Mother of the Groom

Meet Brodie and Mackenzie

December 2024

The Proposal

Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida

Champagne and My (Julie) Former Engagement Ring

My Ring Has Never Looked More Beautiful 🙂

Mackenzie and her Twin Sister Susannah

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When I first met Mackenzie in 2018 I knew she was special. Gordon was working overseas at the time so it was just me and Brodie here at home. I loved Mackenzie immediately! Brodie was so excited about her and wanted her to come over to our house. All I asked was that he give me a few days to clean up the house before she came over. A few days later when she arrived and walked through our front door, it was like sunshine walking into our house. I loved her immediately. I believe that I had gone to the dentist the following day and I was bragging about her to everyone. Telling them that I hope that she will be my Daughter-In-Law. Looks like my wish has come true.

My Engagement Ring

Gordon gave me the most beautiful Marquise Diamond back in 1983 when he proposed. We married in 1985. I quit wearing my ring decades ago because it no longer fit my finger. Same with my wedding ring. I suppose that I could have gotten them both resized but I just didn’t want to tamper with such perfection. I also knew that I would rather pass them down to our children for their own engagements. When Veronica got engaged to her husband Brian, Gordon and I did offer up my engagement ring to her. She however, didn’t want it, and used the diamonds from Brian’s mom’s engagement ring. I was a little disappointed, but I understood. Especially now that both Brian’s parents have passed away as of 2023. So, I let everyone know that I am leaving my engagement ring to Brodie to do with as he pleases.

He has since remade it and gave it to Mackenzie. I am very happy that my ring is now with her. And, we all have a lovely wedding to plan.

Julie

(Mother of the Groom)

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Veronica and Brian’s Wedding

If You Would Like To Check Out Mother Of The Bride:

Click Here For Mother Of The Bride

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February, 2025

Just a Few Valentine’s Day Gifts to Gift

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Valentine’s Gifts For Brodie and Mackenzie

I am one who always shows up with gifts.

Brodie and Mackenzie had asked me to accompany them for their ‘Save The Date’ photo shoot in Sarasota, Florida.

The date was February 12, 2025.

I always show up with goodies. 🙂

Wine, Pink Rose Wine Stopper, Wine Gummies, and Other Favorite Snacks

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Mother of the Groom

Julie Lancaster-Whann

February 12, 2025

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Mackenzie, February 12, 2025

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Save The Date

(I have blocked the date. It shall be revealed in the future.)

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Selby Gardens

Downtown Sarasota

Visit and connect with us:

941.366.5731
info@selby.org

Hours:
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.*

*Closed Christmas Day

Click Here For: Selby Gardens

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(Look at all the Vanda Orchids)

Selby Gardens is a Living Museum

15 Acres Located in Downtown Sarasota, Florida

I know that when Mackenzie told me about this place, I was just so surprised to see something so beautiful located in downtown Sarasota, and not in some spacious rural area. What Mackenzie said she liked about the place was that it had tropical areas that reminded her of what she thought Hawaii would look like.

Brodie and Mackenzie paid my way. I think it was about
$28.00 each. They also paid for the photographer’s admission as well.

Mackenzie’s twin sister Susannah paid the photographer as a gift for both Mackenzie and Brodie.

A very nice and generous gift.

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I was very happy to see this. A George Harrison exhibit. I never knew he had such a love of gardening?

To me he was always a Beatle. I would listen to The Beatles on my mother’s record player. It really never occurred to me that he was also into gardening as well. It was a very pleasant surprise.

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The Photo Shoot

Selby Gardens is such a beautiful place.

So many lovely areas to take pictures.

Here are Brodie and Mackenzie with their photographer. She was so good! First of all, she had a great camera! Second, she gave great directions to Brodie and Mackenzie. All of that is important.

I’m pretty sure this photographer is going places! 🙂

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I don’t exactly know why I was invited along? Except that they know I take my camera with me everywhere. Even though it was the professional photographer’s job to take these great photos, which she did, I also know that they knew that I would be snapping away as well.

My photos became more of a ‘Behind the Scenes’ pictures.

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I will say that being here is the most peace I have felt since Election 2024. Not all of us were happy with the results of that election. But, just being here among all this beauty and serenity, was pure peace. Even the other people visiting, you could just tell that they were peaceful people. Anyone that is coming to the George Harrison exhibit is going to be of that peaceful mindset. I just felt like I was with like-minded people.

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Brodie and Mackenzie were very photogenic.

They took such great photos.

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I know that I would have loved to have spent more time just roaming around and photographing all the plant life.

However, Moving Along….

I Love This Tree!

