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Married for twenty-one years on the 21st

Twenty-one years ago, Kelly and I married each other for time and for all eternity in the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. Here's a picture of us, the newlyweds, on the evening of our wedding, where we had a gorgeous layered cake, garnished with fresh roses at our reception in Utah. Yes, we did get married in the eighties, as you could have easily guessed by my big permed hair, Kelly's gnarly mustache, and my swooping accessory on my veil, and the 1980's vintage wedding dress, which I purchased from the small inheritance money I had received from my granddad, who had been tragically hit by a semi truck and killed instantly while driving on a country road in Oklahoma in his compact car. Ironically, my granddad had worked as a truck driver his entire life. (Wow, that little side story makes for a sad introduction to a happy day! Sorry about that. I just was thinking about those details, remembering Granddad, as I was typing and reminiscing.) It was indeed a beautiful wedding and we were the happiest couple in the world that day.Below is what our wedding announcement looked like. It has always bothered me how our names were not centered well, but there was no time to have new ones made and shipped, as we had a very short engagement. We got engaged in July and married in August, six weeks later! We were both students at BYU and I was attending school that summer while Kelly was working in Moab as a river guide. We didn't want to get married during the school year, but Kelly's mom really didn't want us to get married during the semester break in December either. And we didn't want to wait through the entire school year, so we just went for it. I dropped my summer classes and figured I could make all the plans quickly and we could be married by the fall semester, which we did.
It was nice to just get married once we had made the commitment as we were madly in love and wanted to spend our lives and future together, but the drawback is that I didn't have as much personal "say" in colors and choices. Kelly's mom had some friends whose daughters had had two weddings recently, so she was able to borrow their silk flowers and decorations to use at our reception in Colorado, and those colors, lavender, pink, and baby blue, were already decided upon. The bummer now, in retrospect is that I am REALLY into fresh flowers instead, but it was fine. For my dream wedding, I'll have to live vicariously through my daughter! (IF she doesn't mind.)

Kelly surprised me with dinner reservations, and a night out on the town for a delicious, mouth- watering meal of Fillet Mignon and Australian Lobster Tail at Reed's Jazz & Supper Club. The setting is very cozy and warm, as their website claims that they strive for a Casablanca sort of feeling, with heavy velvet curtains as dividers, and live jazz music. It was a very swanky and romantic mood, and the food was divine. It wasn't quite the celebration as our trip to NYC last year was, to celebrate our 20th anniversary, but it was a wonderful night out with my darling husband.
Here we are after dinner, as the server brought us a special dessert of a Turtle Cheesecake mousse with one flickering candle, celebrating our 21st anniversary.
This was before dinner. Thank you, Kelly, for a delightful date night out. I'm more crazy about you now than ever! Happy 21st anniversary, today, on the 21st of August, 2007.

Comments

Unknown said…
Happy Anniversary, you guys are too cute!!
Julie V. said…
Happy Anniversary to you both. I remember being engaged before you and married after and thinking, "uh, no fair!" It was a fun time. You really need to post those colorful bridesmade photos to showcase the lovely pastel satin dresses we wore. I still haven't forgiven you for that. Just kidding. I loved it.
Heidi said…
Kelly I am loving this post and your wedding picture! You guys look so young yet so much the same, and I love all the 80's details ;-). Happy 21 years!
happy anniversary. love the wedding picture!!
Mandi said…
I love your wedding picture. That is so great. My Mom and you, I think had similar dresses. Happy Anniversary. Congrats!
Robin said…
The story of Kelly & Kelly was so fun and interesting to read about, and the pictures were great, too! I'm glad you guys had a wonderful 21st anniversary. I hope that I can remember those details of my wedding as well as you remember yours.
Bobbi said…
Happy Anniversary, Kelly! Thanks for posting the vintage pictures--what fun to learn all about your wedding!
You guys did look the 80s part (but quite good-looking), and you look good now. I am impressed at the quick planning and pulling off the wedding.
Summer Adams said…
***YAY*** Happy Anni to the Kelly's :) You guys were smokin' hot and still are!!! May you have a bajillion more years ahead of you!
Julie said…
Happy Anniversary Kelly! I loved reading the story and details of your wedding. You and Kelly are such an adorable couple...beautiful inside and out! Here's to the next 21 years!
Lonna said…
Congrats! I love to hear your life stories. I love that you pulled it off so quickly. James' sister just tried the same trick, but her mom did most of it. You look fantastic. I hope that you have many more years of wedded bliss together. You deserve it.

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