The future professor & landscape architect in their early, hot-air balloon watching days.

In early July I attended the wedding of my best bud from Quarryville, Pennsylvania. We’ve been friends since we were 5 years old. She was the prodigal child, I was the rambunctious one. Over the years our life paths have changed course several times, some times bringing us closer together and other times leading us further apart. But in spite of the physical distances, as friends and as people we have changed very little. These days Vanessa is a Doctor and a professor of literature . Meanwhile, I’m in Texas giving myself concussions on dance floors and spraining wrists while roller skating. We needn’t talk on the phone to check in or stay in daily contact to avoid drifting apart. Those early years spent attached at the hip (ie. corded phone) shaped a relationship that seems to remain constant, regardless of the changing world around us.

I was terribly excited when Vanessa facebook messaged me in the spring to say that she and her then-boyfriend Ray had decided to get married.   As they planned their wedding I had the pleasure of watching their decision making from afar (Texas is, of course, about as afar as you can get from Canadia). It was an enlightening experience, and one that I’ve asked permission to share with the rest of you.  

Rousing game of mini-golf.

Allow me to first say that there wasn’t much about the Auger wedding that was similar to any other wedding I’d been to.  The betrothed envisioned a wedding ceremony that was going to be as simple as possible: no fancy hotel reception, no frou frou ice sculpture, no ridiculous chicken dance.   Wedding invitations were sent out via postcard with instructions to visit the bride & groom’s website to RSVP and to find a gift registry.  The guest list was kept small – small enough that the catering was tackled by the bride-to-be and her family.  On the morning before the wedding I witnessed Vanessa & her mom cycle pies through the oven like clockwork – probably not something most bride-to-be’s take on the day before her nuptials.  While the ladies baked, Ray sat in the kitchen and hand-rolled silver into paper napkins, tied with ribbon.  In lieu of a rehearsal dinner, a group of close friends accompanied the couple for a rousing game of mini-golf on the night before the wedding.

Vanessa with her hand-stamped goody bags.

On the day of the ceremony, friends and family worked together to prepare.  No caterers, no florists, no hair stylists or make-up artists were there to cause undue stress.  Myself and two friends, Ashley & Scott, gathered wildflowers for table centerpieces in the morning.  Vanessa & Ray secured tablecloths to picnic tables and arranged table settings themselves, complete with handmade treat bags.

Final wedding preparations made outside the state park restroom.

We all gathered at Susquehannock State Park a few hours before the ceremony to dress up the reception hall (ie. park pavilion) and make final preparations for the ceremony.  About 30 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, Vanessa decided it was time for her to get dressed up as well – and off to the state park restroom we went to prepare.

The ceremony itself was simple and beautiful.  Ray and Vanessa walked up the path to the sound of gravel crunching underfoot and birds singing overhead.  The pastor gathered everyone in a huddle around the couple.  Having everyone crowded in around the two of them felt very truthful – rather than an audience we were participants.  Vanessa was a goddess in her J. Crew dress that was stunningly elegant (and simple, of course!).  I don’t know if she had any alterations done, but it fit her perfectly.  Ray had purchased a handsome suit for the occasion (every boy needs a good suit!).

The ceremony begins.

Vanessa's beautiful hand-made hair wreath.

Flower arrangement recycling.

Clearly, the Auger wedding day was a beautiful one, and on so many levels.  As indicated in the post title, this union was about as environmentally friendly as you can get – very little waste came from their day.  Simple post card invitations cut down on wasted paper and shipping.  Money gifts for the bride & groom’s honeymoon meant that no one had to purchase and wrap gifts that would go unused, and also cut down on extraneous travel/shipping.  Silverware & plates were brought from home and returned there following the reception.  The bride and groom choose simple gold bands, and they opted to reject the traditional engagement ring after coming across some very disturbing social & environmental consequences from the mining of gems and jewels.  Vanessa is considering having her dress dyed, so that it can be worn again.  She hand made the beautiful headpiece that adorned her up-do, and plans to have it framed to remember the day by.  At the end of the day, the flower arrangements that were collected from roadsides were left at the gravesites of war veterans at a nearby cemetery.  (Vanessa, if I’ve missed any other critical pieces here please feel free to remind me… I’m sure I’ve missed some stuff).  

Being a guest at this wedding was very special.  The ceremony felt so honest, and the party afterwards was a true celebration – not an opulant, extravagant event in which the real purpose of the gathering is lost.  It was a real honor and privilege to be a part of their important day, and bear witness to their transition from single souls to one shared soul and purpose.

The Prof & L.A. in present day form - practicing Vanessa's newly adopted Maple-Leaf Gang Signs.

(Thanks to the Scott & Ashley Lear and my mom, Linda Woerth, for allowing me to use their photos in this post!  P.S. – Hey mom, can I use your pictures in this post?)