The wedding at University Church: University of Chicago

So it seems that everything that Lydia and I have done as a family of late has included weather that makes fat people sweat. Friday was no exception. We had a wedding down town Chicago (at 5 pm, hmm, rush hour) that was held in the University of Chicago's University Church. This church is old South Congregational which was built in October of 1860. (Now air conditioning was not invented until 1904.)

The church was absolutley gorgeous complete with rose windows and flying buttresses. It was stone from floor to roof and had those great old mahogany benches that no church in their right mind would use today due to morbid obesity! One interesting thing that I noticed about the church was the only profession of belief that was posted was the fact that it was a nuclear free zone. For those who know their American history they are disassociating themselves from the University. For those who have no clue: google University of Chicago & Nuclear.

The service was short and to the point: love each other and you fulifill the law of Christ. (I Corinthians was the text...word to brides to be: use a different text...too predictable.)
We sang 'Be Thou My Vision', which was nice, and then an African style drummer played and sang the Lord's prayer.

The reception was at "The Cultural Center" which was an enormous villa style retreat that stands on the banks of Lake Michigan. The party was held in the solarium, and it had large picture windows that overlooked Lake Michigan. Anna and Oma walked on the beach, and she was very excited to show off her Arian granddaughter.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment:

Opa (aka "Wahoo" or "Gramps" or "Unkes") and Anna after we found off-street parking that was about a block from the chapel. Opa was a bit nervous leaving his new Lexus SUV parked on the street. (It was on blocks when we got back....just kidding.)
Papa shares a kiss with his rising star who was a hit on the dance floor. (Imagine all those old Dutch women dancing the night away.)
Here is Tina with Anna and Lydia. Tina is the bride's sister. She went to Calvin with Lydia and I (and grew up with Lydia in Blue Island). She got married last year on her husband's family's 40,000 acre ranch in Nebraska amidst a field of Sunflowers. (She is a lot of fun.)
This is the bride Candice. She lives in Boston and is also a Calvin grad. She worked at Four Friends while in school. (Yum...mochas.) Now she is a teacher in inner-city Boston public schools.)
This is not the bride, even though she looks pretty hot. Oma was dressed "casually" (according to her standards), but was stunning as usual. If Germany had a queen...I know who it would be!