Tying the Knot
One of the best days of my life…August 11, 1978!
Great story on how we met…you’ll have to hear it sometime! It was May, 1974, and Claudia wanted to leave Central and go to another college. I had one year left and I persuaded her to return to CMU for her junior year, my senior year. We dated for four years and then I got tired of driving up and down the Southfield Expressway to see her in Allen Park, so I asked her to marry me and she said yes. I mean there were many more reasons I wanted to marry her…not just the drive. The wedding was held at Christ Episcopal Church in Dearborn, a church Claudia had attended at one time, on August 11, 1978, a Friday night. The reception was held at Fairlane Club banquet hall in Dearborn. We stayed over night in a hotel that night, then flew to Toronto for a one night honeymoon because Claudia had to be back at nursing school Monday morning…no they wouldn’t give her any time off, even for her honeymoon. We stayed at the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto. What a surprise when we got to our room and there were two twin beds. I went back down to the desk and reminded them that it was our honeymoon…we got another room. We were frugal our first year of marriage…we lived in a one bedroom apartment in Keego Harbor. Claudia gave me a jar of pickles for Christmas…just one present.
Wedding invitation.
Engagement announcement in Eccentric newspaper.
Left to right: Alison, bride, Rev. Rice, groom, George.
Bowers-Bogard Party of 20!
Left to right: Sheri, Vicki, Vicki McDonell, Nancy, Alison, Claudia, Pete, George, Duff, Tom, Jim and Mark. Renee is flower girl.
With my Dad and Mom.
To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.
What a unique way to get to the reception…riding in my Dad’s 1909 Renault…fun!
The Best Man toast at the reception…thank you George Poy!
My Dad talking with Reverend Rice at the reception.
On the dance floor…one of the best photos of my Mom and Dad together.
Great photo with my CMU soccer buds, left to right: Bob Olsson, Jim Rock, Duff McAlpine, me and Joe Daiek.
Wedding traditions…gotta love ‘em!
We stayed in the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn on our wedding night. They gave us this momento…engraved with date and name on back.
Claudia in her nurse clothes and hat. She was in nursing school when we got married and our honeymoon in Toronto was cut short because she had to be back for nursing school.