Wednesday, June 22, 2011

For Better Or For Worse

Have I mentioned that I'm neurotically early?   It's true. I have huge anxiety about arriving late to any function. I'm the kind of gal who rushes around the house like a screaming banshee to get some place, only to arrive so early that I have to sit  hide in the car for 30 minutes to avoid that conspicuous feeling of being the first to arrive.

Can anyone relate?

I only mention this to explain my conspicuous earliness for this post. You see, tomorrow, not today, we'll be celebrating our  anniversary.  Yep. Twenty seven years ago tomorrow, Sir Lotsa Hair took this talkative woman to be his lawfully wedded wife.


So I'm heading to Atlanta to meet him there for our annual celebration. In twenty-seven years of marriage, we've had years of plenty and years of want, but through it all, we've always managed to do something special to celebrate.

If you do the math, you'll calculate that I got married in 1984, smack dab between Diana and Fergie.

Which means that I had  a Big Fat 80s Wedding


I wore a big old 80s  princess dress complete with pouf sleeves and ruffled lace. My veil was attached to a ring of fresh flowers. (I'm pretty sure Fergie stole that idea from me, but I've never been able to prove it.)

My bridesmaids were bedecked in magenta taffeta,


...bless their hearts.

They had the pouf thing going on as well, and long trains which swished around at the altar and .... um....bustled up for the reception.

Which was outside
In June
In Georgia
At High Noon.



Yeah, I'm not sure what I was thinking either, but I had always wanted an outdoor reception, and the Duchess was all about making dreams come true.

They did.

When I think back on that day, I'm pretty sure I would change some things. It would be a little smaller, and a little cooler, and hopefully a little less itchy.

But even though I'll concede that those magenta frocks might be candidates for the movie 27 Dresses, and  the outdoor reception might not have been the wisest choice, I still think that was all pretty special.

And even though that skinny boy has wrinkles around his twinkles and a little gray in his lotsa hair, I still think he's pretty special, too.


*****
So what about about you?
Is there anything you would change about your special day?

47 comments:

Karen said...

What a great post "remembering back in the day". Happy Anniversary! There would have been LOTS I would have changed, but hey we are still happily married after 25 years & a big poufy 80's dress too. It's been quite awhile since I've dropped by, everthing has been hopping around my house. But, today was a quiet, drizzly, let down day for me. So you see what I'm doing! :)) Hope you have a great day together TOMORROW!

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Oh Yes, I'm an early bird too(I didn't know there was a name for it). It makes getting to the airport early a Night before event! LOVE your Wedding! What a gorgeous couple you are!Your are such a "Beautiful Lady"!!! Oh Yes there MAY have been some changes I would have made BUT I wasn't really demanding, I wanted my planner(My Mom) to be happy!
Happy Anniversary to you!!!!
Big Hugs to you!!!
Donna

elizabeth said...

So fun to see your fabulous 80's wedding! I love the last photo and the look in your eyes...pure love. In just a wee bit, the Hubs and I will celebrate 35 (!) years of marriage. I was only 19 when we got married, and I'm sure there are lots of things I could have, would have done differently. Happy Anniversary!

BECKY said...

Wowza!! What a bridal party! Me and my hubs did the eloping thing and got married by a justice of the peace with 2 friend as witnesses...all approved by both sets of parents!! That was almost 32 years ago...gasp...where did it go????

I wouldn't change a thing...nope...nothing. It was all kind of magical and unforgettable.

Where is that address young lady??? I NEEDS it real bad like!!!

Hugs to you!
You're a joy!
Becky

Miss Char said...

Well to answer your question....yes I can be one who is anxious ridden about not being late. So with that said...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY a day early.

Its always fun to look back at wedding pictures and the good news is with fashion trends being a round robin at some point in your marriage the styles will come back in favor. I'm still waiting for mine and I've been married much longer than you have so you may have a little wait but the years of waiting with someone you love makes it easier.

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Hi Debbie,
Loved seeing your wedding photos, they were all very lovely. You were a very pretty bride! with a very handsome groom.
Happy 27th Anniversary.........Good for you guys,
love to hear about people being married for a long time and are still very happy together, a very good testimony.

You know my wedding sort of got taken over by my Dad and step-mom. My dad was in business so I had a huge reception and a lot of people at my wedding that I didn't even know, but recently as I saw how stressed my new daughter in love to be was, and how stressed my own daughter was before we got involved I realized my Dad did me a huge favor by taking it over. I don't remember being stressed like that, only with some family issues, but other than that, everything was done for me. I am really trying to remember how I felt and do exactly what my daughter wants, and not get my own thoughts and wishes in there unless her thoughts and wishes are the same.
Thanks for sharing your Wedding Joy,
Blessings, Nellie

Lynn said...

