On Accidents, Weddings, and Zinnias

Published July 5, 2010

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Last Saturday, we celebrated a milestone: the marriage of our son Clark and Valerie. The wedding was simple, joyous, and God-centered. Although they did not set out to make the wedding “green,” it was a beautiful and environmentally sustainable ceremony.

Everyone contributed their skills and talents: Val’s mom made the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses. She also sewed bow ties for Clark and the groomsmen, which allowed them to wear whatever dark suit they happened to own. At the bride’s request, I grew the wedding flowers and our daughter Emma made the wedding cakes. The food was rice-based, Creole-style, and included a vegetarian option.

Communion was served with bread that I baked using local flour and eggs. Val’s organ professor played the processional and hymns, and Clark’s college advisor officiated. The groom’s wedding ring was recycled, from Matthew’s grandfather.

My dress was also recycled–from my favorite consignment shop. Total shopping time: fifteen minutes. Total cost: fifteen dollars. The week before the wedding, I took my hand-me-down pumps to the local shoe repair, who returned them looking nearly new.

From an environmental standpoint, the most important decision Clark and Val made was to keep the wedding small. Val has thirty-some aunts and uncles, seventy-two first cousins, and too many second cousins to count. The majority live half a continent away. Instead of using fossil fuels to transport everyone to Lexington, they kept the list to immediate family and a few close friends.

One of the bridesmaids almost did not make it to the wedding. Five days before the nuptials, our daughter Emma was hit by a left-turning truck while she was driving through an intersection. Both vehicles were totaled, but thanks to air bags and seat belts, Emma escaped with just a broken foot and collar bone. As I write this, my eyes are tearing up yet again at the magnificent God who protects our children and this glorious planet on which all of our lives depend–on wedding days, and every day throughout the year, for generations yet to come.

It has been an emotion-filled week, but a glorious one. Praise God for marriages made in heaven, flowers that blossom here on earth, and angels that fill our hearts with His grace and love.

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