Wedding in a Rural Community

I just returned from a wedding reception held in Joseph, Oregon, a picturesque community in the Wallowa Mountains four hours from Boise. Planning an event to be held in a rural community four hours from the nearest rental center and three hours from the nearest caterer can be a challenge. It requires creativity and the assistance of numerous friends and family.

The couple married at the court house several months ago. This was their "official" reception for family and friends from Illinois, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California. About 125 guests attended. The reception was held at a retreat center located next to the city park and along the Wallowa River. The center included a large two story lodge with two kitchens and sleeping space for 32, large lawn, and an area away from the main building for a campfire.

The couple and their friends erected a "tent" by placing an orange Forest Service parachute on metal poles. Tables and chairs were borrowed from the community center. Ladies in the community brought tablecloths, which covered only the centers of the tables. They also brought vases of flowers from their gardens to serve as centerpieces. Several also brought food to share.

The bride's two brothers grilled steak, chicken, and pork on a large borrowed grill. Baked beans were served from a large cast iron kettle hanging from a metal tripod. Dessert consisted of brownies, pie, assorted homemade muffins, and the bride's mother's famous truffles.
 

After dinner a brief ceremony was held. The groom's brother-in-law, a Methodist minister originally from Ghana, presided. The ceremony was followed by dancing to music downloaded to a laptop. When it became too dark to see, guests moved to the campfire where the festivities continued until the wee hours.

In the morning, many guests regrouped for breakfast, prepared by the bride and her mother.

Those of us involved in planning special events get so caught up in the necessity to have matching linens and other symbols of uniformity that it was refreshing to see how things are done when those options aren't available. Guests enjoyed the opportunity to get together and no one cared what was on the tables or who provided the food. Rather, they enjoyed time spent together.