Happy Early Anny!!! Love the fun pics, have a great day Debbie:@)

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh you did just a wonderful post...I love it! Congratulations!!!! It was a beautiful wedding, but the true story is that you are still married, through all the ups and downs, and your example to your children and others is what out weighs the what you would change from your wedding...which is being seen in retro-spec. Have a wonderful celebration....how awesome that you have always been able to take that time out with each other...another testimony to God's faithfulness. Have fun!!!!

My wedding...1980...I still wouldn't change a thing!

Sharlotte said...

Oh my gosh...I'd change a lot! I too had magenta for my bridesmaids...I only had 6 though. Mine was held indoors but we served BBQ. Weird, I know.

If I had to do it all over, it would be very simple and just a few close friends. I think before, it was about the dress, now, it would be about love and comfort. We too have celebrated our 27th...and we've had major bumps. We're on the other side and stronger than ever.

Happy Anniversary!
Sharlotte

Barbara F. said...

I love this post Debbie. Your gown looks gorgeous, and I like the bridesmaid dresses. Happy Anniversary! xo,

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I absolutely LOVE this! I even love the magenta, and all the poufs... it was IN and it looks like a fairy tale wedding.

I would change mostly one thing... a huge satin rose right in the middle of the veil at the top of my forehead... HUGE! I think I felt sorry for the lady who made it and didn't want to hurt her feelings, so there it sat.

I especially think it's so great that the 2 of you do something every year. I hope this little getaway is the best one yet!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY... early!

xo

Red Couch Recipes said...

My wedding day was not exactly ideal. My father became very ill and was on deathbed's door. My mother called me a few days before the wedding and said she couldn't make it but that she wanted us to go ahead -- so we did, but it was weird. I didn't have bridesmaids and no formal line so hardly anyone realized that my parents weren't there -- of course I did. Because of the situation and stress, I lost my voice and I worked too hard to prpeare for the receiption. As it turned out, my father survived and lived for 7 more years, but my mother died less than two years after. I hope you have the happiest wedding anniversary. I love it when couples love each other and stay together during thick and thing times -- it is a beautiful thing. Joni

At The Picket Fence said...

Oh, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! I just absolutely loved your pics and definitely think you gave those princesses a run for their money. Obviously not only in the style department! I'm with you...I think sometimes about what I would do in terms of decor and dresses if I was planning a wedding now...but then again, it was all so special and ordained that to think about changing anything seems wrong somehow. :-) Your love and commitment are a legacy and a blessing to all who know you...even your bloggy friends!
Vanessa

Chatty Crone said...

You two were so young looking in the last picture - what a sweet couple you are. Congratulations on 27 years.

Do you ever watch Say Yes to the Dress? Your dress is coming back in style!

I think it was beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Debbie,
Oh. my. goodness. Here we ago again.
Born the same year, mothers the same age, married the same year. (I was married in July, no air conditioning, but in Maryland, hot and humid)
Very similar wedding garb for us and the wedding party. Yep. I can relate!
Happy, happy, happy anniversary to you and your hubby!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Happy Anniversary Debbie and Sir Lotsahair! I think your wedding looks beautiful and what a beautiful couple you made (and I'm sure still do). I hope you have a wonderful anniversary celebration! laurie

Tanna said...

Oh, Debbie, your wedding was a dream come true. Congratulations to the both of you for the accomplishment of 27 years. That is so very special. Some us didn't make it that long (on the first time). Makes me admire you all the more. very special blessings for many, many more beautiful years! tanna

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Congratulations!! I can identify with always being early. If I am a minute late people think horrible things have happened to me!! What would I change.....HUM, maybe a different husband, it didn't last LOL You have a wonderful time!

Carol

Sharon said...

Oh Debbie - Thank you for sharing these pictures! You two are just so adorable. I personally liked the magenta dresses - guess that makes me an 80's throwback. And look at your cake! Beautiful. Congratulations (tomorrow) on your very special day.

My special day (the second one) was in the chapel on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. My husband and I re-met (we went to elementary school together) at our 30th high school reunion in 2002 held on the Queen Mary. Three years later, we got married. My sons walked me down the aisle - and no, I don't think I'd change a thing. Our 6th anniversary is just around the corner...

It is so obvious from so many of your posts that you and Sir Lotsa Hair still have a wonderful marriage, and a special friendship. I love that, Debbie. Congratulations on 27 years together - now THAT is special.

xoxo

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Wow, I was reading about your wedding and looking at the beautiful pictures when I noticed my blog button to the side!!! Thanks so much :) Yes the heat of Georgia at high noon...I was married in poof also, 1985. I was a late person til Hubs is early for so many years. I am early now too.

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Loved this, Debbie. Congratulations on 27 years. That's a great accomplishment. Your special day looks lovely in pictures, as do the bride and groom. My special day was pretty perfect for me ... not sure I would change a thing.

