Alice and Rodney

Allen

BUCKFIELD — Alice and Rodney Allen of Buckfield celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a dinner party hosted by their daughters on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, at 4:30 in the afternoon, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.

As guests arrived they were personally greeted by their hosts then escorted to their tables by the couple’s four grandchildren and two sons-in-law. The tables were named after some of couple’s favorite vacation destinations and decorated with gold chargers plates, gold oil lanterns, votive candles, Bon Bon’s in monogrammed gift boxes and gold framed place cards. Folded into the napkins were personalized gold framed thank you cards for each of the 120 guests.

While waiting for the celebration to begin guests enjoyed music and hors d’oeuvres served from elegantly displayed fruits carved with the couple’s monogram. A table located in the rotunda overflowed with beautifully framed pictures of departed loved ones and a candle that burned in their memory.

The celebration got underway with a vow renewal ceremony. “It had to be you” as recorded by Frank Sinatra, played as the family processional entered. Granddaughter, Kasey McCafferty was escorted by grandson, Kyle McCafferty. Granddaughter, Lindsay Abrams was escorted by grandson, Allen Smith. Daughter, Julie Smith was escorted by her husband, Randy Smith and daughter, Joan Abrams was escorted by her husband, David Abrams.

The couple made their entrance into the grand ballroom as soloist and family friend, Jered Philippon sang and played his guitar. Mrs. Allen was wearing an exquisitely beaded ivory colored jacket with matching skirt and carried a bouquet of roses and hydrangea. The ceremony began as daughters, Joan and Julie welcomed their guests.

In April of this year, the 124th Legislature acknowledged the occasion with an official legislative sentiment that was then read by grandson, Allen Smith. Next, Chaplin Robert Perry performed the blessing. The couple then exchanged engraved gold and diamond watches, which symbolized the gift of time that God has given them together, both past, present and future. Renewal vows written by the couple were exchanged at this time, followed by the pronouncement of the rededication of marriage and the family recessional left the room to Barry White’s, “First, Last, Everything.”

The family proceeded to the outer courtyard overlooking the falls and had their pictures taken. The guests were entertained with hot appetizers. The family was then officially introduced to the guests by master of ceremonies, Dave Winsor as they re-entered the ballroom at dinner time. As each family member was introduced, they danced down the isle to a very exciting choreographed routine that was set to music.

Following the three course meal was the cutting of the cake ceremony. Immediately after, the couple gently fed each other their cake, the lights were dimmed and the dinning room staff entered the room carrying trays of cakes covered with sparklers in a dramatic presentation. While guests enjoyed their dessert, a 30-minute slide show was shown that revealed the couple’s lives from the time they where born to present day. At the conclusion of the slide show, event staff entered the room pushing tables covered with elegantly embellished gold gift bags. Inside the gift bags and wrapped in ivory tissue paper and sealed with a monogrammed gold foil seal were scrapbooks, which had been hand made by the hosts, for each of the guests. The scrapbooks contained a presentation page, pictures from the slide show, a story about the guests of honor and a final page that thanked the guests for sharing the joy of the occasion.

The time had now come for the couple’s first dance of the evening together, but like so much of the evening the surprises just kept coming for them. As they danced romantically to the song, “You’re my Inspiration,” the music unexpectedly changed to Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation” and grandson, Allen Smith appeared as Elvis dressed in his white satin suit complete with cape and side burns. He was was followed by Kyle McCafferty dressed as James Dean and Lindsay Abrams dressed as a 50s Motown singer. Kasey McCafferty entered last wearing the white ball gown Mrs. Allen had worn to her prom in 1959. The couple was shocked to say the least.

The entire family went to each table to invite guests to dance as the party really got underway. Kasey continued to model several special occasion dresses that had been worn by Mrs. Allen in the 1950s throughout the evening. to the delight of her grandparents. The evening ended as the couple retreated to the honeymoon suite in the hotel that was reserved by their daughters. Their rooms overlooked the falls and they enjoyed a breakfast the next morning that was personally delivered to there private balcony by the evening event coordinator.

The couple was married on Aug. 31, 1959, at the Buckfield Community Church in Buckfield. Their original attendants were Rose Crockett and Roland Gammon. The reception was held at the North Buckfield Grange Hall. The Allens have resided in Buckfield all of their adult lives and have actively served their community through the Army National Guard, Buckfield Fire Department, Planning Board and the SAD 39 Board of Directors. They were also among the founding members of Faith Bible Chapel and the Streaked Mountaineers Snowmobile Club. The couple owned and operated Allen’s Auto Body from 1972 until retirement in 1996. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.