It is with some fear and trepidation that I sit down to write this post. It's hard to encapsulate such a momentous day in a such a brief blog post. The bottom line is that Taylor and Clayton are married and the wedding and reception went off with no major complications.

Some of the high points from this father of the bride:

• I was so glad that Taylor and I were both up early before the rest of the house. We got to enjoy coffee and breakfast together at the dining room table. It was one of those quiet memories I know I'll treasure.
• I had no idea how much time, effort and energy would be expended running errands, attending to last minute details, and taking care of small fires. At one point I was sent home from the church for clothing tape and a bra. I was waiting for a call to add tampon to the list and the feminine trifecta would have been complete (the joys of being the only man in the house).
• Taylor looked absolutely beautiful in her dress.
• Clayton and his groomsmen, in their uniform grey suits, looked like a scene out of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.
• The tears started as Taylor and I stood in the long line of parents, grandparents, and bridesmaids. Wiping our tears through our joyous laughter and having Madison help "dab" Taylor's tears is another moment I'll always treasure.
• Walking Taylor down the aisle was a surreal mixture of joy and grief. I held it together (pretty much) and was proud to hand her to Clayton and give them my blessing.
• Everyone in the congregation received a candle on their way into the sanctuary. The kids wanted to acknowledge the light and love that each person in attendance had played in their lives. So the lighting of the unity candle started at the back of the Sanctuary. As God Moves Through You (youtube video of the song embedded below) was sung, the candle light made its way towards the front (the stage left side of the sanctuary was a little poky…c'est la vie). The mothers carried the light to Taylor and Clayton who then lit the unity candle. The sanctuary was bathed in the candlelight of almost 300 people as wedding party gathered around the couple to pray for the bride and groom.

• It warmed a father's heart to watch Taylor and Clayton's friends bathing them in prayer, and to watch both Taylor and Clayton break down in tears. After successfully handing Taylor off, I thought I was done having to hold it together. Then Pastor Kevin handed Clayton's dad and me microphones and asked us to pray. Had a hard time making it through that one.
• Mission Accomplished, Taylor and Clayton made a quick exit to the reception hall while the congregation watched their slide show. Most people didn't see them get into "Tabitha," the 1991 Dodge Ram pick-up which Wendy and I bought for the girls to use before Taylor got her driver's license. Taylor balked at the idea of driving a beat-up old pickup to school. Almost four years later, I laughed to watch her drive away from her wedding in it.
• I thought that it was only the bride and groom who are so busy talking to guests that they don't have time to themselves. Wendy and I discovered that there was not enough time to talk to all of our guests as we wished. We barely got a bite to eat.
• Clayton's favorite is "fun-fetti" cupcakes. So, en lieu of a wedding cake, there were fun-fetti cupcakes for all.
• We rented an old-fashioned photo booth for people to take their pictures at the reception. It was a big hit and there was a line at the photo booth all night. Taylor and Clayton will get a CD with all of the photos taken that night. I can't wait to see them all!
• I have never seen Taylor "glow" like I did last night. Our father-daughter dance (to Frank Sinatra singing "Just the Way You Look Tonight") is another memory I'll always cherish. I've never seen her more full of joy. It radiated off of her.
• We sent the new Mr. & Mrs. off to their bridal suite at the hotel and cleaned up the reception all. Wendy and I were absolutely beat when we finally unloaded at home last night.

Mission accomplished.