Weddings Are Fun in the Spirit of the Times!
Apr 23, 2012 | Nan Hanna-Paquin
I got married in 1970 -- a very young bride of not-quite-22. It was a glorious age for music, fashion, high ideals, and fellowship. In the spirit of the times, I opted for a non-traditional wedding, officiated by an activist minister from upstate NY. The ceremony took place in our lakeside community theatre, which had been a part of my life since I was 8. The men wore open-necked silk flowered shirts and vests; the women wore purple pant-suits with pink/purple flower borders and pink/purple fresh flowers in their hair. The groom wore a very "mod" sport jacket over a purple shirt and flowered silk tie
My Mom was striking in a gold pant-suit with a floor-length, tapestry vest and earrings made of fresh, yellow snap-dragons. She and I helped design my white crepe jumpsuit, accented with purple velvet ribbons and pearl cuffs on the sleeve and pants, and at the neckline -- with a white crepe, floor-length vest lined with purple satin (it was reversible). In my hair was a floor-length bow fashioned from the same purple velvet/pearl combination. Footwear? Glad you asked -- white, knee-high "go-go" boots, of course.
My Dad walked me down the aisle to The Beatles' "Because" played on Celtic harp and flute. The "audience" sat in chairs in the auditorium and on the stage, while we stood between the columns in front of the doors to the lobby. The groom and I wrote and spoke our vows -- he became emotional and forgot his "lines" and needed coaching. I, the theatre professional, delivered mine in a most believable fashion.
Following the ceremony, an informal clam-bake moved from the back yard to inside the theatre, due to inclement weather. Most of the men went across the street to my parents' house to watch the World Series (a cautionary tale for those planning an October wedding).
We danced into the night to recorded music by Crosby, Stills & Nash; Santana; The Band; The Beatles; The Rolling Stones; Sly & the Family Stone; Elton John ... well, you get the picture.
Our wedding not only united two people and two families, it was also a perfect reflection of a time in history. No wonder I was lead to specialize in non-traditional weddings! Looking back, I'm glad we chose to honor that period in our history with our wedding theme. What conversations and memories will your wedding photos inspire 20 years later?
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