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You know, I was really proud of Brodie. He did all the great things that future grooms are expected to do in the photographic memories department. 🙂 I know he usually doesn’t like the attention while posing for photographs. However, he did really well. And of course, Mackenzie was great, as usual.

The Beauty of the Ocean Behind Them

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An Outdoor Artist Capturing The Beauty

I love artists! They see beauty in the world and relay it to everyone else.

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I Didn’t Have Time To Enter This

It looks like a Greenhouse but I’m not quite sure what it is.

Always Floral Beauty Everywhere

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Rounding Out Our Garden Tour

Nearing The End

After Coming Full Circle on This Garden Tour…

A Lilly Pond with Lovely Flowers

Mackenzie, Me, and Brodie

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Columbia Restaurant, Sarasota, Florida

Established, 1905

Gem of Spanish Restaurants

Brodie and Mackenzie Entering the Restaurant

Mackenzie had made reservations for us for after the photo shoot.

This Was Their Treat For Me

(I think it was an early birthday gift. My 64th. birthday was the following day, February 13th.)

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Columbia

Studying The Menu

I will say this, it was very interesting hearing the conversations all around us from so many tables. It was all politics. There were many seniors here at the restaurant and you knew they were frequent patrons, I know this because I was apparently blocking the Columbia Restaurant after dinner mints when I stood in the hallway waiting for our table. They would approach me and say, “Excuse me. I just need to get around you. Thank you.” That is when I noticed all the mints I was blocking. This restaurant is apparently a staple among the senior locals. The table to my left was a combination of Trumpers and Democrats. I will say that they were respectfully debating, not arguing. Which is how it should be. You could tell they were friends that just disagreed with each other politically. They weren’t hating on each other. Which was very nice.

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The Drink Menu

I Ordered The Gem of the Ocean Cocktail

Mackenzie and Brodie ordered a Pitcher of Something I cannot remember. 🙂

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My Gem of the Ocean

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This was a very charming day. I loved it!

Calamari and Aioli, Appetizer

Our Dinner’s Have Arrived

My Mahi-Mahi and Rice

Although the food was very good. I couldn’t help but notice that the rice I was eating was something that I had made before. Something from a Knorr’s Rice Packet that I purchased from the grocery store. Which then makes me believe that the Mahi-Mahi I was eating was probably from the frozen section of the super-market as well. Just sayin.’ 🙂

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Columbia Wine

(In Honor of our Big Day!)

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Early Wedding Gifts

March, 2025

We lived in Hawaii for 13 years and both of our children were born there.

Although Mackenzie and her family have never been to Hawaii, they wanted the wedding to take place there. So, I wanted to educate Mackenzie just a bit on the Hawaiian cultures and more importantly, the Hawaiian lei traditions. After all, flowers will play a big role in their wedding. Everything I bought for her, I also bought for myself. I too have enjoyed reading and catching up on Hawaii. After all, we left in 1999. I’m sure things are different over there now, yet I know many things will also still be the same.

This was such a beautiful book!

I can see so many of these flowers incorporated in Brodie and Mackenzie’s wedding.

Especially those that would look so beautiful in her hair.

This photo looks just like a lovely Hawaiian wedding.

Love the Barefeet and the Long Lei’s!

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Our Early Wedding Gifts For Brodie and Mackenzie

Gold and Silver Pineapple Serving Bowls and Spoons, Hawaiian Books, an Aloha Tote Bag, Beautiful Anthuriums…

Some Tropical Cream, Island Wisdom…

A Lovely Wahine Tote, as well as my homemade Hawaiian gift bags I painted myself years ago.

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Especially For Brodie

I always try to personalize gifts. I also love to give old possessions along with new gifts.

That is what I did here.

Brodie specifically wanted our old Chinaman’s Hat print. We love Chinaman’s Hat. It is an island in Hawaii and legend has it that a China Man is underneath it. The print is framed in Koa Wood. Very nice and expensive wood. Most of the wooden things you buy in Hawaii are Monkey Pod. Koa is quite exclusive.

(See the Pokemon Box above? I was trying to come up with something nice for just Brodie when it came to a wedding gift. It is difficult to buy wedding gifts specifically for men, if you think about it? I came across this Le Creuset set of Pokemon bowls that I ordered from Japan. Pokemon is Brodie’s childhood in Hawaii. He has collected the cards for years ever since. He still gets excited over anything Pokemon. Therefore, I think I found just the right gifts.) 🙂

I also passed along Brodie’s Hawaiian Baby blanket to him. 🙂

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March 19, 2025

With Gordon home for a few weeks from working overseas we wanted to give the kids some early gifts, bring over dinner, and have a nice visit. (We also wanted to borrow Brodie’s car for a fun website project.)