You Want a What Wedding?

From the very beginning, it had been Fred's idea. I stared, figuring out whether or not to laugh at him and ultimately snorted saying "yeah, right, a baseball wedding. Come on, be serious."

He was.

Soon we were putting together pennants, taking pictures for a baseball card and buying a case of baseballs. Painting pots, buying bulk licorice and ordering ivy. Taking hat orders, designing a flower ball, finding pint-sized jerseys and rounding up a dozen old bats.

The very original plan was guys and gals in jerseys on Sherman Field here in Lincoln. After a series of getting-nowhere calls with the City's Parks Department we ended up with a small town church and infused baseball in every step. Rev. Tubbesing embraced the idea - asking at least twice, even I get to wear a ball cap?

Our guests signed baseballs as a guestbook and picked up their programs broken out by innings. I walked down the aisle after a ring bearer in uniform holding our rings in a mit and a flower girl in uniform carrying a baseball-looking flower ball. The guys were all in hats - sharp white ones with the team of their choosing.

Did the I do's and walked down the aisle to the organist playing 'Take me Out to the Ballgame.' Everyone snickered - we grinned. We left the church under a tunnel of baseball bats and were sent off by guests waving their pennants. Climbed on the small bus (what, a limo at a ballgame??) and we were off.

As stated on the program, the 7th Inning Stretch was the drive over and the 8th and 9th Innings were the reception. No stuffy dance for us - just people hanging out, eating baseball food (cracker jacks, hot dogs, popcorn, nuts, etc.) and the groom's ball field cake and looking at the baseball cards we had made as favors. On each table were painted brick wall pots with ivy climbing out and mini baseball hats tucked inside.

It was, by far, the most funnest wedding ever. Happy 5 Years, F.