Emma and Kevin Get Hitched

February 22, 2020: Emma and Kevin are now Mr. and Mrs. Hunt!

I've been blessed with a plethora of beautiful and accomplished nieces. Eighteen of them.

My brother LeRoy has one daughter, Katie. (Not to brag but...oh, heck...yeah, I'm bragging! Katie graduated just last week from the Naval Nuclear Program, described as the most difficult military program in the United States and likely the whole world. So proud of her!)

My sister Karla has seven daughters: Genevieve, Elyssa, Celesta, Brianna, Mariah, Gabrielle, and Addison.

My brother Jeff has eight daughters: Ashley, Amber, Elsie, Emma, Haley, Hayden, Brinley, and Callie.

My brother Darryl has two daughters, Brittany and Savannah.

I also have ten amazing nephews, but this post is about one of those lovely ladies, my niece Emma.

The Gilbert Temple still stands beautiful on a wonderful and drizzly day.

We were up before dawn on Saturday, February 22nd, so we could leave our mountain home by 6:30 and drive down to the LDS Temple in Gilbert, Arizona, for the 10:45 wedding. There, my niece Emma was to be married and sealed to her sweetheart Kevin for this life and for all eternity.

A ghostly drive through Salt River Canyon en route to Gilbert.

A storm system had moved into the state the night before, so we were a little concerned about the drive. Fortunately, the mountain snows didn't start until later that night. (Our hometown awoke to a couple of inches of snow on Sunday morning, but we were asleep at Jacob's place in Mesa by then.) However, we drove through heavy rain and some serious fog (poor visibility) from my house all the way to Superior, a little town at the base of the mountains. As we entered the valley floor, the rain eased a bit but was still pretty steady until later in the afternoon.

We made good time, arriving in Gilbert at 9:30. Unfortunately, I missed the turn to the temple and didn't realize it immediately. Even so, we arrived at the temple by 10:00, in plenty of time for the wedding.

The happy couple walk out of the temple, greeted by cheers.

The sacred sealing ceremony was accomplished a few minutes behind schedule but without flaw, and by 11:30 most of the bride and groom's family and friends were back outside, waiting for the newlyweds to exit the building. The atmosphere inside the temple is hushed and reverential, but outside the happy couple were greeted with cheers and loud congratulations.

One of the last photos where everyone's clothes were still dry!

Meanwhile, the drizzle continued until mid-afternoon, so most of the traditional wedding photos had to be taken outdoors in the rainfall. Not the most sought-after conditions for most new brides, but in years to come it will be part of Emma's cherished memories of this most special day. 

Between pictures, we huddled under our umbrellas. Mine is the pink one.

The bride and groom with Emma's parents, Jeff and Dana; her twelve siblings

with their spouses/fiances; and all eleven of Emma's young nieces and nephews.

Kevin and Emma pose with her parents, Jeff and Dana, and with all

twelve of Emma's brothers and sisters with their significant others.

The bride and groom with just Emma's parents and siblings this time:

Front: Haley, Elsie, Jeff, Kevin, Emma, Dana, Callie, Brinley, and Ashley.

Back: Hayden, Micah, Burke, Amber, Justin, Marcus, and Jamison.

Kevin and Emma with the bride's parents: my brother Jeff

and my sister-in-law Dana.

Kevin and Emma with the bride's maternal grandparents,

Dee and Cheri Beal.

Eight sisters: Brinley, Hayden, Haley, Ashley, Emma, Amber, Elsie, and Callie.

[from left to right]

Emma with her five brothers: Burke, Jamison, Marcus, Justin, and Micah.

Bride and groom with official wedding party: groomsmen and bridesmaids.

Emma shares a light moment with her bridesmaids: Haley, Hayden, and

Brinley on the left; Elsie, Mallory (Emma's cousin), and Callie on the right.

Sarah, Mark, and I get to share a moment with the bride and her parents.

Photo by my talented niece Haley.

After the temple photo-shoot was complete, we headed over to Jeff and Dana's church meetinghouse, where we enjoyed a catered luncheon of tacos, beans, rice, and grilled cheese-stuffed jalapenos at a covered pavilion on the church property. Sarah and I managed to say no to the tortillas and rice, as well as a wide variety of yummy-looking desserts, but we enjoyed pork, beef, and chicken topped with guacamole sauce, pico de gallo, and sliced vegetables, along with a small spoonful of beans.

At the entrance to the wedding reception, from 6:00 to 9:00 that evening.

After the luncheon, we made the twenty-minute drive on to Jacob's house in Mesa and enjoyed visiting. As the time drew near for the wedding reception, Jacob joined us when we returned to the church where the luncheon had been held, which was now all lit up and decorated for the final celebration of the day.

A plaque for the newlyweds' home, with personal messages

written in by guests at the reception. ("H" for their last name, Hunt.)

The wedding cake stands tall amidst the buffet tables.

Colorful mints, chicken-salad-stuffed croissants, sliced vegetables with dip,

grapes and berries, donuts, cake, and cupcakes were abundant.

My sister-in-law Dana prepared a varied and delicious buffet. It was especially nice for us, since it meant we didn't have to eat out much during this trip. We were even able to keep it low-carb by eating the chicken salad without the croissants, the veggies and dip, and the berries: strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Sarah and I kept busy enough visiting with family and friends that we didn't even think about eating wedding cake or any of the other sweets available. After the reception had ended and we'd returned to Jacob's place, we enjoyed some sugar-free chocolates that I'd brought along for that purpose.

Newlywed Emma Hunt dances with her dad, Jeff Butler.

Emma and Kevin enjoy the traditional wedding dance.

Cutting the cake was a sweet moment...

...until the sweet was smeared all over Emma's face!

The evening began to wind down after the tossing of the bouquet.

The bouquet is visible at the very top center of the picture.

Cousins Haley and Sarah enjoy new little first-cousin-once-removed, Lydia,

fourth child and only daughter of their cousin Brianna.

Mommy Brianna with her new little one, Lydia.

Brianna is my sister Karla's daughter.

The evening ended after the newlywed couple braved the gauntlet of family and friends blowing bubbles at them, and then took off in their decorated car for their first night as husband and wife. Despite the wet weather, it was a day of joyful celebration, and we wish them a wonderful forever of love and laughter and togetherness through all of life's ups and downs.

Congratulations, Kevin and Emma!

Emma and Kevin left the church and made their way to the car,

surrounded by well-wishers and floating bubbles.