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You’ve heard the description of someone as “country come to town?”
Well, want you to know I played that part myself recently down in Atlanta at a granddaughter’s big wedding. These days most families have their biggest reunions at either a family wedding or a funeral. This was a fine example.
Peachtree Road United Methodist Church is flat-out the largest Methodist building I have ever been in, reminded me of some national cathedral in Washington or Manhattan.
So, I asked the pastor before the ceremony, “Is this the largest Methodist church in Georgia?”
He smiled at me and said it may actually be the largest Methodist church east of the Mississippi River. They have their own deluxe website with lots and lots of pix. I cordially invite you to examine it, church began in 1925 in a small building.
The reception was held right after the ceremony, at a massive mansion fairly near, with ample parking, built in 1920 with Coca-Cola money, old money well spent. It can be rented for various events, toured too, the fees are plainly shown on the website for Callanwolde Art Center.
Wedding ceremony
The wedding planners had scheduled a photo before the ceremony so we could all get into vehicles and dash to the reception/dinner/dancing right afterward.
Atlanta – 222
Good planning and the photographer performed quickly.
The organist made that array of pipes roar, magnificent, groomsmen seated us. There were 10 of them and a full dozen of the maids in attendance.
Traditional service, vows and rings exchanged, went quickly.
Still a few photos had to be made after but didn’t take long, and we were on the way to Callanwolde. The old mansion is 27,000 square feet in size, their website says sitting in the middle of 12 wooded acres right in the heart of Atlanta.
Appetizers on little trays carried into the crowd by the wait staff, a lone harp plucker performing soft music, then a full dinner, then drinks and dancing and finally the cake (cooked by a neighbor of the bride) to wind it up.
Tripp Avett, grad of Murphy High School and Appalachian State, made a nice speech and then danced with his daughter the bride. Soon the new couple led the dancing, to loud music by the large band, which included a trumpet, a sax, keyboards, vocals and a lively lead guitar.
Emory University Hotel
Since the loud party didn’t break up until about 10 Saturday night, they had thoughtfully provided hotel rooms for us. And Emory owns the hotel and conference center.
With a dining room in the basement, where we enjoyed a great buffet breakfast Sunday morning before starting the drive back home to Murphy. We ate hearty, tab for the three of us was $65.
My late father was a Methodist minister, Emory grad, and I remembered coming to visit the campus as a child. My Hogan/Heard grandparents lived at Marietta and we visited every summer.
Dad had worked several student jobs to get through school in the middle of the Great Depression. Including one as a night watchman, which had him hiking the wooded campus every night between the buildings. We were shown his route from the family car.
Said his family at Norwood could occasionally send him a check for $10, which might compare to $500 today in spending power.
“Then the race was on to try and find a bank still open for business that would cash it,” he said.
I still hate Atlanta traffic and could not live or work there for any amount of money. I had a driver transporting me in my own car, but he kept pointing out their newest wrinkle in heavy traffic.
That’s right – driverless white cars with live passengers, roof of the robot vehicle supporting a large black communication device and several cameras visible on the car’s skin.
Wonder if they make driverless cars in all-wheel drive with winch and rough-tread tires? You could climb in and let it take you off-road into the mountains?
Wally Avett first wrote for the Cherokee Scout as editor in 1969. Call him at 828-837-5531 or email wallyavett@gmail.com.