Three Camels, Two Sheep and a Very Tired Donkey

Weddings at Christmas time at the Old Mission can be kind of tricky. The young couple in love who want that Winter Wonderland wedding in a  church need to be aware of the following:

 Purple and pink will be the color scheme in candles, flowers, and cloth.

There will be four colossal candles sitting in the middle of the church that are wrapped in huge green garlands also known as an advent wreath. There will be fire involved with this too!

Extra people will be at the wedding: another couple named Mary and Joseph; their friends the shepherds, who invite their friends, the sheep; and a very tired donkey.

Royalty  will be at the wedding! They always are running late but the three Kings are worth the wait because they bring gifts; just not for the couple.

Extra tourists will "flock" to the church from all over the world. They want to see the Mission all dressed up for Christmas and a wedding would be a bonus!

Lovely  white lights hanging from chandeliers, balconies, statues, arbors, doors, windows, and anything that needs a little extra sparkle.

Wreaths of all shapes, sizes, color and ribbon are hung on doors, walls, statues, windows and places that were never discussed...those volunteer angels get very creative!

A river of red and white poinsettia's flow from the front doors of the church up to the altar area and around the extra guests (Mary, Joseph and extended family). It makes a person want to lay on top of those gentle petals and gaze up at the white stars painted on the blue ceiling of the church. 

Wearing a sleeveless wedding dress might be a problem but if you love having goose bumps all over your body, blue lips and shiver uncontrollably, you will be so happy!

Due to the "free" Christmas decorations inside the church, a couple could really splurge on the honeymoon with the money they saved in flowers.  How does a warm sandy beach in Hawaii wrapped in each other's arms with nothing on but an itsy bitsy bikini sound? Yummy!

All of this is simply magical.

Simply beautiful.

It's a wedding after all.