McHenry County Blog

As I was on my way to pick up my son from school on Friday afternoon, what was walking down Lakewood's South Shore Drive?

It was a wedding party.

That's the first time I've seen that.

Labels: Lakewood, Message of the Day, South Shore Drive, Wedding, Wedding March

I love weddings.

Maybe because it took three for me to get it right and I realize how tough it is to make a marriage work.

I remember at my 25th Crystal Lake Community High School reunion in 1985. I was sitting at the “divorce table,“ having qualified twice.

Next to Sharon Held, I think. She introduced herself with the needlessly self-deprecating, “Hi. I'm Sharon Held. I used to be an airhead cheerleader. Now I'm a Lt. Commander in the Navy.”

We had a marvelous conversation about how she had followed in her father's Navy footsteps after getting divorced and how she was then the oldest Lt. Commander in the Navy.

A couple who were inseparable in high school came around the tables asking for autographs for their the 1960 yearbook which, to this day, Jeff Jones' colorful cover makes stand out in any line of yearbooks. I think they had been married longer than anyone else in our class. I wrote something about their being one of the first in our class to figure out what life was really all about. They were the important ones in our class, even through they didn't think so.

But, back to last Saturday. The bride was my brother-in-law's twin sister's daughter. I hadn't seen her since her father's primary election day funeral. That day Elizabeth Robinson was not radiant.

Last Saturday as she posed and danced with Rui Campos, the man she had married in the Dominican Republic, Elizabeth was radiant. You can see how radiant in this posed photo which I used Saturday in a piece about advice to the groom how to stay married and this first wedding reception dance that appeared Monday.

There were the toasts, of course.

On the right you see the groom's brother Jo.

The bride's “Best Buddy” Ian Dougherty made the next one, but, since I have a marvelous photo of him from later in the wedding, I'll let you see him then.

Then, Elizabeth's Illinois friend Crystal Lake's Julia Sobieski, a friendship that has lasted through thick and thin times, led in the lifting of glasses.

I didn't get any good pictures of the wedding couple toasting as I did of her Aunt Mary Pat Mercer's to high school admirer Bill Bear at the same location last year.

Then, there were the introductions of family.

Our house guests and proprietor of Joplin's Six-Star Hotel Desmond did the honors for Elizabeth's side of the family.

Rui's “favorite niece” Brianna Campos introduced the gathering to Rue's East Coast relatives.

I wonder if the “favorite niece” line is a running joke similar to Tommy Smothers' line, “Mom always like you best!”

I know my sisters and I always use a variation when the three of us are together.

Beth's Uncle Tom Desmond, from Bloomington, gave the invocation. Tom is Elizabeth's Godfather.

Not off the cuff, he pointed out to the crowd as he unfolded it, but devised over a half an hour he told us later at our shared table.

The next photos are of the couple cutting the cake and that delicious custom of feeding each other a piece.

At least that is what happened at this wedding.

No smash mouth requiring a complete makeover of the bride and revealing hidden hostility.

Just playful mugging by Rui.

Regular readers and targets of my camera know that I'm not big on posed shots. But, when my wife spotted groom Rui talking to his father Lourenco Campos, a posed photo was no option.

Well, if you're going to do a wedding story, you ought to have pictures of the bride and groom's parents, right?

Then, there was the traditional father-daughter dance.

As I wrote on Monday in my crown of roses story, because of Elizabeth's father Phil's untimely death, Uncle Terry Desmond stepped in for Phil. That was appropriate because Terry is the same age as Phil and they "just have that connection," a trusted source advises.

Then, it was time for the mother-son dance.

It's pretty obvious from this photograph that this son is loved.


First was the Electric Slide with my bride the leader of the pack of women and one man who perceptively asked afterward,

“Where else can you be alone with a bunch of women on a dance floor?”

“Best Buddy” toaster Ian Dougherty got this big smile out of Elizabeth's mother Diane on the dance floor. Diane was the party planner, too.

Groom Rui partied it up on the dance floor.

A song that encouraged pointing.

And dancing in a ring.

Lots of gesturing.

It looks as if Rui will fit right in with the Dancing Desmonds.

Someone will tell me the name of the song and group.