Hope you and your guy have a blessed anniversary, and loads of fun!

Patti said...

Happy anniversary, Debbie!!! Wishing you and Mr. Lotsa Hair many more happy years together.

You were a gorgeous bride!!

Like you, I was an 80's bride (1986). The only thing I would do differently is to have had a shorter engagement period and gotten married in September or October of 1985 instead of February 1986. Having a wedding the day after Valentine's Day means Valentine's Day is NEVER observed, especially because hubby and I both have birthdays the last week of January. Also, daughter's birthday is in mid-February. Just too much going on in one three-week period.

I hope y'all had a wonderful celebration!! Rejoicing with you!!

Love,
Patti

Shug said...

Congratulations and happy early anniversary!
I can relate with you on the early thing. I do not like to be late for anything!
Your wedding picturs are so cute...Loved seeing them.
We celebrated our 39th anniversay last week...Wow, thats a long time! In today's time, I would change a lot of things about our wedding, but back then in 1972, it all seemed like the right thing to do...
Hope your celebration will be great..
shug

Kelli said...

I'm an early bird too! I think your wedding must have been magical! The pictures tell a poignant story of true love. What would I change? Probably nothing because it was a nearly perfect day. I will however encourage my daughters to attempt to look beyond the wedding day. While the occasion of a wedding is worth celebrating, it's the toughing it out that makes the 27th year truly something to celebrate, right?

Ms.Daisy said...

Debbie,
Congratulations! I hope your celebration is very special and that you and Sir Lotsa Hair have many, many more. What would I change? Well, I wouldn't have married at 19 and not to that husband (just didn't work out) but then, I wouldn't have the wonderful children or grandchildren that I now have would I? So, I guess, I wouldn't change anything.
You made a beautiful bride and a beautiful couple.

~Jean

Gayle said...

Congratulations on 27 years, friend. That's a great thing to celebrate. You were a lovely bride, and the bridesmaids' dresses weren't so horrible. :-) I was a 1982 bride with big hair.

Mevely317 said...

OK, first I have to admit my jaw was drooping further and further as I scrolled through your pictures - wow!!! I'm tickled, too, to see what you look like ... gorgeous!

And to answer your question? Yes, I'm chronically early, too.... drives my family nuts.

Happy Anniversary!!!!

Renée said...

Happy Anniversary to a beautiful couple. I hope your Atlanta celebration was the happiest yet. Your pictures are delightful and i love all the poof and bridesmaids. What fun.

Our day was wonderful and my aunt decided to help my mom, took my gown in her car. When she finally showed up with my dress, after some drama, I was so thankful. Things started a little late, but it all turned out perfectly almost 38 years ago!

Thanks for yet another merry memory.

Gaby said...

Congratulations! I'm the opposite: I would make it bigger. We had a budget, it was winter, we were not in his home state, so it was a very understated wedding. I would do a big party, with dinner, and a dance, in the summer :)

Ann said...

Happy Anniversary Debbie! You two make a gorgeous couple. Now, HOW MANY bridesmaids did you have? LOL!

I had two and one maid of honor .... same as Hannah. I don't know why. It just seemed right to me, I guess.

Anyway, I hope y'all have MANY more years together. You seem to have it figured out!

BTW, your dress has nothing on my '70's dress .... ala Karen Carpenter! LOL! No wonder my daughter is NOT wearing it for her wedding next week!

Cheers!
Ann

Denise said...

Well, it was a VERY hot day. And, it was kind of early for those of us helping. But, I wore one of those dresses and I still think they're beautiful. I'm still an 80's girl at heart because I love all that pouf. It was practically perfect in every way if I do say so myself.

Mine was alright. Trying to work around my farmer husband was difficult, to say the least. Wish I'd waited until June. Wish my reception was outside. (Yes. Even in south GA). Wish I could have afforded my own dress. Although wearing mom's was special and I probably would have picked out something similar. Loved my colors but difficult to match flowers. Definitely would have had it earlier in the day. But, after 29 years, I still love him. The rest is just a day, not a marriage.

Thanks for sharing your memories of your very special day. Wishing you many more. Happy anniversary!!

no spring chicken said...

Just look at those gorgeous youngsters!! I love that you shared so much of your wedding. What fun. I'll tell you, for an 80s wedding, the fact that it is still beautiful and I'm not laughing says a lot. Then again, maybe my girls would find something to laugh at. Were there any mullets in those pictures?

Happy Anniversary!

Blessings, Debbie

Maryann said...

What a beautiful wedding, magenta dresses and all. Happy Anniversary to you both.
Would I change anything about ours, well my husband would say he would probably not choose the powder blue tux with the ruffled shirt if he had to do it all over again.
(can you guess which decade we were married)
Congratulations

Crickit said...

