KR and I were in Erie this weekend for my youngest sister's wedding. It was held at a hotel near Presque Isle (what the locals call "the peninsula"). On Friday we had the rehearsal outside in the hotel's courtyard, but we woke up on Saturday to steady rain. The ceremony was moved indoors. Whad'ya gonna do?
(On Friday we went to the peninsula to see the sunset It was a bacteria day, so nobody was allowed in the water, but it was the smell that made KR stop short of stepping in. Then, on Saturday morning, KR and I took a drive around the peninsula in the rain. It's a unique ecosystem, with sand, grasses, aspen trees (or are they cottonwoods?), and grapevines threatening to cover everything. The peninsula is full of holes [pdf map], with marinas and wildlife in its little coves and bays. We even found a small bay jammed full of houseboats. Houserafts, I suppose we should call them since they didn't seem to be very mobile. I think they were hunting cabins for fishing.)
A string quintet provided the music for the wedding and my other sister sang. Most of us in the family think she needs to get herself a professional gig, she's that good. Everything my mother and sister are involved with has great music. And I'm pretty snobby about music, especially in church.
Now, I love giving my siblings advice, but I'm not sure what I can offer to a couple who have been together for twelve or fifteen years already. I assume that marriage changes things in a mature relationship just like it does in a young one. But how? Are there changes in expectations once the relationship is legal and binding? Any insights from the readership?