Cousin Vanessa’s Wedding Day

Today, Brad’s cousin, Vanessa, got married right here on the family farm. As much as we spent our morning wishing and hoping that the rain would would not grace us with its presence, it did. All. day. long.  So when 2:30 rolled around, we made our way down the long gravel driveway with golf umbrellas, trying our best to get out of the way of incoming cars and minimize the amount of mud entering our shoes.  While I arrived at the wedding with puddle-filled shoes and mud in between my toes, Miss G arrived, clean, dry, and warm.  Just as we were asked to take our {hay bail} seats, something miraculous happened… The rain stopped. It couldn’t have been more perfect.  We enjoyed a beautiful short and sweet ceremony, while Grae gobbled down a container full of raspberries, a mandarin orange, and part of an apple (hungry girl!)After the ceremony was complete, we enjoyed a few minutes without rain.  Gracen explored the yard and checked out the playhouse, and we were able to snap photos of her with her Great Grandpa Leo and Manmaw.But sadly, the dryness was short-lived. The rain started coming down in full force once again, and the crowds rushed under the dinner tent to take cover.  Gracen did really well with being trapped in her seat and happily coloured, read, and enjoyed more snacks, but with a 3 hour break until dinner and very little space to move, we headed back to Manmaw’s house an hour in to work off some energy before dinner.We arrived back just as they were starting to call tables for dinner, and Grae kept busy with jam towers while we waited for our turn.It rained on and off during dinner and dessert (apple fritters – delish!), but whenever it let up, we’d take Gracen out for some exploring time.She was having a great time picking at the hay bails and smelling the flowers, until she saw another little guest wearing a polar bear hat, that is.  After that, it was straight to the photo booth to check out the props.  And they were awesome.  With each new hat, she’d ask me to take her photo so that she could see it on the camera display.  Unfortunately, we had to leave before the speeches and slideshow began (two of my favourite parts), but bedtime was calling.  Congrats, Vanessa and Cody!

♥