Christi and Eric arrived at their summer evening lawn wedding riding their horses … and riding behind them was the Father-of-the-Bride …
carrying an antique shotgun!
The wedding guests didn't know whether to laugh or applaud, so they did both!
Christi is riding Scooter (AQHA).
Eric is riding Babe (Appy).
Chris is riding Slick (AQHA).
Several of the engagement and wedding photos later won
top awards in professional photographer competitions. One large
copy is hanging at the shop where we bought Christi's wedding
gown. Another shot now appears in the florist's brochure. More
are displayed annually at the "Bridal Show" at the local
convention center. The facility where we held the wedding shows
off their own photos, and the list goes on.
It seems the idea of a formal "shotgun wedding"
caught people's fancy!
Would anybody be surprised to discover that the professional
horse trainer is a close friend, is considered Mother #2 to both
Christi and Eric, and was a bridesmaid at age 50-something? Or
that the Porterville Western Belles & Beaus mounted drill
team (Christi and Eric rode on their competition team for several
years) showed up in uniform to not only take charge of the horses,
but saluted the bride and groom after the ceremony?
The western flavor was carried throughout. The "Decorations
Committee" consisted mostly of Eric's very talented family.
Horseshoes were painted gold, then decorated with burgundy ribbon
and tiny silk flowers. Small white plastic horses became "pack
horses" bearing candy. The cake carried the same theme, using
horseshoe cake molds and matching ribbon. The horseshoe cakes
became steps up to the 3-tiered cake, with ramps between horseshoes
where more little pack horses carried supplies to the bride and
groom perched on the top tier.
The Porterville Western Belles & Beaus mounted drill team saluted the bride and groom after the ceremony. (Christi and Eric rode on their competition team for several years.)
This is one "famous" wedding, and the locals
- and special guests who flew in to California from as far away
as New Zealand - are still talking about it!
Hope you smile as much as we did.
photo credits:
Terrence McCraw
TMc, Visalia, CA
tmc@mindinfo.com
Wedding Coordinator:
Me!
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