I'll add it later.The last Desmond bride, Mary Pat, got hugged by her daughter Meagan.

Never can what your kids will do.

And, the bride and groom got out on the dance floor.

Rui was really getting down.

Elizabeth was not about to be outdone.

You can't tell, but her picture was taken after his.

If you want the tail feathers photo, you'll have to ask to see my private collection.

Did I mention that the Desmond family likes to dance?

Then, the “We Are Family” dancing began.

Sister Sledge's song really motivates this family.

Pretty much all of them got out on the dance floor.

Labels: Elizabeth Campos, Elizabeth Robinson, Rui Campos, Wedding, Wedding Reception

This crown of roses ringed the head of Elizabeth Robinson in her first wedding reception dance to Rui Campos at the Eagles Hall in Gilberts on Saturday night.


Here's my message to the groom.

Yesterday, I published Elizabeth dancing with her Uncle Terry Desmond Sunday. Terry was filing in for Elizabeth's father Phil Robinson, a gentle man, who died unexpectedly in early February.

Labels: Crown, Crown of Roses, Elizabeth Campos, Elizabeth Robinson, First Dance, Rui Campos, Wedding

We're going to a wedding reception tonight and my wife bought a card with no writing in it and hands it to me.

I haven't figured out what to write inside, but I did finish a note to groom Rui Campos on the back.

“So, I'm visiting a legislative friend (former State Rep., then, State Senator Ginny Macdonald) in her Springfield office about 1990.

“Her husband was in the office.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?” I asked Alan, a traveling salesman.

“Well, Cal, it's our 50th Wedding Anniversary and I thought I ought to be with my wife.”

“You know, Alan, marriage hasn't been the most successful part of my life. How do you stay married to the same woman for 50 years?”

“It was tough for the first six months, Cal. Then, I learned how to say,

"Yes, Dear”

It's the advice I give every groom. It's worked for me for almost 18 years this time around.

Some how, I think bride Elizabeth Robinson Campos might remind him of my advice.

Macdonald died this year. Alan preceded her in death.

Labels: Alan Macdonald, Elizabeth Robinson, Virginia Macdonald. Roy Campos, Wedding

So, what you do New Year’s Eve?

My family went to the wedding of Mackenzie Walter to Carlos Garcia.

It was held at D’Andrea’s on Route 14 in Crystal Lake at the intersection of Route 31.

It was supposed to start at 6 PM, but the snow was brutal.

The streets were slippery. Even getting into the parking lot was tough.

Judge Charles Weech married the couple. He had ample time to review what he planned to say, which were really excellent.

And Jim and Anthea Hanlin's granddaughter Cheyenne walking down our row. Unfortunately, I cut off the top of her head, but with eyes like that I knew you'd want to see the picture.

The room had stands of young trees draped in beads. One young woman got her curls caught in them, but I was too close to get a picture. I had the long lens on.

We were among the first to take our seats, but I didn’t have enough foresight to sit where I could get good shots during most of the ceremony.

The exception was the lighting of the unity candle.

Sister of the bride Lindsay and Alfonso Herrera’s youngest, Liam, was sitting across the aisle from us, so I got a picture of the expectation in his face as Mom walked down the aisle. Alfonso had to retreat to the sidelines as Liam figured out Mom was not coming for him.

The bridal procession walked down the aisle pretty fast for my camera, which had a dying battery.

I did a bit better on the recessional, betting a picture of Mack’s grandfather Lowell Terry. You can see what one person called "Narnia" trees in the background.

Mother of the Bride Colleen told me that it was intended to evoke a "Sleeping Beauty" feeling where the princess wakes up in an "Enchanted Forest."

I didn't get Mack's grandmother Joan Terry until after dinner in a shot with Jane Rule and Mary Collins, South Shore Drive neighbors of parents Colleen and Marty Walter.

There were two official photographers. They stayed well past midnight.

While they were taking the officials photographs, Marty and Colleen Walters had D’Andrea’s staff lavishing us with finger food and an open bar, which lasted all night.

Top shelf.

And, yes, I got enough, ending up drinking water.

About nine I figured out that I had to drive home in worse weather than when we arrived.

The bridal procession entered the lavishly decorated main banquet room. (You can click on any image to get a bigger picture.)

