Returning the favor

NEWPORT BEACH — When Nancy Englebrecht got married at the age of 19, her mother helped to plan the wedding. It was a simple affair at the local church with vows, a Bible, and cake and punch afterward — much like her mother’s wedding had been years before.

On Saturday, Englebrecht got to return the favor, with a modern twist.

Her widowed mother, Jean Kiger, remarried in the backyard of Englebrecht’s Newport Beach home, and the daughter served as head planner for the ceremony. With dozens of family members present, Englebrecht stood by as matron of honor while her brother walked Kiger down the aisle and her grandchildren — 1 and 3 years old — served as flower girl and ring bearer.

“We didn’t have any dancing at my wedding, nor at her wedding,” Englebrecht said. “She told me after her wedding, she and her husband went down the stairs and opened presents while everyone watched.”

By contrast, Saturday’s wedding was an elaborate one, with catering, a DJ and plenty of festivity. Kiger, 77, the former president of the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, tied the knot with Wayne Westerman, an 84-year-old member of her Sunday school group at Mariners Church. Kiger’s first husband had died two years ago, shortly before Westerman lost his wife, and the two had become close over the last few months.

On Saturday, Kiger walked under a makeshift trellis in her daughter’s backyard, wearing a light blue chiffon dress as her son escorted her and a family member blew a wedding march on a trumpet. Fifty-nine years earlier, her father had walked her down the aisle.

“The etiquette book said that older brides shouldn’t wear white,” Kiger said. “That was fine with me.”

Englebrecht’s husband Roy, a fight promoter, delivered the closing remarks after his mother-in-law and her husband had exchanged rings and taken their vows.

“We’ve started with a great afternoon,” he said. “We’re going to end with a great evening.”