NASHUA - Susan and Michael Westervelt decided it was just meant to be when they married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in December 1988.

"My parents, aunts and uncles were all married here," Susan said. "Michael's aunt and uncle were married here."

The Westervelts of Rudd were among 100 or more couples who returned to the famous chapel Sunday for the 57th annual Marriage Reunion.

Glenn and Mary Cagley of Waterloo were married Dec. 24, 1966.

"We try to be here every year," said Glenn, who grew up on a farm about a mile from the church.

"It's so beautiful, and the people are all so welcoming," Mary said as the couple listened to music under a tent on the church lawn.

Jaylene and Duane Gross of Aitkin, Minn., were married at the Little Brown Church on snowy March 4, 2002.

"We took our wedding pictures out here by the big pine tree," Jaylene said. "You can see big snowflakes coming down."

The Grosses, who have attended every reunion since, meet up each time with Cindy and Morey Bandel of Leroy, Minn.

The Bandels were married July 15, 1989. They have missed only one reunion.

"I think it strengthens the relationship, the bond between a couple," Morey said.

Probably no one traveled as far for the reunion as Bernard and Christa Knepper of Aachen, Germany.

Married 43 years ago in Germany, they, too, renewed their wedding vows Sunday at the church.

Their son, Martin, 37, was a high school foreign exchange student in Nashua. The Kneppers were staying at the home of his host mother, Donna Pierce.

"We came here especially for this weekend," said Bernard. "We feel at home."