Mike & Emily’s Barn Wedding

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of attending a family wedding in Akron, Ohio.  Mike's cousin, Emily, was to marry another gentleman of a very distinguished name:  Mike.

Mike is the oldest of his cousins by a few years, so it's only been in the last 4 years that some of them have started tying the knot.  I adore weddings, and love the opportunity these younger cousins afford us to join in the celebrations.  Most of our friends have long since married, and even our baby shower days seem to be drawing to a close.  It's too bad.  I really can't stand the thought of an entire year passing without seeing a beautiful bride or eating a really pretty cake.

This is Mike's fourth cousin to marry,  and so far it's only been the girl cousins who've tied the knot.  What's been really fun to see is how each girl, so different from the other, has had a lovely wedding that seems to perfectly reflect her unique personality. 

Emily and Mike are laid-back and a little bit country.  They live in an old farmhouse they've been dutifully restoring.  Next to the house is a large, gorgeous barn.  The barn isn't just for show – Emily's been riding horses since she was a little girl, and together they have their own horses.  And so it was perfectly fitting that Emily and Mike would celebrate their marriage right at home.  After exchanging vows in a small chapel, we gathered there to eat, drink, and get jiggy.

I loved these adorable miniature horses that told us where we would be sitting for dinner.  I'm99% sure the handwritten names are the work of Emily's sister, Rachel.  I swoon a little every time we get a letter from her.

We ate dinner under a tent and then moved to the barn to get our dance on.  We had the best of both worlds that evening.  The kids were able to see Mike and Emily get married, have dinner, and run around like well-dressed hooligans.  Then we dropped them off with a sitter and came back to have some real fun. 

I managed to restrain myself from truly gaying up my son, as I love to do for these kinds of occasions.  I thought my choice of seersucker pants and shirt with a Peter Pan collar were both dignified and boyish.  It's not my fault he chose to take it over the top with the addition of his sister's sandals. 

This was about the point we decided that children were no longer amusing at a wedding.  If you can tear your eyes away from drama, you'll see the entrance to the barn.  It was so lovely lit up at night with the paper lanterns and little white lights.  And aren't those giant curtains fabulous?  You hardly even notice those incorrigible children!  Where are their parents?

I wish I had a better picture of Emily's dress.  It was breathtaking.  It makes me want to get married again and do it all so differently!  Except for my choice in groom, of course.  They are an adorable couple,  and we wish them years and years of love and laughter.  And incorrigible children, if they so desire.  If it were me, I'd stick with the horses for awhile.

Congratulations, Mike and Emily!