, you looked marvelous. I love your dress, Your mom would have been so happy for all of you. Tell us about your dress when you have time. love, JoAnne M.
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Absolutely breath-taking……………….Congratulations to all
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What a beautiful wedding, a beautiful bride and a handsome groom.
The mother of the bride was also beautiful. A wonderful day. So many beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing the wedding photos with us.
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What a wonderful day. Mazel tov to you all! You’re a brave Mom to be wearing 3″ heels. Love the photo of them looking through the heart…
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What a beautiful couple–congratulations to you all!
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It all sounds & looks perfect! Congrats to all. Beautiful dresses–I couldn’t even see your shoes–I would have worn more comfy sandals (can’t stand uncomfortable shoes)!
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Beautiful wedding! Thanx for sharing with us.
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Thanks for sharing. Your daughter is beautiful.
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Thanks for sharing. The slideshow said all — love the date in the sand and the wedding couple “barefooting” at the water’s edge. Somehow I know your mom saw the whole thing — I’m tearing up just thinking of her proud smile. Congratulations to all! Much love, Judy
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Lovely Day, Lovely Bride, Handsome Groom! All GOOD LUCK to them in their marriage. I hope they are always as happy as they were on that day! Thanks for sharing. Where’s Scooter?
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Beautiful. Attended a wedding there 2 years ago but it was on the beach. We all wore flats. It is a beautiful place. Beautiful bride and handsome groom. Radient couple.
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She is beautiful!!!! I LOVE weddings!!!!!!….and this looked perfect in all ways –
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Thank you for sharing. Beautifully detailed.
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