Last June I received several comments about the article on my wedding entitled; “And the Bride Cried.”  Well, today I will share Cathy’s story and you can decide if my sister’s wedding had even more disasters than mine.

After a short engagement, Cathy and Pete set a wedding date of June 27.  The morning began with a sunny sky and warm temperatures, perfect day for a wedding. Since the reception was going to be at home we worked very hard getting everything just perfect. By that afternoon, the decorations were finished, the caterer had arrived and the bride was happy as she prepared to dress.  The wedding was planned for 7:00 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m. it began to rain.  The rain was not a torrential storm like at my wedding, but never- the- less, it drizzled the entire evening. The beautiful church wedding went off with out a hitch and soon after, the happy couple headed for the reception.  That is when the trouble began.

It is my understanding that Pete had executed his share of groomsmen pranks during his younger days.  However, the stunt that is most famous is when Pete and some of his pals from Lakeview seized their good friend on the eve of his wedding, took his clothes, placed him in a hog trailer, drove him to an undesirable part of town, and proceeded to auction him off.  I am sure it was funny at the time to the groomsmen, but apparently the groom found no humor in the situation.  Evidently, Pete’s buddy was just waiting for the opportunity to get even. 

When Cathy and Pete arrived at the reception, the groomsmen grabbed Pete and immediately handcuffed him to the car.  No problem, Mr. Dennis, the photographer, had a handy set of handcuff keys and soon the groom was a free man, so to speak.  Whew, glad that was over and the celebration could continue.  Many of you remember in the early 70’s the bridal party and guest had to endure the “receiving line” before anyone could have any fun.  For the next hour or so, Pete was safe in the domain of friends, family, and of course the mother of the bride who was in control. While the couple was in the house protected by their friends, the groomsmen were waiting outside like a pack of hungry wolves, patiently looking for an opportunity to capture the groom again.

Understanding the dilemma the couple faced, my daddy quietly told Pete and Cathy he had a ladder in the back yard they could use to leave with out any one knowing. The plan was in place.  Daddy positioned the ladder at the window of an upstairs bedroom and Uncle JD drove his car next door prepared to carry the bride and groom to their hidden car.  It was a plot right out of a movie.  The first issue of course was to get Cathy out the window, down the ladder in high heels and a dress. Once down, she and Pete sprinted across the dark back yard to the waiting car.  However, the couple was not prepared for the clothes line they encountered that almost decapitated the bride. Finally the couple was in the safety of the get-a-way car thrilled that they had outsmarted the waiting groomsmen.

Soon after Cathy and Pete left, Momma announced that the couple had “left the building.”  The groomsmen were enraged that they had been outsmarted and went all through the house thinking that Pete was hiding and just waiting for them to leave.  That is when the real trouble began.

The week before the wedding Cathy and Pete worked diligently preparing their future house for the groomsmen to use for the weekend.  The groomsmen apparently did not appreciate the hospitality for on returning to the house after the wedding, Pete’s friends literally tore the place to pieces.  All the furniture was turned over, mattresses were thrown off the beds, clothes and boots were taken out of the closet and put in the tub filled with water.  Walls were marked with unkind words, the air was let out of the tires of the car in the yard and the distributor cap was taken.  It was a disaster, but it was the condition the couple found their cute little house as they returned from their honeymoon. 

Perhaps the biggest difference in my sister and me is that she never cried.  Except for the house calamity, Cathy probably thought it was all just a great adventure that made a wonderful story.  Personally, I think this account could be an important lesson to anyone wanting to play a prank at a wedding.  Just remember, it might come back to haunt you.  Congratulations to Cathy and Pete on 41 years together.