Mrs. & Mr. Jayme Zimmerman

So it happened yesterday — Tom & Jayme got hitched. It seems like only weeks ago they got engaged but it has been more than a year (I think). The Mass itself was beautiful and certainly one of the more elegant and truly heartfelt weddings I’ve had the privilege to be invited to attend.

The day started early as Rodney needed to be at the church by 11am. Sure, I could’ve driven myself but that would’ve wasted gas. It was nice to be welcome to hang out, watch as people got ready, pictures were taken, and children drive their parents near the edge of insanity trying to keep their child’s hair in place, dresses clean, etc. The only pre-wedding issue I experienced were a set of dead batteries in my camera. This was disappointing because I’d just taken them off the charger before putting them in the camera that morning. More so it bothered me because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to find another pair of batteries as the wedding was in Park, KS, population 151. There literally isn’t much of anything to find there with the exception of a deli, a bar & grill, a gas station, and the Catholic church. Luck was on my side and the gas station had some batteries at a ridiculous convenient price. Also, while waiting I was able to monitor and provide updates on the day’s basketball game between KU and Boston College. (They won 85-60.)

The wedding was followed by a reception at the Legion Hall in neighboring Grainfield, KS, population 313. The hall was decorated nicely with the couple’s colors of Bud Light blue and Silver. Arriving at the hall guests were entertained by a photo montage playing on a gigantic screen. It was interesting to see a collection of photos representing their lives from infancy to present. I was pleasantly surprised to see that several of my photos that I’ve taken through the years I’ve known them were included. The wedding party arrived shortly after and things began to get underway.

Dinner was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Now, I’m sure countless people would say I was crazy, but in comparison to all of the sit down dinners I’ve had at wedding this was far and above better. It was a very homestyle buffet meal and definitely qualified as comfort food. After having partaken of nearly a dozen bourbon and Pepsi cocktails, it was a welcome way to soak up some of the alcohol. Suffice to say the bartenders, Kevin & Tyler, were more than generous with the liquor. You might even think they’d been instructed to conserve the soft drinks. The meal, however, was anything but more than ample portions.

Dinner consisted of barbecue beef (the bride’s family owns a feed yard), buttered sweet corn, cheesy potatoes twice baked potatoes, an oriental styled cabbage salad, and homemade beer bread with butter. Dessert was wedding cake (white with a frosting that hinted of lemon), homemade mints, mixed nuts, and a lime punch. The most talked about part of the meal was without question the beer bread. I’ve been told that the recipe will be shared once the couple returns from their honeymoon. (I wait with baited breath!) There were monstrous amounts of food left over that were packaged and sent home. As bachelors, Rodney and I were amply supplied with enough for a week’s worth few meals. It’ll be like being at the wedding all week!

The evening proceeded with dancing; western style, polka, chicken, dollar, swing and other styles. It was hilarious to watch the various toddlers dance their night’s away. I sometimes wonder what it’d be like to still have that amount of energy but then I sometimes think not. Rodney and I didn’t get home till nearly 1am both extremely exhausted. Not because either were intoxicated but simply because of the long day of activities, celebration, and plain ol’ fashioned fun! As I was gently reminded at 9am this morning we had to get ready for Mass, I remember answering “How did [I] sleep” with “Like the death. <yawn>”

I don’t think the entire day could’ve gone any better in the minds of anyone to whom I spoke. Well, perhaps some of the parents would’ve appreciated nap time for themselves their children. Batteries not failing even before the ceremony began might’ve been nice but then I’d not have had the chance to visit Park Oil Company. Just another memory to catalog. I didn’t take nearly enough photos but hopefully as time passes we’ll find that each of us were the subject of someone else’s lens at an embarrassing memorable moment in time.

There’s only one question left… So when are you having a baby?