Corie tuning guitar on bed

marrying noun A wedding ceremony.
1865 Larue CW Letters (Jan 5) you and John ou[gh]t to bin at home a christmas for there was a grait meny Marrings. 1937 Campbell KY Mt Community 549 Whenever you set a date fer the marrying, no kinder weather nor nothing ort to stop hit. 1941 Still Troublesome Creek 102 Only a funeral occasion or a marrying would draw such a swarm. 1962 Dykeman Tall Woman 159 Young’uns always have one thing or another ailing them, but a marrying don’t come along but once in a coon’s age.

—Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English


Marryings, or specifically one marrying, has been taking up all our time. The day of Chatter and Austin’s wedding is speeding towards us faster than a knife through hot butter.

On one hand I’m anxious for the whole thing to be over with so that they can start their life together, on the other hand I can hardly believe my guitar playing girl with the sweetest turn I’ve ever witnessed is about to be married with her own house.

Chatter and I both cry easily. Not in the sense that we are truly hurting over something, but in the sense that emotions—even really good ones—quickly bring tears to our eyes. We can barely get through a wedding discussion without one of us getting teary-eyed.

Friends of the family have graciously allowed us to hold the wedding in their beautiful home. Yesterday we were going over some details when I felt the tears starting. I wasn’t going to say a word, but Chatter happen to look at me. She said “Mom now don’t start your stuff!” We both started crying and laughing at the same time 🙂

I remember how hard I tried not to cry at mine and The Deer Hunter’s wedding. I managed to keep the tears at bay until Pap and I stood waiting for the signal to walk in. He looked at me and said “Tipper I want you to know I’m proud of you. I couldn’t have picked a better person than Matt for you to marry.” Needless to say my dam of reserve broke and the tears freely flowed.

The Deer Hunter and I are beyond blessed to feel the exact same way about Austin. He’s the son we never had and we have no doubts about the love and care he will show our daughter.


Last night’s video: Best Bread Machine Loaf Recipe with Tomatoes & Eggs – My Favorite Quick Supper in Appalachia.

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30 Comments

  1. Such a sweet post! You are going to miss her so much! Thank the Lord she isn’t going far but it will still be different.

  2. As the young folks say, “Been there; done that; got the T-shirt!”

    Our daughter was born after we were 40. There were 7 doting aunts and uncles 16 first cousins in my family alone. We all ‘spoiled’ her, but she brought me a fine son-in-law. They just celebrated their 10th anniversary.

    You and Matt will get through this, Tipper! 🙂

  3. I’m a crier also. The older I get, the easier the tears flow. So happy for Austin and Corie and for all of you. Enjoy the day and God’s blessings to all of you. Congratulations!!!

    1. Just try and enjoy the getting ready for the Big Day Thats what we raise them to do leave the nest Just think she will live close
      My oldest lives in Lexington, N.C. thats a LONG WAY FROM LOUISIANA Hope to see pics of the wedding

  4. You sure picked the day to post this. Today is our 48th anniversary and now you remind me of our daughter’s wedding to. On top of that, your description of yourself and Corie reminds me of my neice, a loving and tender-hearted woman. I have posted about her before and now, as then, I say the world doesn’t appreciate enough the loving and tender-hearted folks among us. I have no doubt there has been, and now is, abundant mercy given to the world for their sake. God knows I’m grateful for your all’s part in preserving the earth.

    Matt, I remember so very well that ‘giving our daughter away’. Nothing before or since has ever felt quite like that did. If there are words for it, I don’t know them. If I did, I would not say them to you now. I know you are proud enough to bust of your girls, as you have every reason to be, and you are glad at Corie’s joy. But no matter how close-knit you are with Austen, if you are at all like me there will be a rend in your feelings. All I have ever been able to say about it is that it was a hard day for me. It wouldn’t have mattered who the son-in-law was. And, I think, the feelings are similar for every true father that has ever lived. Pap did that for you once. We raise them to have a life without us, as indeed we must. But then they do.

    The whole Pressley family is greatly loved. I am confident you all know that. As Paul.wrote the Phillipians, “I (we) have you in my (our) heart; “

    1. Blessings of the day to you & your sweetie! Today is my 31st wedding anniversary and I had the same thoughts.

  5. Thanx for sharing your personnel feelings. Crying is a gift from God. If we could not share our feelings that way, that would be one less opportunity for us to communicate. Love your tears for they show that you care. May God bless your family in the life changing event we call marrying.