They walked past chairs covered with red, accented with lace.

Red roses in perfect bloom alternated from atop high glass vases to lower ones. We were told we could take home the roses, but not the vases.

We have two of the deep red roses in a small Kurt Strobach crystal vase on the windowsill above the sink. (Our wedding present came from Strobach's Coventry showroom one street east of Canterbury Grade School. He's in the phone book.)

After all the wedding party entered, there was the cutting of the cake next the dessert table, which our hungry ten-year old had already found to his mother’s dismay. That didn’t stop her from tasting the cannoli he didn’t finish.

He did devour the cookie that looked like a groom's tux, while ignoring the one the one like a wedding dress.

There was none of the smash mouth cake assault that you see on “Funniest Home Videos.” I thought Carlos was especially gentle.

And, in looking at the pictures I took, Mack's hair was more lovely than I have seen on any Greek statue. (Come on. Click on the hair and look at its intricate design.)

There were toasts by the Best Man and the Maid of Honor. Hers had me laughing too loudly.


Prayers were given in English and Spanish. Not a lot of my Latin roots came back, but it was moving.

Someone announced that there would be none of that clinking of glasses to elicit a kiss from the newly weds.

People would have to sing a song with the word "love" in it.

Our table, having been through this tradition at the Mary Pat Mercer-Bill Bear and my niece’s weddings were ready.

It was the Monkey’s hit,

“I’m a Believer.”

Mateo sang a great rendition of

“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

and Mila sang

“Jesus Loves Me.”

More kisses.

The food was good and too much.

I had no room for the beef after I finished the chicken.

After dinner, the dancing began.

Carlos and Mack.

Looking lovingly at each other.

Another Kiss.

I can't get over Mack's hair.

Then, it was time for Mack to dance with her father Marty.

And, Carlos to dance with his mother Rosedith.

Then, dancing by married couples.

The disc jockey had the newer married couples leave the floor until just the longest married were left dancing.

Colleen’s parents, Lowell and Joan Terry, didn’t participate or I’m confident they would have been the longest on the floor.

A night of slow music, rock and roll, YMCA, music I had never heard, but no chicken dance, no hokey pokey followed.

I heard a swing song with more of a beat that was clearly from South of the Border.

It was good, as were those dancing to it.

Mateo got to strut his cross steps in a fast dance with a girl a little older.

He more than held his own.

Girls dancing with girls.

Guys of all ages dancing with their girls.

Some married.

Some not.

Kids dancing.

With 12 PM almost there, the disk jockey called all the kids to the back of the room where they participated in the countdown to midnight.

Then,

ten,

nine,

eight,

seven,

six,

five,

four,

three,

two,

one.

Happy New Year!

Shouting.

Kissing.

Champagne toasts.

And, cleaning off a couple inches of snow from the car.

You can see a bit of what happened after Midnight here.

A careful drive across town back to Lakewood.

We figure Marty and Colleen will certainly toss a first anniversary party for the kids new New Year's Eve.

Don't you think?

= = = = =
Remember. You can enlarge all of the pictures by clicking on them.

Labels: Carlos Garcia, Charles Weech, Colleen Walter, D'Andrea, Francisco Carlos Garcia, Joan Terry, Lowell Terry, Mackenzie Walter, Marty Walter, Rosedith Garcia, Wedding

This is where we were New Year’s Eve.

D’Andrea Crystal Lake Banquet Facility and Conference Center at the intersection of Routes 14 and 31.

For the wedding of Mackenzie Walter and Carlos Garcia.

After midnight, this little girl was having the time of her life playing with a balloon.

My 10-year old was break dancing on the floor.

Labels: Balloon, Break Dancing, Carlos Garcia, D'Andrea, Joy, Machenzie Walter, New Year's Eve, Wedding

The bride and groom stood barefoot under a tent with Lake Shelby in the background when they were married the night of Saturday, August 25th.

The tent was of Biblical derivation, constructed by the groom’s father.

The bride and her bridesmaids were ushered to the tent carrying parasols.

So were the mothers and the aunts.

The wedding was an informal one; none of the wedding party wore shoes.

The minister, Todd Magruder of Christian Fellowship, also known as, CFS, evoked the Captain and Tennille’s song, “Love Will Keep Us Together” before getting down to the serious stuff.

