Here Comes The Bride!

Twenty years ago today, my son, Jason, married his sweetheart, Kortnee Conway, in a chapel on the campus of Loretto Heights College. It was a lovely Colorado Fall day, much like today.

All brides are beautiful, but none more so than Kortnee. Jason was handsome, of course. Their girls, Devon and Tyler, were lovely ~ Devon, as a bridesmaid in a stunning, dark maroon dress, and Tyler, a junior bridesmaid, dressed all in white with a string of pearls around her neck.

Jason’s brother, Garth. was his best man. The bridal party, friends of the bride and groom, were young and carefree, eager to celebrate and wish Jason and Kortnee a long, happy life together.

People came from far away for the wedding. Both of Jason’s grandmothers were there. Kortnee’s family came in a caravan from Missouri. Jim’s family and my friends were there, too. We all stood outside the church before the ceremony, waiting to cheer Kortnee and the bridesmaids as they arrived in a white limousine. 

I would like to tell you that the wedding went off without a hitch. That wouldn’t actually be true. It was my fault. 

It was my responsibility to arrange for the music at the church. Jim hired Stacy, an extremely talented soloist from his church, to sing. She was awesome. 

I hired a pianist I didn’t know. He came highly recommended but he was fussy about what he would and wouldn’t play. Under no circumstances was he going to play “Here Comes The Bride.”

In the hustle and bustle before the wedding, I forgot to clear that with Kortnee. She had her heart set on “Here Comes The Bride.” I remembered there was a problem when the pianist started to play. No one knew the song he was playing but the bridesmaids came up the aisle and took their places anyway.

Meanwhile, Kortnee’s father was in the back of the chapel, waiting for Kortnee to appear. But there was no Kortnee. She was behind a door, waiting for her cue. She wasn’t coming out until she heard “Here Comes The Bride.” 

At the last minute, Stacy realized what the problem was. An experienced musician, she always carried a copy of “Here Come the Bride” in her briefcase, for moments like this. She grabbed the music, plopped it down in front of the pianist and hissed, “You’ve got to play this. Now!”

Mr. Pianist played beautifully, if somewhat reluctantly. Kortnee came into the hallway, met her father, and walked radiantly down the aisle. I took a deep breath and knew that everything was going to be ok.

After the wedding ceremony, Jason and Kortnee, Devon and Tyler, got back in the limo for a ride to the reception. The rest of us carpooled to a charming restaurant in the Denver foothills. There was music. There was an open bar. There was a full buffet. There were toasts and dancing and children chasing each other around the room. 

Outside there was a pond, with live fish and rocks painted with good wishes. It was a perfect beginning for a loving marriage surrounded by family and friends.

As I write this memory, my heart is filled with both joy and sadness for Jason and the girls. Jason and Kortnee had fifteen good years together. They had two children, Connor and Max, who grew up in a house filled with love. They went on day trips to the mountains and family vacations. They traveled to the East Coast to see both Devon and Tyler graduate from college. 

But Kortnee’s life was cut short five years ago when she had a sudden cardiac arrest.  She will always be remembered. She will always be missed.

Here Comes the Bride! A beautiful, happy bride! May she rest in peace.