And another family wedding!

My dad comes from a family of 8 siblings. Each sibling has at least 3 children (except our family, which is just me and my brother). Which means I have a lot of cousins. And now the youngest cousins are growing up and getting married. Which feels so strange. I remember when these kids were born. I babysat them and changed their diapers and when they got older we read "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" series together and I basically corrupted them by teaching them naughty songs and swear words in German.

But they all turned out ok, despite my best efforts. How do I know? Because when it's time to get married, they want the best thing ever: harp music at their weddings. (Read about the ones so far here, here and here...)

A few weeks ago, it was my cousin Sarah's wedding. It was a hot July day, and the ceremony was in a big, beautiful (air conditioned...whew) Catholic church. 

Harry was confused by the Catholic service music I was rehearsing.
Harry's only heard Catholic service music a few times in his life.
But he doesn't want you to hold that against me.

Plus, he wanted to make sure he got his cat chow before I loaded up the harp 

and headed 45 miles south to the wedding.

Here's what I love about family weddings: 

Cousins and uncles waiting outside the church to help you load the harp.

The nice cousin on the left also made sure I remembered to go potty before the service started

and to change out of my flip-flops (summer harp loading shoes) into my "real shoes."
Good boy. He knows me so well.

It was such a beautiful wedding. Sarah walked down the aisle to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"

just like her mother did, and just like her sister did last year.

(Speaking of shoes, see how the bridesmaids' shoes matched their bouquets?)

(And the bride's, too!)

I'm really glad I wasn't the one playing during the unity candle, because afterward Sarah and her new husband did that thing that always makes me bawl: giving roses to the parents and grandparents.

Blaaaah! Nobody wants to see a bawling harpist. I just sat in the corner of my pew and sniffed.

I collected myself by the time the reception was in full swing, though.

They were serving chablis in a box at the open bar.

Mom and I decided we love chablis in a box.

Aunts Janet and Joyce love chablis in a box, too.

Cousin Caren? She loves chablis in a box as well.

Aunt Kathy and her sons Andy and Ben weren't so much fans of the chablis in a box,

but they made certain I always had a full glass in front of me.

My Dad (left), Uncle Marvin (center) and Uncle Joel (right) drank punch like good designated drivers.

Chablis in a box makes you dance to thinks like "Devil Went Down to Georgia." But by the time they start playing "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," you just kinda know it's time to go. Because sometimes there are real cowboys at cousins' weddings, and cowboys usually think it's fun to pick you up and dance with you over their shoulder. (Note: it's usually not fun. Experience talking.)

Plus, by that time you've already danced so much that it hurts to even wear your flip flops.
So you end up putting your "real shoes" and your flip-flops in your music bag
and taking the harp home in your bare feet.  

Wedding harpist tip: It hasn't been a good wedding gig 

if you're not unloading the harp in your bare feet.