He explained the difference between a “contract” and a “covenant.”

A contract can be broken under certain conditions.

A covenant cannot.

Marriage is a covenant.

Jeff’s kiss of his bride was right off the silver screen.

For all nine frames, click here.

And “A New Hope” from the 1977 Star Wars Episode IV was the music to which the couple left the marriage area. (Neither were born then, right?)

Everyone recognized it was a Star Wars’ tune and started laughing. I found out the title when I looked at the programs that I found in a box under the table where people were signing the wedding book and a mat for a wedding picture. Had they been passed out ahead of time, I think it would have ruined the delightful surprise.

Then the official wedding photographs were taken.

I hung around.

At the end of the pictures, the photographer had the wedding party line up with Lake Shelby in the background and jump.

It took three times before everyone jumped at the same time.

The groomsman on the right seems to be having the most fun. (All the photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.)

And this was not the only time there was laughter.

It was sunset on a perfect day that followed one of heavy rain before all the pictures were taken—including one of the wedding party all jumping.

Then, the party began in an adjacent picnic shelter.

I got a shot of Jeff and Catherine walking off into the sunset.

The meal and decorations were Chinese.

There were lanterns around the pavilion.

You could see the moon rising over the lake.

If you wonder if the bride was hungry, take a look at what she piled on her plate.

“Catherine could always make me laugh,” father of the bride John Morrison recalled while making his toast. “ I hope Jeff can make her laugh.”

There were two best men and two best women.

The best men recounted the pleasure in watching the two grow in the their Christian faith while attending the University of Illinois at Springfield. Both were described as “selfless,” although Black apparently threw some pretty good parties.

The second maid of honor to speak said she was glad that Cat had found a man to cook and clear for her, a talent she was not know for. I promised to send her a shot of Catherine with her astonished mouth wide open.

But you know it has to be online for others to see, as well, right?

Why should the laughter end with the wedding?

After all, Cat said she wished she (maybe she meant "we") could get married every two years so they could gather all of her family and friends together again.

The groom and bride both talked a little, but couldn’t agree on where they met.

Oh, they knew it was while ringing bells for the Salvation Army, but when Jeff mentioned a store in Springfield, Cat immediately corrected him.

At some point, I got a picture of the groom's parents greeting the newly married couple at the dinner table.

I didn’t give the sage advice that Alan Macdonald, husband of State Senator Virginia Macdonald gave me on his 50th wedding anniversary, but I shall now.

After telling him that marriage had not (to that point in my life) been a strong suit, I asked how one stayed married to the same woman for 50 years.

“It was tough at first, Cal,” he said. “But, after I learned to say, ‘Yes, dear,’ it got a lot easier.”

Since Jeff readily agreed with Cat’s memory, I think he may not need my admonition.

Cat had to throw the bouquet, what, three times.

She must not have practiced much.

Jeff didn't do much better with the garter.

While taking it off, the "Where no man has gone before" Star Trek tape was played.

Another big laugh ensued.

Meanwhile the kids were enjoying a "professional juggler," my son informed me. He even got Brain Pankey's card and insists that we find him the next time we go to Springfield. (Just to remind me, the number is 217-529-3623 and his hangs out at 3216 S. 4th Street.)

Then, there was that first dance.

If you can't see the love in both of their eyes, click on the picture to enlarge it.

And Catherine’s dance with her father.

Then, the music became more boisterous.

My 10-year old didn’t need a partner to display his steps…all self-taught, as far as I go.

He got up on the concrete top of the dividing wall of shelter after he finished making me queasy at using the plastic chair backs and seats.

Eventually, the recent college grads and, perhaps, some still in college, invited him to dance in the middle of their circle.

Needless to say, the recognition by the adults thrilled him.

Park rules required shutting down the party at 10, so all got to bed—or at least on the road—at an early hour.

The couple is now off camping at some undisclosed (at least to me) location.

Presumably someone else took the presents to their new home in Springfield.

The groom is from Casey and the bride from Cary, Illinois.

Labels: Angela Morrison, Cat Morrison, Catherine Morrison, Jeff Black, John Morrison, Wedding, Wedding Kiss