A Wedding to Remember

Posted on Jul 1, 2009 in Holidays | 19 comments

Twenty years ago we were married on a cliff called Battleship Rock, the place where Russ proposed to me. It was a hot late June afternoon, and climbing the backside of the cliff in a tux and wedding gown was a challenging affair. It’s also difficult to find a minister who wants to do this sort of thing, but Russ had a friend who also happened to be a gymnastics teacher.

On the cliff we awaited the arrival of assorted family and guest on their poontoon boats, having been given a map and time on the cartoon wedding invitation that we had sent out a few weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, our friends in the Celtic Band played music in the nearby cove, on a handmade raft made of all found materials (an artistic idea, but a little risky considering their delicate instruments.)

Kids who happened to be jumping off the cliff into the water were happy to give us a few moments of quiet for the actual ceremony.

And then, being such a warm day and a little nervous about the whole affair, and just luckily having a blue and borrowed swimsuit on under the wedding dress, we peeled off the wedding garb and leap into what we like to call “a life of art together.”

Then it was back to Big Cedar Lodge, a happy reception, and the best twenty years of my life!

update: The photos in this post may seem a little dull. That’s because all our photo albums got water-soaked during a flood a couple of years ago, and though I’ve tried to restore them, they are not what they were.

We visit the rock where we were married each anniversary, and the landscape and nature there is still just as beautiful and inspiring. It’s great to live in the Ozarks and be able to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us here.

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19 Comments

carol johnson | July 1, 2009 at 4:07 pm

That is so awesome! The best wedding I’ve ever seen. Congratulations to both of you.

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Stacy | July 1, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Ok, that is one of the best stories of all time! LOVE the leaping off the cliff together, makes me all teary! Congratulations on the last two decades & CHEERS for many more to come!

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Gerrie | July 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm

This is definitely a destination wedding before the term went mainstream. I love the photos. Thanks for sharing. Here is to many more years with Russ.

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terry grant | July 1, 2009 at 6:10 pm

That is so perfectly YOU! What a cool wedding. I love that you wore traditional wedding stuff, not shorts and climbing boots.

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PaMdora | July 1, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Hi Stacy, Terry, Gerrie and Carol,

I was just able to add a final photo to the post that shows how the rock looks today. Our old wedding photos were kind of dull and damaged, so wanted to show how beautiful the scene is today.

Thanks for all the well wishes!

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natalya | July 1, 2009 at 6:52 pm

aaawww…. what a story!!! happy anniversary!!

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Vivien Zepf | July 1, 2009 at 7:45 pm

How totally cool! Here’s to many more fun years together.

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Deirdre | July 1, 2009 at 8:05 pm

Thank you for sharing a beautiful ceremony.

I’m a JP and most risky place I’ve been for a wedding is out on a jetty with the tide coming in (fast) in February.

I also wanted to say that considering how much water you got during the flood, the photos look pretty good!

Happy Anniversary!

eirdre

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Paper Dolls for Boys | July 1, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Pam, these are wonderful. What a celebration of your love. Thank you so much for sharing!
Cheers and Happy Anniversary,
Tracey

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Marlis | July 2, 2009 at 1:24 am

this has been definitely a special wedding! thanks for sharing and happy anniversary!

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vero | July 2, 2009 at 5:04 am

Beautiful story, especially the 20 years part

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Candied Fabrics | July 2, 2009 at 6:48 am

What a fun day! That raft your musician friends are on makes me n e r v o u s ! They were true friends indeed!

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Dionne | July 2, 2009 at 1:34 pm

What a lovely story! Happy, Happy Anniversary!
Cheers,
Dionne

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Natalie | July 3, 2009 at 11:51 am

Happy Anniversary!

It looks like some of your friends took the plunge too. hehe
What a great day.

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Anny | July 3, 2009 at 11:59 am

I love the idea of jumping off the cliff, holding onto each other, to begin your lives together!

Thanx for sharing this moment. I wish I knew you & had been invited to that ceremony!

But I don’t, so I’ll just say:

Happy Anny-versary!!

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Donna | July 3, 2009 at 6:11 pm

What a cool wedding! Congratulations on 20 years!

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greedygirl1 | July 5, 2009 at 7:41 am

I just happened to surf by and stop to read your story. It was beautiful. Congrats on you 20 years.

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Helen Cowans | July 5, 2009 at 1:07 pm

You’re totally mad! Happy Anniversary

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PaMdora | July 7, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! The minister said he wished he had worn his swimsuit too!

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