50!

No, I’m not referring to some obscure line in an Anniston/Stiller movie – this past week my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! 🙂

Held in the Fountainview room of the MCM Elegante’ hotel, it was standing-room only for friends and family of the groom and his bride. Note: If you are viewing this on our Facebook page, the images are much nicer on the actual blog post.

They look so young still, they were obviously married as small children:





Mom, dad and I went to hotel the night before for a few portraits:





Little did mom know, dad had a reason for doing so, as he shaved his beard of 20+ years off the next day in preparation for the evening’s festivities. 😀 When I saw him the next day I only knew it was him when he was talking – he looked like a completely different person 🙂

As the party began, people from all over Southeast Texas began coming in for the celebration. Some we’ve seen every day and some we hadn’t seen in 10 or more years, but all were affected in a positive way by the couple – mom recently “retired” after more than 30 years working as an RN and caring for cancer patients, dad still running his business Ayres, Inc. 6 days a week for the last 40 years.

Speaking of legacy, here are a few of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that were in attendance:





Cake! 🙂





Mom and dad cutting their cake, they make such a lovely couple 🙂





See? I told you he looked different! 🙂
Dancing and toasts soon followed:








That’s how much he loves her, I’ve never ever seen him dance before! 🙂 Mom did a little more singing and dancing with her BFF Freda:





😀
Great evening! The couple will celebrate their half-century of wedded bliss with a tour of the Ireland coast (and hills) this Spring. 🙂