Simple here means 'made-to-order'.
A South Carolina wedding minister referred Misty to me for her beach wedding at Carolina Beach. We connected right away in more ways than one:
- phone
- personality
- philosophy
I contacted her as soon as I got her phone number and email address. She has a bubbly personality! A great ambassador for positive thinking and speaking!!
Her personality filled the phone line as she shared her story with me about how she and her finance Jr meet and fell in love. My personality came out, joined hers and we had fun discussing the wedding details.
Misty's philosophy about getting married in simple fashion hit the nail on the toe when it comes to understanding the point of a wedding - picking the date, place and people which has deep emotional and spiritual meaning to you and your partner. Her immediate family holds tremendous importance to Misty. That is why she picked only them to be in the ceremony.
She told me they picked the date because it was a one year anniversary from the date they became engaged; they picked the place because it was naturally beautiful; and they picked her nine year old son and twelve year old soon-to-be stepdaughter to take part in the ceremony. She chose only Tori and Chase since they were with her and Jr on their first date.
When I told Misty that two witnesses were necessary to sign the marriage license she asked if Tori, could sign it even though she was only 12. I had to get back to her on that one. When I checked with the Register of Deeds in our County the clerk said "The age requirement is 16 and must be of sound mind."
That meant we had to come up with a plan. I visited the front desk at the condo Misty's family booked. They offered to come out and be a witness if we needed one. Misty did say a friend of hers was going to be in the area anyway and would be there to take pictures so we had one witness and the promise of another from the front desk. It turned out, my wife Bettsy accompanied me so we had our second witness.
When I finally got to meet Misty and Jr in person, I presented her with a Conch Shell (pronounced 'konk'). That's the shell you can hold to your ear and hear the ocean.
I wasn't sure she would like it and she didn't - she loved it!
I like to present those to the brides of all the beach weddings I officiate.
The beauty of the whole occasion rolled out as the waves rolled in. Jr and Misty planned a made-to-order Carolina Beach wedding on a date, at a place and with the people who mean absolutely the most to them.
It was simple!
Misty, Tori, Rev Dale, Jr and Chase on Carolina Beach PS Once I pronounced them husband and wife, I, of course, gave Jr permission to kiss his bride. While he was following my instruction several people staying in the same condos as Misty and her family who had been standing on their balconies broke out in loud applause. It was great! Simply great!
Thank you Misty, Jr, Chase and Tori. Blessings on you all.
