The Reception

We thanked everyone for coming to the sealing; my escorts Brent & Rita Richards, Jeff's parents, Jim Blaser, Darrell Richards, Stanford Durrant, Ralph & Linda Bigler (my 7th grade teacher & his wife), and Don & Abby McCrary...along with other friends who were actually in the endowment session but attended my friend Steven Sorenson's sealing to his wife, Donna, in another room at the same time. It was late & I was starving!

We hadn't made arrangements to stay anywhere, so we just started driving. Everything that we passed said "no-vacancy" so we just kept driving...all the way to Santa Monica...Malibu...still nothing! We finally stopped at a Jack-in-the-box on Hwy 1 in Malibu. We decided to head back to Bakersfield through Thousand Oaks/Simi Valley, still looking until we found a Heritage Motel in Sherman Oaks. We spent our wedding night in a sketchy motel - exhausted!

The following morning we went home & got ready for our reception at the Hockey Hauler Ranch. Mom & I didn't have a clue about planning a wedding so we had asked Bonnie Hargis for advice. We didn't have money for a venue so Bonnie offered her back yard. We couldn't afford to feed people so we decided to keep it simple with cake & punch...but we served it in a fancy drink fountain & there was a fountain underneath my cake! So fancy! Bonnie said she'd like to contribute & offered to make a couple of water melon fruit bowls. Mom paid $50 for our friend's band to come & play so we could dance. The was some concerns about the guys renting tuxes, the Carter's just wanted the guys to wear their church suits - the problem was, none of my side of the family went to church nor owned a suit! So Dennis scored a good deal on the tux rentals through a softball buddy & I chose baby blue with a yellow rose boutineer...my bridesmaids held a yellow rose.

I was VERY disappointed with our photographer. He was super expensive, but I was told to invest in the photos because this is where you will remember your special day. He was late, so people were showing up as he is starting to take photos & by the time he finished, the lighting was so poor. The photos are out of focus & the color has faded through the years. But after all is said & done, I'm still married...

Even though the quality of these pix aren't great - I love the way Mom is looking at me...she's hopeful for me & happy to be my mom.

L-R: Cindi Hargis, Lorrie Hargis, Donna Greer, Kiki Mulliner, Carol Churchwell & Michelle Harney, flower girl...
Me & Jeff, Jim Blaser, Tim Carter, Tony Carter, Terry Harwell, Dennis Harwell, Darin Hargis

Mom, Me, Jeff, Terry & Dennis

Granny Cowell, Me & G'pa 

Dad gave me a $2.00 Bill right before this was taken & told me it was good luck. He said to keep it in my wallet so I will always have money...it is still in my wallet.

Dad, Nell, Me & Jeff, Terry & Dennis

The Carters - Tony, Tim, Me & Jeff, Johnnie & Winston

The Hargis'- Cindi, Lorrie, Bonnie, Me & Jeff, Ben, Darin

People were generous...

The Band - Billy Joe Sheets & friends

Everyone seemed to have fun dancing. It was a nice little party & people were generous...until my Uncle Tom got carried away & decided to throw me & Jeff into the swimming pool! No pictures to prove it, but the chlorine discolored my dress & I'm not sure Jeff's tux was totally dried out when they returned it the next day.

We spent that night at John & Deber's...the next night at Bonnie & Ben's...& our last night in Bakersfield at Mom's. We were packed & ready for our HONEYMOON!