First of all...Happy 27th Anniversary!

I loved seeing your pictures. I too wore a dress that was poofy and itchy and I was sweating at my outdoor reception. We were married in August and it was an extremely hot day! But in the end what a wonderful day, with a wonderful man and such wonderful memories! It seems that you and I are both blessed!

Enjoy your day together!

-Crickit

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary, Debbie!
I am laughing pretty hard, as my gals wore dresses almost identical to yours. Only I made them put on hats. Hmmmm, what would I change? The cake. It wasn't very good!
xo
lynn

xinex said...

Oh Debbie, you look so pretty in your wedding gown. I actually love your gown and the magenta color all around you look magnificent.What I would change for me for one thing would be the groom (my ex),and I did, lol. Happy Anniversary!...Christine

CAL said...

Beautiful Debbie, the gazebo pic was my favorite. Loved your poofs and the bridesmaids dresses were really quite lovely.

Hmmm, what would I change? Married in February, in Chicago, cold cold cold. We honeymooned in Jamaica and both of returned home with a raging case of sunburn and a nasty cold. So, perhaps waiting until June would have been a good idea. Also, I'd like to give a swift kick to my husbands cousin. He was one of our groomsmen and hit on all my female cousins. What a creep. That's a whole 'nuther story.

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Happy Anniversary...it looked like a beautiful wedding and a beautiful couple. The photos are wonderful.
We were married in '82, under a tree in San Diego in August. My poor sweetie was on crutches so I would change that :))

Joan Hall said...

Yep, I had a big fat 80s wedding also. June 8, 1984 to be exact.

I wanted an outdoor wedding, but Texas in June is...well let's just say it's hot. You're brave for the outdoor reception.

Mine would be smaller also - in fact John often says we should have found a JP and just got it over with. But after 27 years of sickness, health, better, worse, richer, poorer, I would do it all over again with him.

Happy anniversary, Debbie!

Tami said...

Happy Anniversary! 27 years! That is wonderful. And I just have to say that I think your wedding was beautiful. I'm glad that you went ahead and had it outside if that is what you always wanted. You were a beautiful bride.

I got married right after Christmas-Dec. 27th. The only 2 things I would change are my bridesmaids dresses, and I would have had this little girl as my flower girl. I already had 2 and "thought" I couldn't have anymore so I chose to not put one little girl in. Oh, how I wish I would have allowed her to be a part of it as a flower girl. (her brother was the ring bearer).

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Beautiful post! I hope you and your Mr. had a wonderful celebration! Congrats on 27years. I had the poofy sleeves too and poofy hair to match. Luckily I also had a hat even though it was an inside wedding. Despite those things, what I would really change the most was my makeup. For some reason I let a beautician talk me into doing blue and pink on my dark brown eyes for the wedding. She said it would help them to stand out against the white. I have never needed assistance to help my dark eyes stand out, and don't know why I listened to that advice. LOL! My photos really look so dated to me with the blue eyeshadow and perms, even though it was 1988. I'm just so thankful everyday that I got the most important thing right...my husband! Happy Anniversary Debbie, wishing you many more too!

Savannah Granny said...

I love this post. I also love your 80's wedding. My oldest daughter got married in 1985 so I know what you are talking about. You looked absolutely lovely. You are always early, I am always late. A heartfelt but belated Happy Anniversary. God bless you, Ginger :)

Canadagirl said...

What a beautiful day! I loved getting a peek into your past. I have to say I loved the 80's weddings. I can't think of really much I would change on my day. I have to say my favorite pic was the one of you two dancing. You two were a very handsome couple and you can see the love in your eyes looking up at your man, special.

Blessings and ((HUGS))!
-Mary

Rettabug said...

Happy Anniversary, Debbie! Have a wonderful time, making more wonderful memories & thanks for sharing your special day with us. You were a GORGEOUS bride & you have a very handsome hubby, too!
May you share many, many more wonderful celebrations together.

Hugs,
Rett

FrouFrouBritches said...

Oh, I looooove all the pictures! I'm a teen of the 80's so I totally get the poofy sleeves and big hair, etc. I love the idea of an outdoor reception, but I sure do hate to sweat.

Happy Anniversary to you and Sir Lotsa Hair!

Kathleen said...

Looks to me like you had a beautiful wedding. An outdoor reception always seems that little extra special to me. Looking back on my day I would change the phographer, the one we had didn't do a very good job.

Ginger said...

Found your blog via Elizabeth (Just Following Jesus). I realize I am late commenting on this post, but your wedding church looks suspiciously familiar, and I think I recognize the pianist! If I'm right, I probably read about your wedding in the Telephone and swooned over the dresses! :) Nice to "meet" you in blogland.

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