March 27, 1971
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Here you will find some of
the black and white images from the wedding of Miss Monica Marie Nelson
to Diehl Harold Martin III, on March 27, 1971. The pictures were all
taken by Tom Curlee, who also acted as the best man. He used two Leica
cameras; for color he used Ektachrome his own Leica M4, and for black
and white, he used Tri-X Pan film in Diehl's Leica M3. These images are
from just the black and white camera. The color images were made on
slide film, and while scanned into digital images, have not been
photoshopped yet.
This was a wedding put together in a hurry. We had been planning a June wedding, and Monica's mother wanted a really large and elaborate affair. We knew that we could not afford it, and that Monica's mother did not have the money either. It was a recipe for disaster, with us being saddled with the bills. So we decided to change all of that, and during spring break at University of California, Santa Barbara, we announced that we were going to get married eight days later. More fun! We ended up with a very simple church wedding, with only our closest of relatives and friends in attendance. There was no music at all. There were no fancy written invitations. The dresses were hand made in a hurry. The total cost of the entire event was under $200. We are just as married as we would have been if we had spend 100 times that much.  Monica's sister Saundra acted as bride's maid, as well as doing anything which needed doing. Here she is shown putting the finishing touches on Monica's hair.  The bride's room had a big mirror, which Tom used to good effect.  Various visitors wandered in, and everyone talked.  Here we see Monica, Saundra, and Diehl's grandmother Margaret (Hoo Hoo).  Smile!  Smile for the camera! The lady in the doorway is Diehl's mother, Carol Martin.     No pictures were made during the service. Here are Monica and Diehl immediately after.  Oh look! A profile shot! You would think they liked each other or something. (They did, and do!)  Uncle Harry kept us busy talking for quite a while. Uncle Harry could talk! Note that the wedding took place in California, with typical California shrubbery and such.  Uncle Harry sure liked to talk! Those other folks are waiting to say something. I recognize Stan Curlee (Tom's brother), Bryan Baughman, and the McCune family back there, who might like to say something.  Uncle Harry sure liked to talk!  Ditto!  We were so pleased that Diehl's grandmother flew in from Indiana to be with us for the wedding. Because of the short notice, she was the only relative who could make it.  Monica's sisters were all there. Left to right, Connie, Monica, Laurie, Saundra, and Mother.  Monica's dad was always a lot of fun to be around. Her mother was not amused this day. We had successfully stolen HER big wedding, and she knew it.  Oh yeah...  Diehl's family was elated. In the middle is Diehl's mother Carol, her best friend Ann Nesbitt, and house guest Don Wise. Family friend Ann Corner is seen at far right.  Uncle Harry sure liked to talk!  Monica had the most beautiful long hair. That is rice you see embedded in it.  Ah, now we get to talk to all of our friends.  We are now talking with Bryan Baughman, who had been Diehl's room mate in college.  We sure were happy! (We still are!)  We smiled so much our cheeks got sore.  The reception was a simple affair. There was a cake, and some punch and nuts. Here we are cutting the cake.  There was a speech required for the occasion.  Note that not only did we not smoosh the cake in each other's faces, we actually fed each other using forks. Diehl's mother always did call him a prude. That's OK, Monica was one too.  No, we won't do what you just suggested!  Here is Pastor Herman Mees Meyer, who married us. We were "his kids."  What would a reception be without older friends and relatives? Here Monica is speaking with Mrs. Lily, who was a good friend of Monica's grandparents. We had the best of times at our wedding. Better than that, we are still enjoying each other more than 35 years later. It did not require a big, fancy wedding to make it stick. Love is like that. We can work around the little stuff, and love each other through the problems. |