Scott and Chantel are married on a perfect day.....

I cooked meatloaf for Scott on his last Sunday dinner with us as a single person.  I know it was silly but it was one of his favorite dinners so it was fun to do it for him.  They spent the weekend getting things moved into their apartment in Ogden near Weber State.  They both have 3-4 semesters left until graduation. On Monday they were hanging pictures and putting candles on their end table.  It is darling.  They have a cute style together.

Tuesday was the BIG day and it was a big day and perfect................the weather even cooperated with beautiful skies with fluffy clouds and a slight breeze in the morning and not too hot through the day, although we did get a bit hot while taking pictures outside the temple after their noon wedding.

I don't have the best selection of pictures but will share some.  The day started with them doing pictures around the temple grounds in Salt Lake with their professional photographer.  Then we gathered in the temple with family and some friends for their marriage.  They were married by the temple president, President Sheldon Child.  He is a close friend of Gary's family as they were next door neighbors for over 20 years or so.  (Side note:  Pres. Child was Gary's bishop at the time we got married and attended our wedding with his wife in the Provo Temple.  In addition, we also were married by the temple president of Provo although we did not know him.--another story--Another connection is that he was also my brother Scott's mission president in New York City back in the early 1990s.  And as it turned out, Chantel's grandparents also knew him as they both were in the furniture business and were competitors throughout their careers.  That was fun for them.)  Knowing him added a sweet touch for all of us especially for Gary's mom.  Scott and Chantel looked beautiful and so in love.  Chantel's mom had the best view of Scott's face during the ceremony and she commented later on the sweetness of the emotion on his face.  She was very touched by that.

Mr. and Mrs. (Bro. and Sis.) Hall

Afterwards we headed outside to wait for them to come out for the family pictures on the temple steps.  For some reason they came walking out of a different door than we expected so we weren't quite ready to get pictures, but here they are.     

Getting everyone up on the steps of the temple

the new Hall family

with the rest of the Halls

We were quick with our pictures and were ready for lunch about 45 minutes early but luckily they were ready and we were able to start 30 minutes early.  We had it at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building which is a couple of minutes walk from the temple.  This building was originally the Hotel Utah (where my parents actually spend their wedding night almost 56 years ago.)  It was redone and now a beautiful spot to hold parties, meals, and other events.  There is also a Family History Library, restaurants, and other things that are there.  The meal was great and we had fun giving advice to Scott and Chantel as we ate dinner.

It is hard to see in this picture, but there is a good view of the temple out the window.

Then we headed to our homes to get ready for the reception which was held at Chantel's grandparents home.  Chantel's parents, grandparents and family did an amazing job with the food and the reception in general.  It was beautiful and perfect for Scott and Chantel.  It reflected their personalities and taste and what they wanted to celebrate their marriage.  It was wonderful to share this day with our friends and family who came to visit.  It was fun as we had friends we knew from most places we have lived in Utah plus Texas friends at the reception.  Gifts have come from friends from Hong Kong as well as our friends enjoy the moment as well.  (My camera was full because I had forgotten to download the memory card at the beginning of the day. I will add pictures from Jessica's in the next day or so.) 

The reception ended around 9:30 and Gary and I got home about 11:30 after doing a few things to help clean up and to spend time getting to know some of Chantel's family better. 

While I was dancing with Scott, I asked him about the day and the reception.  He said things were perfect.  "There is my friends at the back of the yard visiting, family and friends are milling around eating good food, and see those little kids wrestling in the grass having fun.  It is just the way to we wanted it and a perfect start our lives."  What could be better than that!

We watched them open presents the next evening and helped them get the gifts into their cute apartment late Wednesday night.  Scott had a final today and they are off on their official honeymoon--a cruise to Western Caribbean and then a couple of days with Chantel's sweet grandparents from Florida.  They will be back just a few days before school starts and life begins in earnest...............

As a side benefit to having a wedding, my sister and three of her children came from AZ to attend.  They stayed a couple of more days and we had some talking time and some playing time.  It was fun and our house seems quiet now that they are gone.

All in all, a wonderful week and we are so thrilled to have Chantel as part of our family forever and to share Scott with her amazing family, too.