Saturday, May 18

We had been looking forward to the wedding of our great-nephew Travis and his fiancée Stephanie for about a year, because it was going to be held in the meadow at our Hershey Family Homestead – where the groom and his parents live. It is also where Travis and Steph will be living.

Things began happening when the tent was put up on Thursday, May 16. It is next to our property, so we got to see it every time we drove by the farm.

We went to the farm early Saturday morning to set up our canopy – under which the hors d’oeuvres would be served. Karen (our niece and mother of the groom) took Cerwin and the canopy to the meadow on their golf cart.

Several ladies were putting quilts and blankets on the straw bales where the ceremony would be held later in the day.

Lights guided their friends and family to the meadow.

Some beauty at Larry and Karen’s house

A view of the activities in the meadow from the back of the farm house.

Travis’ beef cattle in the next pasture.

Notice our hors d’oeuvre canopy to the left of the reception tent and the five cornhole game boxes on this side of the tent. There was time for cornhole games following the reception.

Travis and Steph will be living on the left (sandstone) side of the house (which was built 200 years ago). Larry and Karen live in the frame part of the house. They are the sixth and seventh generation of Hersheys to live on this farm. (This is where my siblings and I grew up.)

We went home for the next few hours, then walked to the wedding.

We could see that the “valet” driver was positioning his wagon.

As we got close to the farm, we could see that the photographers had positioned the wedding party in the yard.

As we got close to the farm we met Jared and Chelsey (aunt of the groom) on a golf cart. Chelsey was in charge of transporting handicapped people from the parking lot behind the barn to the meadow.

Travis’ grandpa Marlin and his dad, Larry, were going somewhere on the four-wheeler. You can see why it was good that the township kindly honored their request to have the road closed for a few hours.

By this time the photographers had the wedding party in the meadow.

The photographers

Three of Travis’ young cousins watching the wedding party.

My sister, Nancy, (grandmother of the groom) with two grandchildren.

The merry-go-round was painted gray and pink for the wedding.

Campfire area – for after the reception.

The “sanctuary” of straw bales is ready.

Taking ice to the reception tent while the wedding party leaves the meadow.

Yes, the one groomsmen had a broken leg – from a motorcycle accident.

Our niece Amy (in yellow) giving instructions for the whoopie pie buffet where guests would get to design their own whoopie pie – by cake and filling.

There was a wide variety of whoopie pie flavors and filling.

Putting ice in tubs for water and sodas.

This is where you went to find your reception table.

If you look closely, you can see our name under “Cerwin High” at Table 8. Look under the letter C.

Table numbers were on wooden blocks.

Pretty centerpieces

The reception meal looks delicious. It would be catered by an Amish couple. The roast beef came from Larry and Karen’s farm.

The guys waiting in the shade for guests to arrive.

I went down the road – toward our place – to get a picture of the wagon transporting guests, and took this picture of the tent and house. Notice the gift table to the right of the house.

The gifts receivers were Travis’ cousins Jamie and Regan.

A wagon load of guests

I do not know these young people, so I expect they are part of Stephanie’s family.

~~~

Tomorrow night I will post pictures of the wedding ceremony.