You never imagine losing the love of your life after 50 years married together, but Alan & Kathy are the perfect examples that finding love again afterward is possible.
They found an abundance of love with each other and decided to celebrate their future together with a nature-filled wedding at the beautiful Victoria Hills Golf Club.
Tell us the story and inspiration behind your wedding.
For the Long’s wedding, we knew only the BEST would do. They wanted to share their love with the world but with covid, we needed to think outside the box. In order to have the most memorable day, we needed to go modern yet traditional.
For the ceremony, we chose live streaming with Live Hub Events. This enabled family and friends who could not travel to be a part of their special day. Their family and a few select friends attended the reception.
With Alan having a passion for the environment we choose a woodsy theme. This natural theme was not only a part of their décor but also guided us in the selection of photography locations on site. The menu consisted of Filet and Salmon paired with wines from our bar.
Why did you choose the Victoria Hills Golf Club as your venue?
Kathy and Alan had their first date at Victoria Hills for Prime Rib. The table that they sat that evening just so happened to be the location of their sweetheart table during their wedding reception. To top it off, when they went for a tour and sat for the consultation that table was the only one available. Which later became their sweetheart table. It was one sign after another that they were to be a part of Victoria Hills’ happy couple list.
What was the most important lesson you learned while planning your wedding?
Never underestimate God’s desire and ability to bless us beyond what we ask. We had prayed for His guidance every step and He heard and answered. He used each of our “vendors” who are now “friends” to hear our story and provide their part of the blessing in cooperation with each other.
What were the personal details of the wedding that are a great reflection of you as a couple?
The songs we sang to each other during the ceremony told the story of our loss and grief after losing our spouses of 50+ years and God’s goodness in bringing us together to share the last chapter of our lives full of hope and love all the while acknowledging the memory and gratitude for them.
We were relaxed and joyful (like we were the only two people in the room). Our “sprinted” exit after the ceremony was accompanied by the “William Tell Overture” reflecting that even given our ages, we were ready to eagerly run into the future with joy and hope.
Tell us some special moments from the day.
Our live streaming of the ceremony fulfilled our hope to share this precious day with family and friends around the country who were not able to attend in person due to Covid. Even the gang who would later serve our meal at Sparrows Grille, gathered and watched the ceremony together.
The preparation for the day (all done within a couple of months) went so smoothly. It was as though we were carried along, each person who became part of our story gave us suggestions, encouragement, and love as they heard our story and wanted to see that everything was perfect. They welcomed and worked with family and friends who wanted to add their special touches to the event.
Family played a key part in planning the ceremony, organizing the music, and prayerful support. The grandsons rocking on the dance floor with the “seniors”, “ The Blessing” being signed and sung by a daughter as a toast continued to express the elements of joy and thanksgiving.
On the photoshoot around the golf course on golf carts, a rainbow appeared in the sky above us as well as the moon, giving the perfect picture of God’s promise in the endless sky and two of His children enjoying His love and blessing.
He had masterminded our union in His perfect plan, kept it secret while we mourned and healed, and revealed it in His time – much quicker than we expected. The day was incredible, and the memory leaves us humbled that we could have such a blessing at this time in our lives.
To Geona at Sparrows, Ana and Maria at Impekable Flowers, Nicole and Mike at Dreamscape
Photography, Patty at Cake Designers, Vinnie at NV Entertainment, and Elijah at Live Hub Events, we give our heartfelt thanks. Most of all, we thank the Lord!!
It’s never too late to find love, even if you’ve found it once before, finding love again is always possible if you keep yourself open to it. The team at Wedding Venue Map love sharing any and all stories of love inspiring our newly engaged couples, local wedding pros, and everyone in between.
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