Wedding Memories by Nancy M Bell

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My Goodness! Wedding memories...that's a long time ago I'm afraid. It will be 42 years next May 7th that we've been married. We got married on the first Saturday in May which is Kentucky Derby Day. Seattle Slew, who went on to sire many stakes winning offspring, won the Derby in 1977. Half my guests went home to watch the race between the ceremony and the reception. Us? We went to the barn to have pictures taken with my horse Brandy, Brandance Kaine if you want to be formal. You gotta love my Barbra Streisand hair, this was in the era of the Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand A Star is Born. Ye gads, what was I thinking???

On our 24th Anniversary we went to the Kentucky Derby. Had to fly into Nashville and drive to Louisville. Got a hotel in Lexington and toured the beautiful bluegrass horse country. Saw Claiborne Farms, ABC Farms and so many more. It was an amazing adventure. Fusaichi Pegasus won the Derby that year. His bloodlines include Native Dancer on the top as well as Count Fleet (another derby winner) and Nasrullah, Polynesien, and on his dam's side he has Northern Dancer - the 1964 winner of the Derby and bred by Windfield Farms- Nearctic who goes back to Nearco, and Halo - who sired Sunny's Halo (a Canadian horse who won the 1983 Derby) and Sunday Silence who won the 1989 Derby, and Hail to Reason.
It was hot as all get out and all along the small side roads leading to the grounds of Churchill Downs were tents set up in small front yards selling BBQ and all sorts of amazing food. It was like all of Louisville was having a street party. We didn't have seats, just rush tickets so we staked out a place by the first turn. We could see the start gate and were pretty close to the finish line. The first turn in the infield is where families congregate, the Clubhouse turn is where the college kids hangout and is pretty wild. Lots of Planters Punch and Mint Julep consumed and it was not cheap! We got the souvenir glass but it was pretty small. Only one for us. LOL

Here are some photos from our wedding day. You'll notice Brandy is not thrilled about my veil flying in his face. Stupid thing stuck to everything including Doug's tuxedo jacket. Epic fail! LOL

The Wedding Party.

We were so young and so certain we knew what we were doing. I've never regretted it. I was 20 and Doug was 21. We met at a wedding on my 19th birthday where he was an usher and I caught the bride's bouquet. it was a wedding neither of us really wanted to be at (except in my case the free birthday booze as this was still in the era of free open bars at weddings. We got engaged on my 20th birthday and married the following May.

Until next month, stay well and happy.