Last weekend was a time of celebration for my family.

We were delighted to join in Saturday’s festivities surrounding the marriage of two wonderful young people, Sarah Ellen Leverette and Caleb Gardner—no blood kin, but we sure like to claim them as our own.

Both Sarah Ellen and Caleb are former students of mine (as their siblings, Jennings, Josh and Abbie); both are sterling examples of good Christian parenting on the part of their folks, Nancy and Tommy Leverette and Mollie Pouncey and Jimmy Gardner.

(Those apples did not fall far from their respective trees.)

I have known Sarah Ellen’s father, Tommy, my entire life.

Every time I see that sweet dimpled smile of his, I catch of a welcome glimpse of his late mother, the beloved friend and neighbor we called ‘Miss’ Minerva.

I reminded Nancy (a lady who certainly knows how to put on a proper southern wedding) about the wedding she directed exactly 18 years ago this past Sunday out in Honoraville–my own.

I hope that Sarah Ellen and Caleb will remember more of their actual wedding ceremony than either Benny or I do.

All we seem to recall is yours truly walking in the front door on Daddy’s arm and Benny and I grinning like possums at each other as our eyes met. Then it's a complete blank until we walked out arm in arm after it was all over.

I assume we repeated our vows, exchanged rings and kissed.

I’ve been told it was a lovely ceremony. To be honest, Benny and I have absolutely no recollection of the nuptials.

However, we do have an authentic marriage certificate tucked away somewhere, so let me assure you we have not been living in sin these past eighteen years—just a slight state of mental confusion.

I couldn’t help noting that Caleb had that same huge smile on his face when his beautiful bride walked in with her proud papa on Saturday.

And the unfortunate rain that fell that afternoon may have dampened dresses and hairdos—but it didn’t—couldn’t—possibly dim the glow of happiness I saw in the couple's eyes when I congratulated them at the reception.

I hope Mack Russell was able to capture that glow with his camera.

I’m glad I was able to be there to store it away in my bank of precious mental memories.

I love a pretty wedding, don’t you?

I just wish I could remember mine…thank goodness for photos!

Angie Long is a columnist and Lifestyles writer for the Greenville Advocate.

She can be reached by e-mail at along@alaweb.com or by calling (334) 382-5145 and leaving a message.