  6. Sending LOTS of positive energy through a wonderful wedding day, and heartfelt blessings to your whole family. Y’all have certainly blessed mine.

  7. It’s a great feeling when you have that confidence that the one your daughters marrying is a good person and will treat her with love and respect, that’s all we really want as parents isn’t it. My daughter got married in 2019 to a good man and it is quite a comfort to know he is. Austin seems just as you say he is in the videos I’ve seen that she posts. Very well suited for each other. It’s going to be a wonderful day filled with joy and tears both.❤️ You and dad have done a good job.

  8. I feel your pain. It is so hard to let go of those little ones and watch them grow up. My grandson will be graduating High School. I still cling to those little pictures when he was scooting his little cars across my floor and asking to go to “Bwock Bustoos” Block Busters. We would have junk night and stop to get junky snacks and rent his favorite movies. Never feel bad about your tears, because they show you have great depth. So glad you all love him too, because it would be so hard to just hand her over to somebody who places no value in her.
    I catch the videos now and then where one gets to know these beautiful twins. I used to be unable to tell them apart, but now they look so different to me that they don’t even seem like twins. Personalities so different also.
    I was moved by Chatter’s dedication to her faith. You are so fortunate to have Chitter with her great sense of humor to ease you through the empty nest syndrome. Be aware she may have it too.

  9. We are blessed to have three daughters and three sons-in-law that are perfect for each daughter. God bless you and your family. Let the marrying begin. Then come the grand babies…NOTHING BETTER Tipper.❤️

  10. Tipper, this is going to be a very exciting and good year for you and your family. So Chatter has a wonderful disposition? Of that I’m delighted to hear because it surely comes in handy when you’re married. Lol I’m certain her sweetness is what attracted Austin to her (as well as being pretty and talented.) I wish you only the best and happiness this year. Congrats. BTW marry is also used a lot in food preparation i.e.marrying of flavors…

  11. I also cried like a baby as my father walked me down the aisle. I wouldn’t even be able to say why, it wasn’t happy or sad tears, I guess just emotional tears.

  12. I cry easily too at all kinds of things. Certain songs can really get the tears to flow, especially Christmas songs. We are fairly new to your blog and Youtube channel and just in that short amount of time it has become VERY evident you are special people and raised your girls right. You have so much to be proud of. With Corie getting married soon you are also gaining a fine young man to join your family. I hope the wedding will be on Youtube, of course I will probably cry through the whole thing 🙂 May God richly bless your entire family! By the way, will Olive be in the wedding 🙂

  13. Tipper, your post is making me teary! I just can’t quite believe she is an adult ready to marry! She is our little girl playing in the creek with her sister! Can she really be old enough to marry?

  14. This is a beautiful post! I want to cry with you! Just think of all the mothers and daughters who have gone through these same emotions since Adam and Eve. I think these emotions just show the wonderful love you and Corie have for each other. Nothing can ever take your place in each other’s lives. Change can be hard, especially when you have no complaints about how things have always been up to the point of change. And the cliche about “at least she is just moving a short drive away” means absolutely zilch in your heart right now because the truth is – she won’t be just down the hall anymore. And that is as difficult a transition as if she was moving to another country. This wedding is going to be splendid – Corie is so much a beautiful young lady, not only in appearance, but her heart also. And she definitely takes after her mom in these two things!

    Donna. : )

    1. Donna, your comment “Corie is so much a beautiful young lady, not only in appearance, but her heart also. And she definitely takes after her mom in these two things!” – SO TRUE.

  15. Mom said her grandma would tell her loved ones when their tears flowed, “Oh! Our bladder’s just too close to our eyes!”

    1. I’m sure Austin is proud to know that. As a husband myself, knowing you’re approved and accepted by in-laws makes you feel like you’re part of the family over time and any support from in-laws is greatly appreciated. I love my in-laws. I am blessed by them. Austin too is a blessed man to have such a loving family to be part of. Praying for continued blessings for you all.

  16. I’m so happy for all of you. How blessed to be getting a dear son and enjoying all the events surrounding a wedding. I am sending my most heartfelt congratulations!!

  17. What a lovely post and sentiment Tipper, thank you. My daughter will also be married within the year so I can relate completely. I wish all these young folks all the very best.

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