Joel and Emma Emmett

The pre-wedding party was held in the back yard of my sister Mary Lundberg's house. She, her husband Jim and daughter Carly did an amazing job of yard manicuring. I helped out too. One Saturday a few weeks ago I went out and planted 170 petunias and germaniums--using Emma's color scheme and helping to fill in a few empty spots. There is a story behind planting petunias. During my many years of dating, mom didn't want to be too intrusive to my dating efforts so after a few dates with the same woman, instead of asking if I liked her, or if I was going to date her some more, she would just ask: "do I need to plant some petunias?" which implied she would happily do so in order to get the yard ready for a summer wedding reception. For years I gave no indication that any petunias needed to be planted. Then when Marie and I finally decided we wanted to get married, I sent my parents (serving a mission in Connecticut) a bouquet of flowers with a note that only said: "Plant the petunias!" They knew what that meant. We were married less than a week after they came home. It was May so no petunias were planted. 

Adding to the decor on Jim's brass horse, is a recently completed quilt made my Marie with Kente cloth Joel brought home from Ghana. 

The amazing quilt was presented to Emma at her wedding shower.

Dozens of white butterflies on the lavender.

The couple arrives. It was a triple digit day. Luckily by start time parts of the back yard were already in the shade. There were a few winds squalls, a brief sprinkle of rain (so we moved the cookie desert tables into the garage) and threatening rain clouds that made the evening cooler than thought. 

Marie, Sarah, aunts and cousins all helped bake cookies. Marie's sisters were in charge of cookie distribution. 

Marie's famous scotch-a-roos. 

Emma's family supplied and worked the bar where guests could mix some creative drinks (it's a Utah thing). 

 

Emma's parents visiting with my siblings.

We set out Levi and corduroy quilts made by my mom for people to sit on.

The visit of Marie's Uncle Ben Tueller and wife Elaine was a tender reminder that we were missing four loved grandparents. 

The six Emmett siblings and spouses. 

A table full of Tuellers.

The Goons--Joel's tight squad of high school friends. 

Joel announcing that the dancing was to begin! 

First dance: Kingdom Dance from Tangled. Will and Sarah got everyone stompin and clappin to the music. 

At one point, Joel announced that in honor of my love for a good polka and Emma's home state of Pennsylvania, we would all now enjoy dancing to the Pennsylvania Polka. Marie and I led out, then when she got dizzy, I took a few laps with Sarah and then gave Joel a few spins so he could get the hang of it. So much fun. Sorry no photos of the twirling chaos. 

Next day, July 13th, Emma and Joel were married in the Vernal Utah Temple at 3:15. 

 

Waiting for the couple to emerge.

The dads were assigned to open the doors. I then clicked a few photos as they emerged.

The wonderful Gunn family--four daughters and son Max (with a beard and the tallest, who is Emma's twin and is getting married next month).  

The temple snap dragons were the right colors. 

Afterwards we had a taco dinner, cut the cake, had one dance with the parents and then they were off (just down the hall) to the B & B part of the reception center. 

Two happy days. Emma is a great addition to our family. She already fits right in. 

And now a sneak peak of four photos of the Meg Cook the official wedding photographer. @megcookfilmandphoto on Instagram.