November 14th A Very Special Day
Frankfurt/Germany November 14th,1953 was the happiest day of my life. But not for long, after a ten-day honeymoon I had to say goodbye again to my beloved Hal, my new husband. His time in the Armed Forces was up and he was being shipped out from Bremer Haven, going home to the United States, Seattle in the state of Washington, his home. I had to stay behind to wait for my Visa and entry permit to follow my Hal to Seattle, my new country and my new home.
Siggi, my dear friend, agreed to be my Maid of Honor and Hal had a good buddy of his from the Signal Corps be his Best Man. My bridal gown, I had designed, was ready and my sister’s husband Georg got Hal a beautiful tuxedo and all other items that my Hal needed for that special day. We were all set and all I had left to do was to get my dear friend Siggi her dress and shoes etc. German customs require that the bride provide all this for the Maid of Honor. Siggi came the weekend before our wedding, and we went shopping in Frankfurt for her. She found a very beautiful dress, shoes and a small purse.
After shopping we met my Hal with his “Best Man” at the Hauptwache, the center of the city of Frankfurt and together we had lunch at Kranzler Café. It was a happy occasion and the four of us had champagne to start our little celebration together. Hal ordered a fine red Burgundy, suggested by our waiter, and the Filet Mignons were done perfect with a beautiful cognac sauce. The happy conversation stopped, and it got very quiet. A sign of exceptional and excellent food. As we were enjoying food and wine we had violin music in the background, performed by a gentleman, dressed in a tuxedo, sitting on a stool close by the concierge.
While we were waiting for our dessert and espresso, we talked about our honeymoon to Switzerland for ten days. Seeing all the beautiful sights and getting to know one another better before we had to part. When my Hal starts his journey home, I will go back to work at the Head quarter’s building in Frankfurt where I had been working for over five years, until my visa and paperwork will arrive and I am granted entry into the United States, joining my husband in Seattle, my new country, my Hal’s country.
The dessert was equally delicious as our lunch, the dessert plates were a “Still Life” with a piece of mocha/chestnut crème torte centered and around it, cherries, strawberries and pieces of banana, dipped in chocolate ganache. A beautiful presentation of dessert!
After we said our goodbye to Siggi at the train station, Hal and his buddy took a taxi back to their barracks and I walked home. The following Friday, the 13th was our first wedding day at the courthouse for German law. We all went to dinner after the short ceremony. The next day, the 14th of November was “THE DAY” our wedding day in a most charming and beautiful American chapel.
My heart was pounding, and I was scared. Scared, that I might not be able to follow the sentences spoken by the American Chaplain, maybe misunderstand or mispronounce it and Hal’s buddies, sitting all in the front row, would laugh…
Well, it all went well until the end, after the chaplain finished. I did not hear what he said, I was finally breathing, relieved, it was over, nor do we have this custom “kissing the bride”.
Hal stepped up, reached for me, pulled me close to kiss me.
My reaction? My surprise? I stepped back, stiffened up, arms down my sides, saying: “What are you doing Sargent Halvor Cole?”
After explaining it all to my Hal and all his American friends, I recovered, and we all left the chapel to go and celebrate. We had all our guests together with music in the background, lively conversation and laughter. We served a wonderful “Wedding Punch.” I soaked cut-up peaches in cognac overnight, poured champagne into a big crystal bowl and added the peaches. We served a beautiful wedding cake with coffee after.
The next morning, we took a train to Switzerland, first stop, Basel. We celebrated our lifelong commitment to one another, both hearts, souls and minds in unison for sixty-four years of love and happiness.
Sgt. Lesher, Ilona, Hal, Siggi and flower girl, Sophia
Note from Marcie: I so love this story and the beautiful pictures to go with it–I hope you enjoy Ilona and Hal’s wedding tale and the accompanying pictures as much as I did.
This story and these pictures are a treasure. Thank you, Ilona! <3 <3 <3
So so sweet. As they say, “A picture speaks a thousand words.” And these pictures capture the most significant moments in Ilona’s life. And Hal’s life too. She looks like the porcelain doll atop the wedding cake. And he is the picture of the handsome groom at her side. Perfection. I smiled at the picture of her arm by her side as she was surprised by her beloved’s “wedding kiss.” The joys and surprises of navigating cultural differences! Serious and celebratory. These are moments that set in motion a whole lifetime of beauty, thanksgiving and tenderness. Love made their world go round and they invited us to share in the journey. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you Marcie and Ilona, for sharing this wonderful story of Hal and Ilona’s wedding, along with the treasured pictures. Ilona looks so beautiful in the dress she designed, and Hal looks handsome in his tuxedo. This piece of their history leaves me feeling very happy, about their love for each other, the wedding ceremony in the charming chapel, and their long and happy life together.