It's All About Love

This is your friendly Kingston correspondent reporting on the wedding of my nephew Andrew Peter Hugh Stewart and Heather Alison Veenstra. It was a fairy tale wedding, crafted and executed by many loving hands. I came away from the experience feeling like I had just been immersed in a big tank......of LOVE. Heather was radiantly beautiful and as she walked down the aisle her joy was evident as her eyes were riveted on Andrew.....who only had eyes for her. The exchange between them was highly emotional. I was moved to tears as I snuggled closer to Rick, remembering our own wedding day 37 years ago. There was such beauty all around....the mothers and fathers and grandparents decked out in their finery, eyes shining with pride.....the children (and there are eight Stewart grandchildren ...and two more on the way!) all dressed up and interacting so lovingly with each other in the pews....the bridesmaids decked out in gorgeous chocolate brown dresses....and scores of cream colored roses. The bride's uncle performed the ceremony and it too, was a gift of love. Big brother Dan's gift of love was playing the recessional on his guitar, a song by U2 called Beautiful Day.

As we filed out of the church we chuckled to see an adjustment in the sign.....a gift of love and merriment hatched in the mind of Andrew's mother, Susan, the night before.

The reception was a blast. First we were entertained by the bride and groom with their first dance as a married couple. Rick captured it on video.




The buffet of food was indescribable. I wish we had had taken a photo!....every kind of appetizer imaginable, salads, meats, fruit, desserts galore and even a chocolate fountain. Everyone raved about the food and we all wished we had more room in our stomachs to enjoy the bountiful feast.

Mike Moore, Andrew's brother-in-law did an excellent job as master of ceremonies. We laughed our way through the speeches and were moved to tears by the blessings the parents bestowed on the bridal couple. We played a game to get Andrew and Heather to kiss....called "I think I see a beaver!" It's a private family joke which we were let in on. You'll have to ask Heather about it yourself. It's too hard to explain here! But it was loads of fun and even the grandchildren participated. The dancing was such a joy to watch and participate in. Ron, Andrew's father, was showing off his skill with his daughters as he danced with each of them, one by one....even Christy who is about to deliver a baby any day now. A little professional instruction really paid off!

The centre pieces on the tables were all hand made cakes.....chocolate and vanilla. Although they were made by many loving friends and family they all looked as if they had come from a very fine bakery. And the handmade chocolate favors were all made by Emily, Andrew's sister.

All I can say is this family of Stewarts really knows what love is all about......the Veenstras, too. They've got it down to a "T". We can all take some lessons from them. Thanks for a wonderful time, Stewarts and Veenstras! Can't wait for the next wedding! Any bets on who it will be????

I did forget to mention one thing. My sister, Susan, the mother of the groom (and eight other wonderful children) was radiantly beautiful......and husband Ron very dashing in his bow tie. Each one in the Stewart clan holds a special place in my heart as I got to know each of them a little better this weekend by watching and interacting with them individually.