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Early Wedding Guests

Saturday, February 20

I am going to post pictures tonight – without much dialog, and without identification – because I’m enjoying hearing from Mennonite friends across the country who recognize the bride and groom’s family or some of the guests – many because of mission work in Canada or SMBI.

Let me know if you recognize anyone.

Ken and Suzanne – this is for you! They were our traveling buddies on the way to Minnesota just over a week ago.

Judi received a last minute phone call.

It is soon time for the wedding to begin. I did not take photos during the wedding. However, it was recorded on video.

I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake!

Proverbs 4:11-13 (The Message)

A Few More Details Before the Wedding

Saturday, February 20

 Our brother-in-law Bob (bride’s father) reviewing his notes and the wedding vows.

 Reuben’s father looking over his notes for the parent’s prayer of blessing.

 Wayne putting song books away in preparation for the ceremony. The children had been entertaining themselves by stacking them on benches during the photo session.

 The reception hall is also down to final preparations.

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 I do not know everyone’s name in the following pictures – so will not even name the ones I do know.

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 Putting salt and pepper on each table.

Candy and peanut mixture was also being placed on tables.

 This was available to guests as they waited for the wedding party to arrive.

 Gift Receivers

 Basket for Cards

 Program Attendants

 Program Attendants

Guest Book Attendants

 The bride doing a last-minute check on something.

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Friday, February 26 update: Incase you are wondering about my sporadic posting the past few days, we are still in Minnesota due to the snow storm in Pennsylvania. We were able to change our flights on Wednesday (due to the predicted storm). When we went to bed last night, our flight from Detroit to Harrisburg was on a two-hour delay – and we don’t know if it ever took off. We are having so much fun with the Stauffers that we weren’t ready to fly home anyway.  Today the ladies are making donuts, and the men are splitting and cutting wood.

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Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.

Matthew 22:37-39 (The Message)

Wedding Photos

Saturday Morning, February 20

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Because I was the candid photographer, I tried not to duplicate the photos that Japheth was taking. Instead I took photos of things that were going on while he took the formal photos.

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 Japheth (Judi’s brother) setting up a shot.

 The Butikofer Family

 Grandma Doris cleaning a spot on Loraine’s dress

 Doris and Bob Stauffer with four of their grandchildren.

 Some Butikofer’s waiting for their turn in a photo

 Which Butikofer is giving Jesse rabbit ears. We think it is Johann.

 Japheth’s wife, Aimee, and their baby Violet

 Andre and Lynne

 Lynne and Loraine

 Getting ready for a Stauffer family photo

 Alisha clinging to Reuben’s hand

 Jon and Andre

 Jon’s wife, Jen, and Dietrich

Japheth and Aimee’s children: Lynne and Violet (being held) Jaden, Wayne, Loraine, Japheth Jr., and Jeremiah

 This one was taken during the set of both families.

 Titus having fun with Johann

 Grandma Ella Hege and Grandma Ella High

The female attendants: Delight, Heidi, and Juanita

 The entire wedding party: Heidi Gingerich, Delight Yoder, Juanita Stauffer, Judi & Reuben Butikofer, Joel Butikofer, Johann Butikofer, and Jesse Rensberry.

When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God‘s Decree.

Jeremiah 29:13 (The Message)

Reuben & Judi’s Wedding Day

Saturday, February 20

Early Morning

Reuben came to Bob and Doris’ to join Judi for breakfast. The formal photos were set for 8:30 a.m. at the church.

At the church

Japheth (left) the wedding photographer and oldest brother of the bride, showed us the quilt he and Aimee made for Reuben and Judi. Japheth sells sewing machines and teaches machine quilting. Others in the photo: Gary and Joy (groom’s parents) and Cerwin’s mother.

I asked Duane and Elizabeth to pose for a photo before they got too involved in preparing the wedding meal.

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Reuben and Judi asked me to take the candid shots – which gave me the “right” to take lots of photos.  

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The table for the wedding party.

Renee was in charge of decorations for the reception tables. In this photo she is dropping rose petals on the table.

The unity candle was painted by one of Reuben’s friends.

Finally – for those who are waiting to see the entire cake.

 As you can see is was elegant and beautiful.

Juanita has decorated many cakes, but this was her first wedding cake.

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For those who asked – the icing recipe

Buttercream Icing

1 cup of Crisco

1/2 teaspoon of clear vanilla (real – not extract)

4 cups confectioners’ sugar (approximately 1 lb.)

2 – 3 tablespoons milk

Cream Crisco. Add vanilla. Add sugar gradually. Add milk until desired consistency.

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Tomorrow: The formal photos were taken prior to the wedding.

This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.

Ephesians 2:19 (The Message)

Wedding Preparation

Friday Evening, February 19

My major responsibility of the afternoon was holding the base of the cake as we drove twenty-six miles to the church. For those who noticed – the decorating tip was to inform Juanita which side was the front.

The is the first time we met the groom’s family – from Wisconsin. Left to right: Ella (Reuben’s grandma), Ella (Judi’s grandma), Gary (Reuben’s dad), Cerwin, and Joel (Reuben’s brother).

Ella and Doris (Cerwin’s sister and the bride’s mother).

Cerwin helping to set up tables in the church’s multipurpose room.

Joy (groom’s mother), Suzanne (bride’s relative), and me preparing taco salad for the rehearsal dinner.

Joel and Titus (brothers of the groom)

Dawson, Ken, and Bob

Cerwin

Johann (groom’s youngest brother) and his mother

Juanita (sister of bride) working on the cake

 She will arrange the tiers in the morning.

Mother, Ella, and Fannie Mae

Doris (bride’s mother – right) giving instructions to Duane and Elizabeth who will oversee the reception meal.

Amethyst and me preparing fresh broccoli for the wedding reception.

Titus and Gary

Juanita and Monica

Cerwin making coffee

My table-setting helpers: Japheth Jr. and Joshua. Our job was to put knives and spoons on the tables.

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Tomorrow: The Wedding

Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women.

Proverbs 15:31 (The Message)