Finally, after a year and a-half of planning, preparation, decision-making (some of them tough ones) and a date change the boy is married.

Regular readers will recall I have shared some of the experiences leading up to the blessed event. Last Saturday it all came to a conclusion. The entire weekend came off perfectly, if I say so myself. Well, almost but more on that later. Even the weather cooperated. A week of bleary, cool and wet conditions gave way to a bright sunshiny day last Saturday. Some 250 guests turned out for the wedding and a little over 200 of them stuck around for the reception. It was a long day, but fun-filled.

One momentous event took place. Joey Crucani actually took his cap off. Folks that know Joey will be shocked to hear that his hat does come off. Joey removed his hat for the wedding but had it back on by the time the reception started. I am told there is a theory that Debbie took his hat and hid it from Joey until after the wedding was over, but I don't know that for sure.

The local folks were well represented and Ward Billings showed great restraint when time came for a toast. There were a couple of tales he could have shared with the entire group about Adam and his son, Noll which would have had the new in-laws wondering what they had let their baby girl get into.

Adam, his dad, his new father-in-law Dave Bono, and I had lunch together on Friday. At one point Dave leaned across the table and said something like, "Congratulations. Tomorrow she's on your payroll." Well, Dave can hope. He can hope his own payroll didn't just grow by one. By the time he teaches Adam which end of a hammer is used to drive a nail in the wall he'll know for sure.

The one incident that cast a little pall over the entire weekend took place Sunday morning as we were preparing to leave. I pulled around to the front of the motel ready to load up, jumped out of the door and hit the unlock button. That is, I thought it was the unlock button. The "click" I heard was not the doors unlocking, it was them locking.

An hour and $149.00 later, we were loaded up and ready to go. I did have some, um, helpful, suggestions from a couple of friends. Lanny Geary and Daryl Wilcoxson began looking around for a large rock. Their thought was that a broken window would cost about the same as a locksmith on Sunday morning in St. Peter's, Missouri. I was almost ready to take them up on it.

I think Steve Pu was sincere when he called Monday to make sure we got home okay. I want to think he was not calling to let me know he had heard about the key incident.

Matt and Teresa Poole made the trip and were able to kill two birds with one stone. Teresa's mom and dad were able to get a "grandbaby fix" last weekend while they attended the wedding.

Tyler Carter was there with his family. I think Tyler was just practicing for his own fun (?) scheduled to take place in December. Tyler's uncle, Brett Carter, may have traveled the farthest to attend the wedding, coming in from Florida. Tyler's mother, Paula and Aunt Mary Lee didn't shed a tear last weekend. Bet that won't be the case in December.

We were surrounded with other friends last weekend as well. Among them were the Caldwells, who danced until Randy's feet started hurting and he made Paula drive him all the way back to Kennett that evening. Mary Jean Moore partied so hearty she still wasn't back up to speed this week, despite all the TLC Mark could muster. David and Julie Lynn enjoyed themselves on the dance floor as David showed us why he should be "Dancing with the Stars."

Several of Adam's high school classmates attended the ceremony and party. Most of them were named Ashley. Okay, that's just a little joke. Although, Ashley Bruce and Ashley Lufcy; along with Lindsay Warrington and Jessica Bruce were on hand. Jodie Williams brought Michael Stokley along so he could also get in a little practice for their October wedding date.

We're recovered nicely from the weekend. And in the interest of journalistic integrity, or at least not getting my wife angry I should tell you that all that stuff about planning and preparation I mentioned earlier -- well, I didn't have anything to do with any of that. I basically had two jobs. To make sure Adam's mother got down the aisle okay and to make sure she had a handkerchief in case it was needed. It was.

I also had a backup handkerchief in case Chad Rogers needed it, but that wasn't a problem. Chad's dad, brother, grandmother and Aunt Jane came along for the fun. I suspect they might have been there to make sure one of the boys who caused them to miss a little sleep on occasion didn't change his mind at the last minute.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.