The Wedding of Sean and Jacklyn ~~ #TwoPetersInAPod

December 18, 2022 dawned bright and chilly but warmed up later in the day, and turned out to be a perfect day. We were looking at the weather all week as it showed rain and low 60's but by afternoon it was in the high 60's and sunny. Jacklyn and Sean rented The Barn at Lone Oak Acres in Parrish, Florida, a beautiful wooded area with an outside bar, fire pit, and a huge barn where the reception was held. 

Jacklyn and Sean started seeing each other in August 2020 then, in September, Jacklyn texted me that she had a new boyfriend. She met him at the gym and they hit it off. Their intention then was for Sean to meet her family, and she his. They had already gone to visit with our long time friends Bill & Julie Mars. We have known the Mars family since 1979, although I know Jim has known Bill longer than that. Sean got a two thumbs up from Bill, which made us feel good because we know Bill would give his honest feedback. Bill and Julie watched our children grow up and Bill even calls Jacklyn his "second daughter."

Since we reside in Texas and they in Florida, it was going to be a long trip for us to head east for us to meet Sean, so at the beginning of 2021, we started on our way east. It took us a few months to get there, taking our time and visiting places on the way. We finally met Sean in March 2021 when they came to Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville, Florida  for the Tin Can Tourists rally.  We also got to meet Sean's daughter, Jayden, who happens to be the same age as our grandson, Jason. 

Sean and Jacklyn have a few things in common, the most important one being they are both cancer survivors ~~ she from ovarian cancer in 2015 and he from thyroid cancer. Sean already had one half of his thyroid removed and in March 2021 he had the other half of his thyroid removed. 

In March 2021 we were staying at Bill & Julie's back yard, in a special spot that Bill put in for us and other friends to stay in their RV's. Jacklyn and Sean came Saturday the 28th with Jayden to spend the day and night.  Sean came down to the trailer to “have a talk with us.” It was a good talk as he and Jacklyn are very serious with each other and he wants to eventually marry her. He came down to mention that and being old school, ask our permission for her hand. As they both have been through a divorce, he wanted to make sure that Jacklyn and Jayden got along, which they do fabulously. We were very honored that Sean came to the trailer to ask for Jacklyn's hand; it was very emotional and moving. 

They made a trip to New Hampshire to meet Sean's family.

Sean's Mom, Debra with Sean and Jacklyn

Sean's Dad, Gary with Sean, Jacklyn and Jayden

Bill & Julie Mars with Sean, Jacklyn and Jayden

Over Memorial Day weekend 2021 they made a trip to north Georgia so Sean could meet Jacklyn's Uncle Jack (Jim's brother) and Erin, Jacklyn’s best friend.

Sean and Jacklyn with Jack & Tam'ra Kerch

Jacklyn and Erin (Maid of Honor)

 

I did not find any pictures of Erin, Jacklyn and Sean together, but I did find this picture of Jacklyn and Erin from a few years ago. Erin and Jacklyn have been best friends since college at ABAC in south Georgia (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College).

Then over July 4, 2022 weekend, they made a trip to Texas so Sean could meet Josh (Jacklyn's brother), Karen, Ellie and Jason. It just so happened that we were on our way back to Texas at that time, so we stopped in Houston for the weekend and were able to visit with our family. Jayden and Jason are in the front; they are the same age, and they all get along very well.

Kerch Family

They also got together with some of their friends for a camping weekend.

Sean wanted to meet Jacklyn's whole family before he officially proposed, which happened on August 18, 2021.  She knew it was coming as he has already bought her a ring ~~ so I know he was serious! In August they also had their "engagement party."

Engagement pictures:

Planning and deciding on a wedding day takes a lot of planning. At first they were going to get married in March 2023, but the date they picked out would not work for the the three of them, so they ended up deciding on December 18, 2022. Now why did they pick the 18th? They were adamant about the wedding being on the 18th as both of their birthdays are also on the 18th, so a December wedding put the months in a sequence: January 18 (Sean), February 18 (Jacklyn), August 18 (proposal), and finally December 18 (wedding).

