Romantic Bountiful Wedding Unites
Barnes And Collins Families
By Phillip Elton Collins
June 7 Pittsburgh. Outdoors within the exotic Pittsburgh Botanic Garden more than 200 family members and devoted friends assembled amongst the flora to witness the union of Camille Suzanne Barnes and William Ogden Collins II. Guests traveled from near and far to join in the festive uber celebration.
Guests were shuttled from their hotel to the botanical venue in 1957 vintage buses. Many were old enough to remember these pre-air conditioned and pre-power steering public transport vehicles.
Prior to the ceremony there were festooned tents amongst the gardens to satisfy dry mouths in the bright sunlight and pre-meal hunger.
The radiate and stunningly beautiful Miss Barnes chose an off-white, lace, beige background long trained gown that attenuated her perfect feminine form, while handsome Mr. Collins selected traditional grey and muted blue for his rose lapeled tuxedo.
Maintaining family traditions, the bride and groom’s wedding rings were created from their grandparents’ stones and rings.
There was an abundant wedding party at the altar created from family members and long-time friends, complete with a nonhuman family member, the pet dog. Barbara Kirby Collins, mother of the father of the groom, lead the assembly in an opening prayer.
An emotional moment came during the ceremony when the bride and groom shared the reasons for their union. Switching past female and male roles, Collins broke down several times during his professed love with his reading, often bringing tears to the entire gathering. Mr. Collins blamed his emotional state on the presence of his pet dog. The vow ritual was completed with Cherokee Indian wedding prose reflecting the groom’s native American heritage through his great, great Grandmother Joyce Strickland Collins. Members of both families who were no longer alive were included with their names being mentioned.
Cathy and David Barnes, parents of the bride, planned the highly detailed elegant ceremony for over a year and the fates where with them with everything, including the weather, going off like clock-work. Great Uncle Phillip Elton Collins, former director of marketing for George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic, said, “Being at the wedding was like being within one of the large fantasy wedding scenes of past produced films.” The groom is the name sake of Phillip’s twin brother, William Ogden Collins. Mrs. Barnes was striking in a form fitting dress and the ultimate hostess while Mr. Barnes gave a gracious welcoming speech.
Andrea Clark Collins, a glowing and attractive mother of the groom and Shane William Collins, a shining father of the groom were consummate co-hosts dancing to wee hours of the morning.
Guest were well attended with a formal sit down dinner under an open sky see-through tent with violins playing in the background. There were the traditional Pittsburgh cookie tables with delicate goodies that could be white bagged to take home, along with a sumptuous slice of wedding cake.
Members of the wedding party gave emotional speeches, further revealing a community built upon deep seated love.
Following appetites being satisfied and the bride and groom’s first dance, an ardently skilled DJ took over, filling the dance floor with old tunes and new favorites that kept the celebration going far into the new moon night. One of the most endearing moments on the dance floor was watching Grandpa Shane Collins cutting a move or two with his grandchildren.
Continuing to take care of every guests needs, family and out of towner’s were treated to a delicious farewell breakfast the next morning at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. Oldest members of the Collins clan, Great, great Uncle Phillip Collins, and great, great Grandma Barbara Collins reflected on the gathering and the meaning of the expanding and continuing Collins clan with the merger of the Barnes family.
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