Cloudy skies make way for rainbow at Bluffton wedding

By BABBIE GUSCIO - thestoresc@gmail.com

October 7, 2014 4:01 PM

Randy and Martha Ladermann are pictured with their daughter Lauren and her new husband, Alex Jenkins. Courtesy of Randy Ladermann

The Ladermann family has had a wonderful flurry of activity these past few weeks. After weeks of planning youngest daughter Lauren's wedding, the big weekend arrived. The rehearsal party took place at Rose Hill Plantation. Lindsay Burnett and Brentt Toole of Palm Key Catering did a marvelous job serving up Lowcountry boil. Lauren's father, Randy, caught the shrimp earlier that week. There was also a delicious taco bar.

Saturday was the really big day for the bride-to-be. The wedding was to be an affair held outdoors at the Trosdal family's Linden Plantation. The weather had not been nice at all -- rainy, wet and miserable -- so nerves were a bit on edge. The ladies from The Church of the Cross Flower Guild were busy as bees creating gorgeous bouquets and flower arrangements for the bride and the tables. Lauren and her bridesmaids, Haley Graham Broughton, Summer Berry, Dina Amer, Jilian Caron, Jamie Graves, Catherine Klauber and Ellen Ladermann were as cool as cucumbers getting ready for the ceremony. Mama Martha was on hand dressing the littlest chicks -- her granddaughters, Elizabeth, 3, and Isabelle, 2, in their flower girl ensembles. All the while the clouds were still hanging around in a very threatening manner and time was drawing nigh.

Lauren's husband-to-be, Alex Jenkins, had served in the Marine Corps and had been deployed twice to Afghanistan so a few clouds were nothing to him. His groomsmen, most of whom had served with him, were from all over the country; they, too, were calm. Alex's brother, Jake Jenkins, and good friend from Dallas Diego Rocha were full of good cheer so spirits were high.

At the appointed hour, Lauren's father took his daughter's arm and the ceremony began. Alex was very handsome in his uniform as he watched his beautiful bride walk toward him. The Trosdals had built a beautiful wooden cross at the edge of the marsh under which the bride and groom stood. Just as the Rev. Jonathan Riddle began the ceremony, a beautiful rainbow appeared over the gathering. As the couple said "I do," a lovely sunset topped off the whole scene.

Well, you can just imagine a great sigh of relief. Everybody cheered for the couple as they headed to the reception. Palm Key Catering again outdid itself. What a menu: shrimp and grits shooters, stuffed mushrooms, roasted pork that had been wrapped in bacon, collards stuffed with pine nuts and feta cheese, green bean bundles beautifully arranged in a squash ring, a potato bar with all the toppings you could ever want, and a mandarin orange salad. The wedding cake was topped with a G.I. Joe and Barbie doll.

After all of the marvelous food, guests were off to the dance floor and a very fun photo booth. Some of the Bluffton friends photographing themselves were Barbara Anne, Casey and Rufus Weaver, Maury, William and George Moody, Jane and Steve Kiser, and Susan and John Treadaway with Jordan and J.P. I have to say, the mother of the bride looked spectacular in an amazing coral sheath.

Happy trails to the lovely couple. There surely was someone looking down on you that day.

When Swiss cows are put out to pasture in the spring they are fitted with five-pound cowbells around their necks. They wear the bells so farmers can locate them in the Alps. Unfortunately, it has been found that the cows ate much less when wearing the bells than cows who did not. Cows have much more sensitive hearing than humans. To the Swiss bovines, the bells sound like a jackhammer. Now scientists have created something new: Lighter bells fitted with a microchip so farmers can find their wandering flock via their smartphone. Who'd a thunk it? I must say the sound of those bells is beautiful when the cows are driven down from the mountains in the fall.

We spent last Tuesday evening at a charming coffee shop in Savannah called Foxy Loxy. My niece Sarah Paris is a student at Savannah College of Art and Design, and we were celebrating her birthday. It is always fun to get together with her because she has such interesting friends. At the party we met Billy Otto, a musician from Australia; Grace Shim, a social media-marketing rep with Red Bull; Phong Dang, a DJ named MegaBat who does music for Savannah Fashion Night; and Rose Stevenson, who hails from Paris and is employed by Marc Jacobs.

I have a great affection for all the birds I hear and see in parking lots. In spite of all the commotion going on around them, they are very cheerful and sing their hearts out. I am particularly fond of the mockingbirds that live in the trees in the Publix parking lot. They are, it seems, always there to greet me. I looked up mockingbirds on the Internet to find out more about them. They are the state bird of five states and have been used in book titles, popular songs and lullabies. The Northern mockingbird, which ours is, has been found to be very intelligent. They usually stay put unless the weather turns very cold, then they head South. I knew they were smart. I have asked other people if they ever notice the birds and have never had a yes. Have you?

Save the date on March 6. The Hilton Head Cancer Ball will be held at the Sonesta Resort. The Headliners Band will have you dancing the night away. Monty Jett will be master of ceremonies; we all love Monty. The wonderful Sonny Huntley will serve as the auctioneer for the event. Details: www.hiltonheadcancerball.org.

Babbie Guscio is the social columnist for The Bluffton Packet. She can be reached at The Store on Calhoun Street.

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This story was originally published October 7, 2014 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Cloudy skies make way for rainbow at Bluffton wedding."

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