"Dad walks bride down the aisle and gives her away," read the wedding day schedule, then came the note: "NO RETURNS."

It made sense that my brother's big day would be characterized by laughter. Both he and his now-wife share a sharp sense of humor. During their engagement, the pair ordered cake toppers depicting a bride and groom. Custom-made and special-ordered, the miniaturized models were made to look exactly like my brother and his fiancee, who amused themselves by posing the figurines for numerous purposes, including their save-the-date card.

Fast-forward to the wedding rehearsal, during which the inevitable mishaps, such as people forgetting what to do or where to be when, made all of us chuckle and fostered bonding. Besides the best man and maid of honor, the wedding party consisted entirely of 'ohana: the bride's siblings, their significant others, and yours truly, the groom's sister. After an upscale rehearsal dinner (my brother and sister-in-law also share a generous nature), we all retired to rest.

The morning of the wedding dawned sun-dappled with auburn and copper-colored leaves gracing the trees. Informality permeated the day, with one of the bridesmaids styling the bride's hair and makeup, and a friend giving the sermon. Tears of joy were shed during the vows, yet humor was still present, as at the start of the ceremony when the officiant requested that everyone please turn off their cell phones.

"Whoops!" exclaimed my brother while standing at the altar, fumbling to switch off his device as the guests joined him in laughter.

I'd advised them ahead to make sure to get enough nourishment on their big day. I remembered my own wedding, when I was so busy I had to take the leftovers to eat in our hotel room.

"Don't worry," the two assured me. "Eating is a priority for us!"

True to their word, the just-married couple chowed down during the reception, and to this day continue to be gourmands and chefs extraordinaire. The wedding favors were cookies made by the bride's mother, so delectable that my husband thought that they had been professionally baked.

A limited number of invitees meant my brother and his wife could spend quality time with each guest. Even our 90-plus-year-old grandmother made the longest trip she has been on in years to celebrate their nuptials.

The special day when my only sibling and his wife-to-be made their lifelong vows of commitment will remain long in our minds. Besides sharing traits like a love of clowning around, a love of eating, and a munificent spirit, the two are in many ways complementary.

"Many years, many years," sang the guests at a Greek Orthodox wedding my husband and I once attended, and we do wish my brother and sister-in-law many, many years of happiness to come.

Certainly, with their keen sense of humor, the newlyweds are well on their way. Recently the couple sent us a detailed photo book created to commemorate their matrimony.

"There's a typo, though," stated my brother, pointing to the caption below a snapshot of the two proud fathers, with no mothers in sight, giving a toast together.

Underneath the photo it read, "Married 30 years."