This time of year 12 might make you think of Christmas and all of those partridges in pear trees. If you’re hungry you might think of a dozen eggs or, better yet, a dozen donuts. Green Bay Packer fans will undoubtedly think of Aaron Rogers and playoff hopes. But, from now on I won’t be able to think of 12 without turning it into 12-12-12 and remembering the wedding of our son Matthew and his wonderful girlfriend Lisa Kothe. They were married in Indianapolis and about 80 friends and family members came from Washington, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Indiana, and other places that I can’t recall to share in the celebration. It was indeed a wonderful day to start what we all hope is a wonderful life for them.
If you know Matthew and Lisa you can probably guess that this was not exactly a traditional wedding; it was a unique and joyful expression of their love of life as well as their love for each other. Matthew and Lisa were each escorted down the aisle by both of their parents. Wedding vows, unshared until the ceremony, were sung by each of them. The merging of their lives was represented by making and sharing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They ended the ceremony by singing their version of “Life’s a Happy Song,” a song from the 2011 movie, The Muppets.
The reception was, of course, also a bit unique. Guests entered by the “Bride & Groom Xing” sign. A large portrait of the couple made from Jelly Belly jelly beans was on display and, if you could guess how many beans it contained, you could win all of the beans left over from its creation. Small pies hung from a pie tree and the happy couple had their own wedding pie instead of a cake. My words can’t do justice to the events of the day so please check out the photos below. Click on them to enlarge. I hope they give you a better idea of this joyful day.
