Wasn't that a wedding?

Congratulations Jim and Ally Hopf. My wife's brother, or 'Dude' as he is affectionately known, tied himself in a big ol' knot yesterday, at his place out in the country between Stratford and Mitchell. Married in the front yard and party in the backyard, how cool is that?

Just cool enough, as it turned out. It was a good thing the ceremony didn't happen today: 42 degrees with the humidity and thunderstorms this evening. Yesterday was sunny and warm but not hot, and the extensive fireworks display put a fitting cap on a fantastic day. Even if one of the buggers did go sideways and light a hay bale on fire: Ally, if you didn't know it before, you now know your husband can flat-out MOVE when he needs to.

It was a day some people (most notably Jim himself) thought would never come. I'll spare the personal details...let's just say I can remember a conversation I had with him about a decade ago, soon after I had married myself. He swore up and down and sideways he'd never marry. Never, never, never. I told him repeatedly not to say that, because I was sure he would and who knows what the future holds? Turns out his future held Ally. It took her a while, but she wore him down through a deep abiding love and bullheaded stubbornness in equal measure. And Ally, from what I know of the family you've married into...those two qualities mean you've been a Hopf in all but name since you decided you were going to turn "never" into "forever".

The service was short, sweet and to the point. There was one prayer for the churchly folks, but that was it: from procession to registry in ten minutes flat. The rest of the day and night was one big party: food a-plenty with two BBQs going full out, lots of music, a roaring bonfire and the aforementioned fireworks/hay bale blaze. Ally looked radiant and Jim relieved, or is that the other way around? A good time was had by all, and I'm glad I got to share in the day.

Every wedding I attend, I make a point of noting the music. And let me tell you, Jim and Ally's first dance song really spoke to me..

"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter, as long as I'm laughin' with you..." That's what it's about. Congratulations again, you two. We're so happy for you.