Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter)

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Two years ago on May 28, 2007, Bill’s and my now son-in-law, Joe Moon, asked our daughter, Katie, if she would marry him.  A week prior, Joe asked Bill and me for our permission to ask Katie to be his bride.  Because we (and Katie) enjoy and appreciate Joe so much, we were elated to be asked.  Also, because we then knew Joe planned to ask Katie the following week, we had much anticipation (but not as much as Joe!).

The next week Katie, Joe, Bill and I departed for Europe, with our first destination being Rome.  Joe was nervous and therefore anxious to pop the question early in the trip.  So…the first day in Rome was strategized around the proposal.  That day seemed to last a year for Joe, but of course, not for Katie since she was clueless about the proposal.  Joe carried the ring box in his pants pocket all—day—long as the four of us, on foot, traipsed around Rome.

May 28, 2007: The sequence of Joe proposing to Katie in front of Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy. Click photo to enlarge. (This wood window frame is from the barn, built in 1904, at the home place where my father was raised. These photos and frame were displayed at Katie's and Joe's wedding reception.)

The plan was to try to arrive at Rome’s Trevi Fountain at about dusk for the proposal. But, in mid-afternoon it started raining making Bill, Joe and me wonder if an alternative site might need to be chosen.  Thankfully, in the late afternoon the skies cleared making Trevi Fountain a “go” after dinner.  Joe, Bill and I had to stall quite a bit…talking a long time at dinner, faking it that a couple of ATM machines didn’t work necessitating trying other ATM machines, and stopping for ice cream after dinner.  Finally, just at dark, we arrived at Trevi Fountain.

As Katie and Joe later wrote:

WHEN IT HAPPENED:  May 28, 2007

HOW IT HAPPENED:  Joe and Katie were at the Trevi Fountain in Rome and Joe asked Katie’s parents to take a few pictures of them in front of the fountain.  After a few pictures he knelt down, caught Katie totally off guard, and popped the question.  It was a great start to their vacation in Europe.

July 19, 2008: Joe and Katie (Shimon) Moon on their wedding day. Click photo to enlarge.

Katie and Joe were married one year ago on July 19, 2008, in the Catholic Church in Adel, Iowa.  The reception was at The Celebration Barn in Cumming, Iowa.  Weddings and receptions are probably like grandchildren…parents often think those of their own children are the most special…beautiful on many levels, simple yet elegant, and just so much fun.

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(Click here to view another post about The Celebration Barn.)

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Tags: proposal, The Celebration Barn, Trevi Fountain, wedding

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