40 YEARS AND RUNNING

40 years ago, Dave and I made a commitment to each other; to love, honor and cherish one another.  Happily, we both can attest to accomplishing these ideals. Our wedding on Amelia Island has always been a fun filled remembrance.   With our 4oth wedding anniversary coming in May, we decided to throw a big party to celebrate our love with family and friends.

A little history…We were married on Amelia Island, Fl in 1984.  At the time we both lived in Knoxville, Tn and decided to marry on Amelia, vacation home of Dave’s family.  Dave’s sister, Jane, and her husband Ken were married on Amelia; in fact 5 years earlier, to the same date, same time and same church!

We had a fun filled week celebrating with family and friends, and our rehearsal dinner party was held at Walker’s Landing on The Amelia Island Plantation.  At that time it was a very rustic pavilion with picnic tables on the porch.  Now after many renovations over the years, it is a perfect wedding venue. It still maintains its rusticity, and offers amazing sunset views of the Intracoastal Waterway.  It was a no brainer for us to have our 40th anniversary party at Walker’s Landing.  We also live 3 doors down from this amazing spot.

1984 Rehearsal Dinner Party

To start the Anniversary Celebration, Dave and I hosted a family get together at our home the night before the big party.   This was especially important as all our sisters and their husbands along with all nieces and nephews from both sides of our families were there. (with the exception of one niece, Sarah, who had kids conflicts at school.  We missed you Sarah and Adam!)  And all these nieces and nephews are having kids and we welcomed them all.

Our photographer, Alison Thrift, of Chloetylerphotography came early to photograph all families, together and individually.

The Miller/Lovett Clan

James and Carrie with Wynn and Parks

Lizzy, Kathy and Dave

The Lovett Girls…Lucy, Kathy and Kay

And our husbands, Joe, Dave and Van

Dave with his triplet sisters, Clara, Jane and Liz

And with Kathy and Ken, Jane’s husband

The Lovett Clan…

The Lovett Clan…The Hawkins

The Lovett Clan…The Fillingims

The Miller Clan…The Hynsons

The Miller Clan…The MacDonalds

Sometimes the candid shots are more precious and Alison Thrift of Chloetylerphotography captures many such moments.

And great friends, and groomsmen on the PBR Bench…Rob, Dave and Curt

With Kathy and Robin, the instigators behind the coveted PBR bench

And here’s the PBR bench story

On an antiquing trip in the NC mountains, Robin and I found this old Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Bench.  My father, Jim Lovett drank only PBR beer…tallboys.  When we saw this bench we just had to have it.  It was not cheap.  I tried negotiating but the salesperson said the owner had a special fondness for that bench and he would not come off a dime.  We left the store,  went to discuss over a drink, and then Robin said, “Kathy you just have to get that bench!”  We went back to the store and paid full price,  placed it in Robin’s van and took it back up the mountain to our mountain porch.  It has been on 3 different mountain porches and now resides in our yard on Amelia.

And to this day Dave doesn’t know how much I paid for that bench.  The secret of a good, long marriage…Don’t ask!

The photo of Robin and me after securing the bench for our porch!

 

This was a memorable night for our family!  Since the children were not invited to the big party at Walker’s Landing the next night, we loved including them here at our home, which was originally Dave’s parents home.  I know Pops and Glo were watching over us and were so happy to see this amazing celebration.

Next up our 40th Wedding Anniversary party at Walker’s Landing.

Come celebrate with me.  I’ll save you a seat at the table.