I could put more pictures of Sean, Jacklyn and Jayden, but let's get to the wedding day. I was able to take a few pictures, and am hoping to get more from other people who took pictures. Jacklyn and Sean will get a book from the photographer, but those are not shared with everyone. 

Saturday after we had our rehearsal and rehearsal luncheon, we climbed in Jacklyn's car and went to Gypsy Mermaid Nail and Spa in Apollo Beach to get our nails done. We got there around 3pm, and they finally finished with the last of us around 7pm. 

Justin & Lisa Kelly with Laurel

Lisa took charge on Sunday and did an excellent job at coordinating everyone throughout the wedding ceremony and reception.

We had a get together Saturday evening at the house Josh & Karen and Jack & Tam'ra were staying at. It was a real nice house, rented through Air B&B, which is owned by friends of Sean's. It has a swimming pool, hot tub, two master bedrooms, and a smaller bedroom with two twin beds. There were two living room areas, a dining room, an outside patio with table and chairs, and many other amenities. 

Down at the venue, The Barn has two Airstream trailers set up for the men and women to use as dressing rooms. They were set up really nice, and we had lots of room to sit and wait for the ceremony. Danielle came down from Apollo Beach and spent Sunday morning and part of the afternoon doing our hair and makeup. I was first in line for hair and makeup, and then headed back to the trailer to get Jim.

Jacklyn, Gayle (MOB), and Danielle

Jim dressed and ready to head to the venue

Juliella Kerch, Junior Bridesmaid, all finished with her hair and makeup.

Jacklyn was last in line for hair and makeup. She then had Jim and I come into the trailer, and gave us our gifts. I got a pair of pearl earrings, which I put in my ears for the wedding, and she gave Jim a Leatherman inscribed with "Always your little girl -- Jacklyn." She also gave Jayden a necklace with two rings connected which had both of their birth stones on them. She then held Jayden close and told her how much she loved her. It was very beautiful -- it's obvious how much they love each other. 

On to the wedding venue ~~ 

The tables were beautiful with linen table cloths, green cheesecloth draped over the middle with flowers and candles in the centerpiece. Since we were having waffles, steak and eggs for dinner, there were small bottles of maple syrup at each setting. Jacklyn gave each table a name and had name cards in front of the plate so that when people picked up their name card at the welcome table, it let them know which table they would be sitting at and their seat. The names of the tables were named for a specific reason ~~ they were all places the two of them have visited.

The Kids' Table

A few of their friends and family have children, along with Sean, so they had a "childrens' table" where they could gather and play. There were coloring books and crayons to keep them occupied.

Children's Cake and the Wedding Cake

At the beginning of the driveway there was a walkway off to one side with benches for the guests where the wedding itself was to be held. The wedding party walked down the path and Jacklyn and Jim hid around the corner and showed up last to walk down the path. Pastor Steven hosted the ceremony and was his jovial self that we enjoy at church as well.

After the ceremony we lined up across from each other and were given small cones of flower buds to throw onto Jacklyn and Sean as they walked down between us. 

Josh & Karen Kerch Family

Juliella & Jason Kerch

Now to the inside of the barn for dinner, then the dances with the bride and groom, and father and daughter dances. Sean did dance with his mom, but I did not get a picture of them dancing.

For the father/daughter dance, they played Butterfly Kisses. The first part of the song was with Sean dancing with Jayden, then the end of the song was Jim and Jacklyn dancing.

The DJ did a great job with different songs, which Ellie and Jayden really enjoyed. They danced and danced, sometimes together, and also apart. I think Ellie did not stop smiling the whole evening -- she had the best time of her life. The DJ even did a couple of line dances, so I was actually able to dance, along with Jack, Tam'ra and some others.

Jim even got out there and danced with his granddaughter.

Sean's Mom, Debra with Sister-in-law Britney

Time for the cutting of the wedding cake. Jacklyn and Sean had been talking about the tradition of shoving cake into each other's faces, and Jacklyn was adamant that she did not want Sean doing that. Let's see what happened ~~ 

Josh and Gayle's brother, Bill Balach

The evening ended around 9pm and then clean up began. Monday night we had a get together and white elephant gift exchange. Monday's party was a great ending to a wonderful weekend.

The Kerch & Peters Families