JIM & BARBARA'S WEDDING
August 7, 1971
I first met the beautiful Barbara LaPlante in 1971. We were both praying for a Catholic spouse. I used to scout out the eligible young ladies at Sunday mass at St. Isidore's in Yuba City. I saw Barbara at one of the masses, and then recognized her at the apartment where I was living. Barbara was working as a music teacher for the Marysville School District. I was working as a librarian at Wheatland High School by day and as a philosophy teacher by night at Yuba College. We met in March. I proposed in June, and we were married in August. We celebrated our wedding at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Auburn where Barbara had lived from 1945 to 1968.
We created our own invitation:
We Are One in imitation of the Trinity (John 17:22). We are joined with God in our marriage. Our relation to one another with Jesus Christ is eternal.
Barbara and I enjoyed the rehearsal dinner:
Barbara's Mom, Ruth, helped just before the wedding procession while the groomsmen and bridesmaids gathered. Barbara's brother-in-law, Mike McKenzie, donated his services as photographer and left us the treasure of an extensive wedding photo album.
Groomsmen: Pat McKenzie, Mike Shannon (Best Man) [Jim Collins, Groom], Rick Steffan, Sean Shannon (Ring Bearer).
Bridesmaids: Bev McKenzie (Maid of Honor), [Barbara LaPlante, Bride], Zoe Collins, Colette Steffan, Monica McKenzie (Flower Girl):
As we made final honeymoon preparations, we wished our nephew, Gregg, a Happy 1st Birthday. It was a special day to remember for all of us.
It was Tahoe or bust for our honeymoon. We had to pull over to cut off the clanging cans and to remove multitudes of marbles from the hubcaps. Then we were off to the honeymoon suite at Harvey's just below the Top of the Wheel restaurant.
We joined tourists on a boat ride across Lake Tahoe to Emerald Bay:
After a few days exploring the Sierras and hiking to the top of the Sierra Buttes, we returned to our new rental, a duplex in Yuba City, where we started our married life together, prepared for the coming school year, and enjoyed dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Some local newspapers reported on our wedding:
