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Bennett/Grothoff Wedding - 13 May 2005 - Wuppertal, Germany

 
  Meeting before the wedding at the Rathaus (City Hall) in Barmen - I was still recovering from finding some beardless guy standing there in place of my fiancé! Outside the Rathaus - Me, Christian, Conni (Christian's sister, and our beloved witness), and Christian's grandmother, Luzie Me, Christian, Conni, Oma Luzie, and Tante Ulli (Christian's fantastic and wonderful aunt) The two of us submit to the first of many silly pictures outside of the Rathaus. My confusion about the missing beard has yet to subside. Both of us outside the Rathaus. Christian notices his beard is missing. Yet another picture outside of the Rathaus before the wedding. Our lovely witness, Conni, joins us.  
 

 
  In front, Christian's parents, Hans and Lisa. Lisa tries to get us all into order. We resist. The happy couple has stubbornly remained in the back of the picture. But eventually we succumb. Conni prepares to tango. We begin to tire of pictures. Inside the Rathaus, at the Standesamt, where we will marry. This part consists mostly of hanging around the hall and waiting. Conni is getting really tired of having her picture taken. Christian and I, in front of the cheesy potted plants at the Standesamt. Behind us, a big exit sign (Ausgang). We resisted its allure ;) Christian and I in the waiting room.  
 

 
  By now, two family friends have arrived and have asked to come in and watch. We of course don't mind at all. Everyone sits around and chats. I hang on Christian's arm and chat in English, wondering when they will let us in. Very unflattering closeup taken by the husband. Thanks, C... Ulli admires her flower and waits patiently with Christian's neighbor. I'm not sure if this is exhaustion, laughing, or weeping going on here :) It seemed to take a long time before they let us into the room, though. Finally allowed into the room, the assembled guests listen to the very nice ceremony. No, I'm NOT sleeping. This is the beginning of a smile caught at the wrong time! The German equivalent of the Justice of the Peace talks about marriage. Did I mention she performed a very nice ceremony? It was really lovely. We enjoyed it in spite of everything else that was going on :)  
 

 
  Everyone listens attentively. They aren't kidding when they say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is probably sometime around when she told us we were both "off the free market", something we both found amusing. Still not sleeping. Seriously! Nice floor... (I'm sure this was a mistake, but it IS a nice floor...) We happily say our "I Do"s - or, more correctly, our "Ja"s, looking a bit like naughty schoolchildren. So I was happy, ok???  
 

 
  Yayyyyy! The guests start to mumble "Enough already..." Christian puts the ring on my finger... And I put the ring on his. :) Man and wife. Yikes! Christian's aunt has already tested me by yelling "Frau Grothoff" down the hall, a test which I have failed miserably by not answering! We stand for more pictures. Why, why must I scrunch my face up when I smile? ;) And here you see just how short I am, and how tall my husband is. I was asked to move up a step because I'm so darned short. The two of us giggle like fools. Enough pictures, really.  
 

 
  See, I AM short. I still can't get my chin onto his shoulder. Christian's favorite trick - using my head as a pillow. Christian and I, in front of the clock (in the middle), in front of the Rathaus. Note that the decorated car is NOT ours, and that there's another bride who is rather more fluffily dressed on the right. Smooching in front of Otto von Bismarck. Still smooching in front of Otto von Bismarck. There's something oddly creepy about that, but I still like the picture.  
 

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