What’s a camp wedding without the camp? The ceremony took place in the middle of the forest where we often held camp gatherings. There was a little stage, huge logs split horizontally to make benches, and the grove was completely encircled in bright green trees with a creek rushing along one side. There sure seems to be a water theme with weddings wouldn’t you say? Lakes, rivers, creeks, oceans. They definitely make for a peaceful backdrop for any ceremony. The problem with having the wedding at the camp was accessibility. The main parking lot was above, near the road, where the camp was at the base of a revine.
Most people, even during camp hours, hiked down this little dirt path from the large upper parking lot because the camp was otherwise only accessed down a very very steep and rocky roadway. Think steep logging road. Definitely not ideal for wedding goers, but neither was hiking down in fancy dress. The directors owned a couple ATVs and took it upon themselves to shuttle people up and down the drive. Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of it, to the horror of many of the guests. There was yet another path, not as steep as the last, but far more rocky in places, that you had to travel to make it into the majestic grove. There were little homemade signs leading you all the way down towards the creek. When all the guests had survived the trek, the ceremony could finally begin.
The groom and his best men, came barreling into the grove in the bed of a small 4×4 truck. They looked very dapper in their white shirts, and dress pants with suspenders. Dono was among them. We still had not spoken since the incident at the beach, and he continued to ignore me all day. My friendship with Dono came full circle at this wedding. During camp days he was the alibi for the groom, and I the alibi for the bride, when they would sneak away together to makeout in the bushes. However, even though my mind was going other places, the bride definitely stole the show. She slowly made it down the rocky path in a gorgeous lace gown, the showstopper being her veil, long and lined with beautiful, dainty lace flowers. Her veil will always be something to remember.
The reception was just for family, however my friend Seth and I did crash the dance party. The reception was in a small hall, but the party was behind the building on the grass. There were lights strung up everywhere, and this was the only wedding I can think of where everyone danced, literally everyone. No strange family members starring from the corner. We had a glorious dance circle, filled with grandparents, children, family, friends, and even the pastor! We danced and danced, until the neighbours complained that is. After we said our goodbyes, we went back to Seth’s house to hang out.
We watched movies and snacked, and somehow fell asleep together on the couch. Early the next morning Seth’s sister woke us up, asking if we had been there cuddled up all night. Oops. Even though we hadn’t done anything frisky, I didn’t want to meet his parents this way, and I slipped out of the house in those early hours. It felt a bit like what I would imagine a “walk of shame” to feel like. And that morning was the first time in a month where I hadn’t thought about Dono, but it was also the first time I had ever received a ticket. Who knew there were cops out and about so early on a Sunday morning. Lesson learned. Don’t run yellow lights. That pause could be the only thing between you and a ticket, or worse, the pause could be the difference between making the right decision, or the wrong one. As I found out on that beach only weeks earlier.
Just A Small Town Girl 