Thursday, March 04, 2004
MILWAUKEE WEDDING DAY
After our amazement settled down in seeing each other we gathered our luggage again and headed for the cars. We split up in two groups and made our way to the house Louis and Gail bought. It was a beauty. The location was perfect for the house and the view overlooking Lake Michigan was beautiful. A rock jetty below the house made quiet water for small boats to moor. In the distance you could see huge ocean freighters on their way to Chicago.
A large window in the living room was perfect for a telescope and the children spent a lot of time watching traffic on the lake. Gail had put a lot of their pre-wedding gifts away in the house and it looked warm and inviting. The bedrooms were upstairs and kitchen, dining room, living room and entry way made up the lower floor. There was a bath upstairs and down.
Louis enjoyed cooking and had his things around the kitchen so that it was ready for use. We were all impressed with their organization. Gail had quite a drive from midtown Milwaukee to the south part of the city to transport household items the family had given her. All was in readiness for their life together.
We were shown our rooms where we would be spending the nights we were there and after freshening up somewhat I showed Gail the dress I made for Becky. She was so taken with it she insisted Becky be in the wedding. Of course Becky was thrilled and I was pleased that Gail was that generous with her special day. It was growing past dinnertime so we hurried to a restaurant to eat. Afterwards we said goodbye to Gail as she headed home and we went back to the house with Louis.
We were up early the next day as the wedding was to be at 2:00 pm. We lined up to get showers and get our clothes pressed while Louis was busy checking in with his best man and groomsmen. We arrived at the church early and were instructed of the ceremony plans; I went to the room where Gail was getting ready. She was so pretty with her dark shoulder length hair and the full white gown. She was absolutely radiant.
Before going into the sanctuary Gail presented her sister-in-law, Leone, and I with crystal chocker necklaces and she had a dainty crystal pendant for Becky. Her little eyes lit up as Gail handed her a small bouquet to carry as a junior bridesmaid. She was very pretty as well in her aqua dress and long curly blonde hair.
When we heard the music begin we lined up at the back of the sanctuary and as the door opened so that Louis could see us coming down the aisle he paled so I thought he was going to pass out. Gail floated along behind us a reigning princess and we all agreed she was the most beautiful bride we had ever seen.
Pastor Remmington was young and presented meaningful vows. And so on November 30, 1963 at 2:00 pm at the Highland Avenue Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Louis and Miss Gail Hope Perkins were married. It was truly one of the happiest times in our family……so completely wonderful for us all.
After the ceremony we went to the Ram’s Head for cocktails and then back to the house where Gail and her family had planned a sit-down dinner for family and the bridal party. It was the first time I had participated in a wedding and was informed as the matron of honor I was to sit with the best man during the dinner. It was a time of joyous conversation and good food………which is mandatory when one visits Milwaukee.
After dinner we went to a rented hall for dancing and more food. A long table held potato salad, baked beans, Polish sausages, delicious bakery breads of all kinds, desserts and more. It was wonderful tasting food. A spirited band was playing polka music so the bride and groom began the dance and the best man came towards me. He reached for my hand to dance but I tried to beg off. “I don’t know how to polka,” I said……..(hoping he would dance with someone else)…..but he laughed and said, “Nonsense, in Milwaukee everyone knows how to polka” and he took my hand and out on the dance floor we went. I found myself hopping along with him to keep from being drug…….it was all in good humor.
Many hours later we arrived back to the hill where Louis and Gail would start their married life. Mom and dad went to bed, along with the children. My husband, Louis, Gail and I sat on the dining room floor reliving the wonderful day as the two of them took envelopes from their clothing. When they finished they had a pile of money on the floor in front of us. It is the custom in Milwaukee to present gifts of money at the dance to the bride and groom.
The sun was coming up as we went to change clothes and go back to the train station for our ride home. It was the end of a perfect day and the start of a new beginning……….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
A large window in the living room was perfect for a telescope and the children spent a lot of time watching traffic on the lake. Gail had put a lot of their pre-wedding gifts away in the house and it looked warm and inviting. The bedrooms were upstairs and kitchen, dining room, living room and entry way made up the lower floor. There was a bath upstairs and down.
Louis enjoyed cooking and had his things around the kitchen so that it was ready for use. We were all impressed with their organization. Gail had quite a drive from midtown Milwaukee to the south part of the city to transport household items the family had given her. All was in readiness for their life together.
We were shown our rooms where we would be spending the nights we were there and after freshening up somewhat I showed Gail the dress I made for Becky. She was so taken with it she insisted Becky be in the wedding. Of course Becky was thrilled and I was pleased that Gail was that generous with her special day. It was growing past dinnertime so we hurried to a restaurant to eat. Afterwards we said goodbye to Gail as she headed home and we went back to the house with Louis.
We were up early the next day as the wedding was to be at 2:00 pm. We lined up to get showers and get our clothes pressed while Louis was busy checking in with his best man and groomsmen. We arrived at the church early and were instructed of the ceremony plans; I went to the room where Gail was getting ready. She was so pretty with her dark shoulder length hair and the full white gown. She was absolutely radiant.
Before going into the sanctuary Gail presented her sister-in-law, Leone, and I with crystal chocker necklaces and she had a dainty crystal pendant for Becky. Her little eyes lit up as Gail handed her a small bouquet to carry as a junior bridesmaid. She was very pretty as well in her aqua dress and long curly blonde hair.
When we heard the music begin we lined up at the back of the sanctuary and as the door opened so that Louis could see us coming down the aisle he paled so I thought he was going to pass out. Gail floated along behind us a reigning princess and we all agreed she was the most beautiful bride we had ever seen.
Pastor Remmington was young and presented meaningful vows. And so on November 30, 1963 at 2:00 pm at the Highland Avenue Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Louis and Miss Gail Hope Perkins were married. It was truly one of the happiest times in our family……so completely wonderful for us all.
After the ceremony we went to the Ram’s Head for cocktails and then back to the house where Gail and her family had planned a sit-down dinner for family and the bridal party. It was the first time I had participated in a wedding and was informed as the matron of honor I was to sit with the best man during the dinner. It was a time of joyous conversation and good food………which is mandatory when one visits Milwaukee.
After dinner we went to a rented hall for dancing and more food. A long table held potato salad, baked beans, Polish sausages, delicious bakery breads of all kinds, desserts and more. It was wonderful tasting food. A spirited band was playing polka music so the bride and groom began the dance and the best man came towards me. He reached for my hand to dance but I tried to beg off. “I don’t know how to polka,” I said……..(hoping he would dance with someone else)…..but he laughed and said, “Nonsense, in Milwaukee everyone knows how to polka” and he took my hand and out on the dance floor we went. I found myself hopping along with him to keep from being drug…….it was all in good humor.
Many hours later we arrived back to the hill where Louis and Gail would start their married life. Mom and dad went to bed, along with the children. My husband, Louis, Gail and I sat on the dining room floor reliving the wonderful day as the two of them took envelopes from their clothing. When they finished they had a pile of money on the floor in front of us. It is the custom in Milwaukee to present gifts of money at the dance to the bride and groom.
The sun was coming up as we went to change clothes and go back to the train station for our ride home. It was the end of a perfect day and the start of a new beginning……….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
