Wedding Wednesday: Jeremy and Candace

He waited for her. Walt, the father of the groom, eloquently proclaimed as he toasted the new couple.   He went on to tell the story of when he knew she was The One for Jeremy, the oldest of his four children. The Zenon family runs together, participating in half marathons, marathons, Tough Mudders etc as the “Running Zenon” team.  In her first race with the “Running Zenon” team, Jeremy (known for his competitiveness) stayed back and ran with her.  The Beauty of Oneness. Elizabeth, Jeremy’s younger sister and only daughter of Walt and Della shared the story of when she knew Candace was The One.  Elizabeth, at the time was living in Houston with Jeremy.  One evening she got home to find Candace reading Les Miserables to Jeremy.  Not sure if they knew she was there, that tender moment was her view into this Journey of Oneness.

As Jeremy Storr, Candace’s brother walked her beautiful, smiling Mother down the aisle, joy written all over her face, as the handsome Joseph walked the proud and beautiful Mother of the Groom down the aisle, the special shaping of two families becoming one was occurring.

The handsome groom awaited his beautiful bride, surrounded by loved ones, in an exquisite setting with carefully coordinated linens and fresh flowers.  Little did we know, those of us who traveled to Seattle anticipating a beautiful wedding celebration,   how Jeremy and Candace intended to share with us the beauty and uniqueness of the two becoming One. In a thoughtfully planned ceremony led by the Minister these two had only recently met, he began the ceremony with prayer and readings from Ephesians, I felt as if he were marrying lifelong parishioners of his church.

He told the story of their journey and they seem  to feel very felt comfortable with him… And then he began telling their story, the story of how they came to here  to Become One…. He told of first impressions, he told of first dates and first thoughts and feelings.  The journey of how they became one was told.  How they felt, how his strengths make her stronger , how her differences make him try more things,  go more places, they told the story how they recognize and celebrate those things that make them walk this journey in love to Become One.

I remember receiving the wedding invitation in the mail and thinking Jeremy has truly found his soul mate because the uniqueness of the invitation began the process of how uniquely different this wedding was going to be.  Arriving in Seattle, Washington on Tuesday evening, overlooking Mount Rainier,  I immediately appreciated the first gift, the scenery.  It was breathtaking.  The neighborhood where we stayed was another gift, the diversity of the neighborhood was a preview to the diverse wedding guests.

On Wednesday, as we made final plans with the Della, my older sister and Mother of the Groom for the Meet and Greet, another gift arrived, the welcome bag.   What a great little bag it was!  The Oh the Place You Will Go book by Dr. Seuss, local products, sea salt caramel popcorn, sea salt covered chocolates, locally made chips and even a bottle of water distilled locally!   The meet and greet was an opportunity for everyone to visit, snack and enjoy a glass of wine.  That evening Walt and Della gave the couple beautifully monogrammed white linen handkerchiefs.  I always think of hankies as the gift that keeps on giving.   Times of joy, times of sadness,  a hanky is always present; they will always have these as they will always have each other. The Oneness.

The wedding…..  On Thursday, August 15th, a lovely collection of friends and family gathered in a charmingly decorated room awaiting the ceremony.  The time had arrived, the Bride entered the room in an amazing designer wedding gown glowing and shaking  her hair in perfect order, the veil flowing behind her. Her knight in shining armor, handsome as he stood waiting for her. His story with her had reached new heights as they  got ready to exchange vows.  They told their story. The importance felt of each word that was shared,  so personal, so intimate.   We got to peek into that personal journal of love and the development of their oneness.   The way they looked at each other, the words they shared, private intimate words and finally the promises they made to each other; a modernized version of a Hindu ceremony.  The family affair continued with a special performance  by Jesse Zenon, youngest brother of the Groom.  Jesse wrote and composed a song especially for Candace and Jeremy,  ” The Calmness of You”.

The Zenons

What made this wedding so very special and unique for me, other than it being my oldest nephew, Jeremy exchanging vows was the focus of this entire wedding was about love, oneness, family, friends and calmness.  No pretension, nothing overdone, or too much.  Just enough of everything. Everything was about ceremony, love, and promises to each other.No cake no flowers, no music, no place, no bridesmaids, no groomsmen, no dress, no suits could over power the beauty of two people in love becoming one with each other.  Two people, two very different people decided that the uniqueness of the other was who they wanted to commit to spending the rest of time. Each appreciating the strengths of other was important to celebrate, not change but celebrate and continue to make each other better with those differences and strengths.

Congratulations to Jeremy and Candace, may you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness.  Thank you for sharing your special day with all of us.

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The Newlyweds!

The Day after the Wedding