The Bride Wore Jackboots - now with pictures!

[Little Jamie]

The Bride Wore Jackboots

Today was the wedding day for David Allman and Regina Martin, who own and run Hog Heaven Rescue Farm. It was a raw, drizzly, dreary day, but for January in Northwestern Pennsylvania - well, it could have been a lot worse.

The invitation was on the home page of their website. Location was given as "in the barn;" dress was "farm casual." Turns out, that covers a LOT of ground! Some guests wore jewelry and fashionable sweaters under their winter coats; one man wore a sport coat over his bright red long johns. Others paid homage by washing their hair and wearing clean jeans. (I was one of the latter.) Guests who wore street shoes would have much to regret as they splashed through inches of boot-pulling mud. (I was NOT one of those.).

Much work had been done to ready the "chapel" (which officially functions as an indoor-arena-turned-stable-and-storage-shed.) Under the watchful eyes of residents Junior and Silver, the floor had been painstakingly raked and rolled. Each stray wisp of hay and every lovingly-deposited "offering" was removed for safe-keeping. Two arbors had been built at the far end. In the center was one made of white tulle; a second, of evergreen boughs, was off to one side. Both had been studded with tiny white lights. Sprays of evergreens adorned the walls. Instead of pews, long tables and chairs were set up with the "aisle" down the center. The tables were covered with white plastic and decorated with centerpieces of tastefully-arranged bouquets of fresh carrots, apples, and cauliflower; and understated baskets of "kitty greens." Bleachers banked the far end. All together, seating was provided for about 150 delighted guests.

As the guests were seated, a guitarist sat in the bleachers playing soft strains of vaguely country tunes. Before the bride made her entrance, a plastic sheet was laid down the center of the aisle.

Though Floyd was evicted several times by well-meaning guests, he managed to return each time and greeted each arriving guest with a gently wagging tail and an occasional porcine grunt. Once the ceremony began, he busied himself inspecting the aisle runner and the food tables.

The groom wore traditional black tie and tails; the bride wore an off-white, cocktail-length dress with keyhole neck, set off by her elegantly unadorned black, calf-high motorcycle boots. She carried a bouquet of aromatic evergreen boughs. She was escorted down the aisle by her son, who towered over her own 6-foot height by a good nine inches.

For the ceremony, the bride and groom faced the "congregation" so that we could see their faces. As the pastor began the ceremony with introductions, she pointed out the empty spot next to the bride's mother. Mentioning that Regina's son had walked her down the aisle, the pastor shocked us all by reporting that Regina's father had passed away last night. How she was able to walk down that aisle, and smile and laugh - well, it's a mystery.

The ceremony itself was fairly traditional; the usual vows were read, and there were several Bible readings by members of the wedding party. Junior and Silver looked on; Junior expressed his approval with a long, noisy, wet "blessing."

Abby disrupted the service by displaying her leonine prowess at the hunt, chasing and pouncing upon hapless imaginary victims in the aisle.

After the ceremony the four-legged guests were fed the centerpieces.

There was food, drink, and cake for all. Music was provided by a small group performing on guitar, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, and hammered dulcimer. David, the groom, performed a solo parade of hats, appearing in no less than half a dozen, each more ridiculous than the last. The camouflaged baseball hat was replaced by an Australian bush hat, which gave way to a black boater with a wide ribbon, feathers, a center-front black rose, and long, black tulle train. Next he was seen in a hat that featured a plush gray donkey whose ears flapped frenetically.

And a good time was had by all!

I have never enjoyed a wedding more. Blessings always, David and Regina; and may all your troubles be little (four-legged) ones!

Floyd with guest
cake
the wedding party
bride and groom
centerpieces
Floyd and Abby
The bride and her son at the reception - Remember: she's 6 feet tall!
More can be seen here

I have yet to see a good one of the bride's boots!

[rmisiti]

what a wonderful wedding! that is such my style! hope we can see pics!

[Taglet]

Thank you for sharing! I'm sure Regina's dad was looking down on them with a big grin. So sad though that he couldn't be there in the flesh.

[Little Jamie]

Thank you for sharing! I'm sure Regina's dad was looking down on them with a big grin. So sad though that he couldn't be there in the flesh.

Sad, indeed. Regina said, though, that she was sure he was there, not in the flesh - but in the pee (which would no doubt explain the grin)! "That was SOO my dad!"

[Lmaris]

What a WONDERFUL way to spend a day, and what wonderful friends to have!! Floyd sounds like the perfect greeter, too.

[Amymcree]

Beautiful! Weddings say so much about the people getting married. I can tell these two are heart mates.

Amy

[Alex]

What a unique blend of spirit and in-spirit! At least her father was able to envision what the next day would have been like......It sounds like a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony w/the right people and their personal Noah's Ark in attendance.

[Little Jamie]

Pics added to first post!

[pawsplus]

Now THAT'S an awesome wedding! Love it!

[kurqueen]

How incredibly special... it's made me weep!

[Hottehue]

This is great - thanks for sharing...makes this wedding so much more special than the platinum weddings I have seen on TV

[TJ&Q]

Wow. What an amazing wedding. That is the way it should be. I choked up reading about it and viewing the pictures.

Beautiful.

[slvanek]

We need a lot more weddings like that....wonderful!

[friday]

http://www.hogheavenrescue.org/wedding/ ... um?i=3&s=1

Sorry if I'm being dense.... my brain can't figure out what kind of animal this is?

[Little Jamie]

Sorry if I'm being dense.... my brain can't figure out what kind of animal this is?

Floyd is a pig.

[peachpaws]

This is my favorite wedding album of all time. What neat peoplewith great style and who obviously know how to throw a wonderful party! May Regina and David live in wedded bliss and hog heaven forever and ever. Congrats to them!

[onthebitandbending]

wow, Friday, yah, that's a pig. lol

[draftmom]

Totally choked me up...I admit I am a big time wedding crier.