My youngest son got married last Saturday to a wonderful, sweet, beautiful, godly young woman that we get to call “daughter.” The wedding was an outdoor affair with a barn reception, and tons of homemade decorations all designed by our very creative son and daughter-in-law. When they first said they wanted an outdoor wedding in August, all we could think of was heat (no air conditioning) and bugs. But we determined from the get-go that this day was theirs and if that’s what they wanted, we would do all in our power to help them make it happen.
We also prayed for good weather and no mosquitoes, but to be prepared, I put together toiletry baskets for the bathrooms with three cans of bug spray in each one – six cans in all.
A few days before the wedding, we picked up our California sons from the airport and settled in for a whirlwind weekend. Rehearsal was outside at a park (where I got bit twice by mosquitoes), reminding me once again to make sure those baskets were in the car to take to the wedding, which was a two and a half hour drive from home.
But the morning of the wedding, I got out of bed at 6:15 a.m., far sooner than I’m used to (not a morning person) and drove to hair salon to get my hair done with the rest of the wedding party. (What fun!) By 10 a.m. I was home again, which gave us a little time to gather everything and get to the barn. (Wedding was at 3:30.)
I decided to dress at the barn because I didn’t think riding in my dress would be comfortable for that length of time. We got there earlier than expected due to low construction and great weather. (Couldn’t have been given a better day for August. It was in the high 70’s.) I walked into the barn carrying my dress, and saw friends and family of the bride and groom still setting things up. It was in that moment I remembered those bug spray equipped baskets. Which were back at the house, two and a half hours away. (I knew I should have made a written list.)
My dear hubby made a dash to a local store to buy more bug spray. Two cans for each bathroom, which the people at the store assured us we would need every drop.
Unbeknownst to both of us, we had each prayed (Randy at that moment – me in my journal the night before) for no mosquitoes. (They really can ruin a good party.) I’m not saying this answer was deserved or that just because we asked God answered, but…there were NO bugs to be seen either outside during the ceremony or inside the barn. (Not even at the dessert table.) Perhaps other people saw them, but they were invisible to us.
The wedding was so lovely, the vows handwritten – a mix of creatively new and traditionally old. We were doubly blessed by the speeches of the best men and maids of honor given during the reception, and everyone commented on how great the food was. It truly was a day to remember.
But I now have ten cans of unused bug spray. Perhaps there will be another outdoor wedding that needs it!
