Shannon here: Gail Pallotta shares all about her real-life wedding, plus info on her latest Romantic Suspense, Hidden Danger, and a chance to win a Kindle copy, U.S. only. Deadline: March 22nd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Gail:
Marriage under the Goalpost
When I worked in downtown Atlanta many years ago, an early 1900’s church with beautiful sandstone siding and stained-glass windows sat across the street. I attended on Sundays. I also went to their chapel sometimes on my lunch hour during the week. It was so peaceful with stained-glass windows, dark paneling and wooden pews.
After my fiancé proposed, I realized due to family circumstances, I would handle my wedding. Fortunately, a wedding planner, who lived near me, offered her services. I, however, chose the location—the chapel in the early 1900’s church.
When I asked to use it, a woman in the church office said, “Yes, I’ll reserve it now and send information to you later.”
Excited, I had the wedding planner print my invitations.
The only thing, it was an Episcopal Church. My grandfather was a traveling Presbyterian minister, who planted churches in the far reaches of the North Carolina Mountains, Tennessee and Kentucky in the early 1900’s. So, what did this have to do with my wedding? A lot.
The wedding planner did a great job with the altar. (We are actually in a gymnasium)
After I received my invitations, I got the information from the historic church. Unfortunately, I wasn’t amember and couldn’t afford to pay for using the chapel. I was convinced the turn of events meant my deceased grandfather wanted me to marry in a Presbyterian Church. I looked at my invitations, which I needed to mail ASAP, sighed and called a Presbyterian Church. Then, I spent several long nights marking through the address on the invitations before I sent them. By now, I’m sure many brides, former brides and brides-to-be are horrified.
Nonetheless, that’s how my husband and I ended up getting married underneath the goalpost in a gym.
The Presbyterian minister said, “I’m happy to marry you, but the main church is under renovation. If you don’t mind getting married in the gym.”
We’ve been married fifty-three years.
Unfortunately, Emily, the heroine in Hidden Danger, was left standing at the altar on her wedding day, then becomes a target for a criminal when she went to Sky High Campground in Western North Carolina to heal the heartache.
Question for Readers: Do you know of, or have you experienced a wedding glitch?
About Gail: Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former Grace Awards Finalist and a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner, she’s published seven books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums. She loves to connect with readers. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – Hidden Danger:
After Emily Hanover’s left standing at the altar in Blue Mountain, North Carolina, she goes to Sky High Campground to put her life back together. Because it’s February and few people come here this time of year, she’s alone on the premises. When noises in the middle of the night frighten her, she gathers her courage and peeks outside. A man carrying a body over his shoulder emerges from the dark shadows onto her front yard. Horrified, she collapses onto the floor.
The next morning, she visits ex-military officer turned security guard, Nick Lancaster. He listens intently to Emily, but dismisses her claim of foul play as a hunter carrying a deer. Finally, after he sees a freshly dug hole in Emily’s yard and finds two more in the woods, he agrees—there’s suspicious activity. Then he and Emily embark on a mission exposing murder and a far-reaching sinister plot, neither suspecting danger can bring romance.
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Come back March 12th for Caryl McAdoo!
My husband was late for our wedding. My mom was in a panic but he’d been chronically late while we were dating so I knew he’d arrive eventually! And he did. We celebrated our 41st anniversary last October.
We had a very small in home wedding. Our best man had a scheduling issue and had to back out about a week prior. My husband’s uncle was going to do it and got sick the day before. My husband Ran over to his next door neighbor and asked him…he didn’t show. We had family there and an open house getting ready to start afterwards. My husband told my dad that he had to do it…dad said no until realizing he was the only man besides my husband and the minister. 34 years and still going.
Hi Connie, Thank you for sharing your story. I love it. Congratulations on 34 years.
Hi Linda,
I love that you knew he would be late! Thank you for sharing. Congratulaitons on 41 years.
Thanks for stoppin by, Linda. I love that you knew he’d arrive soon.
At my cousins wedding, during their Vows, the altar flowers caught on fire. Someone jumped up and pushed them off into the baptism basin behind the altar that just happened to sti have water in it.
Oh my. That was quite a disturbance, but also quick thinking. Something to remember for years to come for sure.
Our daughter’s wedding was at our country church. Her friend did the flowers. Unfortunately, she got lost on the way to the church. My daughter left her phone at the motel where she changed, so no way to get in touch with her friend. My sister pulled some artificial roses from a floral arrangement in the church basement and put together a bouquet and gave a fake rose to each bridesmaid. No one noticed anything was different!
Hi Paula,
Ahh, that’s great. What a sweet, quick-thining sister. That’s the way with most mishaps. No one notices and everyone loves the wedding.