The flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping and it's glorious outside, if not a little bit chilly. But who cares? It's spring! April is coming--this is actually my last post for March--and with it the hope that snow and ice and frost have all passed us by. I certainly hope so.
I've got a major project due tomorrow, so I'm not going to spend much time here today. However, I felt I needed to post an update on Helena and Mike's wedding, since some folks have been asking about how it went. In short, it went--no pun intended--like a charm. A lucky charm. No fisticuffs, only joy and love and a great celebration.
Of course, there's a reason for that. Apparently, the Wedding Gods were watching out for Helena and Mike because, and you will not believe this, all three of the catty pit vipers (Ann, Amy, and Mrs. Jerk) and their significant others were not in attendance. As it turned out, Ann's daughter Neela from a dalliance prior to her commitment to The Jerk went into labor the morning of the impending nuptials and delivered a healthy baby boy just before the wedding. I'm pretty sure the new grandma euphoria clouded any thoughts of throwing on her finery to attend her friend's wedding. Of course, The Jerk stayed with her, mainly because attending the wedding with his current wife instead of his ex-wife that he is now dating while separated from her would probably upset Ann, and, as I have divulged in earlier posts, an angry Ann is, indeed, not something you want to behold.
Amy also felt the need to forego the wedding in light of the fact she had become a great-aunt, although she also had the excuse that she had jury duty. Yep, you got it. Amy got selected for jury duty just before the wedding. She wasn't thrilled, although Ed thinks it's great because he's all about doing one's civic duty. He's even taken off work a few days to watch the trial, which, ironically, is a case about a wife who attempted to kill her philandering husband by hiring her nail technician to burn down their house while he was in the midst of some really intense philandering...in their marital bed, no less. He and his paramour survived and the nail tech, afraid of being discovered and taking full blame, outed the wife to the police. Ed, from what I understand, is totally fascinated by this case. Amy, on the other hand, is bored to tears because she's already decided that the wife was just trying to scare them both, and, even if she wasn't, Amy said, she was totally justified in what she did. I still don't get how she can think this, but it's not my case nor my worry. Good luck, Mr. Defense Attorney, in dealing with that jury member.
Mrs. Jerk, from what I understand, would have attended, but she is going through some trauma right now and wanted to limit public exposure. Apparently, she was having sex with some married guy and the house caught on fire. She barely escaped with her lover and her perky breasts intact, and now there's this trial thing about it. Go figure.
Well, I need to sign off for now. Big project calling. I hope your spring is going spectacularly. Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label weddings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weddings. Show all posts
The Greenest Day of the Year
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I was writing a completely different post when it occurred to me that today is St. Patrick's Day. How could I forget? Helena and her beau are about to embark on the wedding of the century (see my last post), replete with all the drama of a Lifetime movie, on what is considered by many to be a very lucky day. And Helena's take on all of this is, "Whatever happens, happens. We'll deal with it. Together." Which is also the same perspective her prospective hubby has, so I'm guessing this marriage, even though it's her 3rd, has a fighting chance. And I'm thrilled for her.
I'm also thrilled that spring is finally here, or appears to be so. Yeah, so cool weather is predicted, but overall the temps are warmer and my outlook is sunnier. Plus, I'm writing more. I hadn't been tapping at the keys much until the last few days because of work and all that it entails, but now I'm on a roll. I'm about halfway through my latest WIP and it feels great. There's nothing like writing in the spring to make one feel content.
Unfortunately, my latest includes pieces of my real life. As you can guess, my friend Ann is kind of a strong presence, and she's sort of ended up in my latest book. By accident, of course. I don't name her, and she's not a main character. There's a remotely psychotic chick who is a really good friend of the heroine who makes her life undeniably miserable without even trying, and she's completely oblivious to the damage she does. However, this character serves a larger purpose--the heroine of the story meets the love of her life at her wedding. So, it's worth the struggle with the fictional Ann's issues.
I rarely include people from real life, but Ann is too strong of a inspiration to ignore. Have you ever dealt with someone like this? Someone who is a complete disaster, and you can't seem to look away? That's probably what I will be doing this afternoon at Helena's wedding...looking away from Ann and her drama to the couple who's actually getting married. To their credit, they're taking it all in stride. Like Helena says...whatever happens, happens. I'm just glad the menu includes green beer.
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
I'm also thrilled that spring is finally here, or appears to be so. Yeah, so cool weather is predicted, but overall the temps are warmer and my outlook is sunnier. Plus, I'm writing more. I hadn't been tapping at the keys much until the last few days because of work and all that it entails, but now I'm on a roll. I'm about halfway through my latest WIP and it feels great. There's nothing like writing in the spring to make one feel content.
Unfortunately, my latest includes pieces of my real life. As you can guess, my friend Ann is kind of a strong presence, and she's sort of ended up in my latest book. By accident, of course. I don't name her, and she's not a main character. There's a remotely psychotic chick who is a really good friend of the heroine who makes her life undeniably miserable without even trying, and she's completely oblivious to the damage she does. However, this character serves a larger purpose--the heroine of the story meets the love of her life at her wedding. So, it's worth the struggle with the fictional Ann's issues.
I rarely include people from real life, but Ann is too strong of a inspiration to ignore. Have you ever dealt with someone like this? Someone who is a complete disaster, and you can't seem to look away? That's probably what I will be doing this afternoon at Helena's wedding...looking away from Ann and her drama to the couple who's actually getting married. To their credit, they're taking it all in stride. Like Helena says...whatever happens, happens. I'm just glad the menu includes green beer.
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
Is It Spring?
It's been a hard winter. You want to know how I know that? Because I actually kept scoping what the groundhog said on 2/2, like that's an accurate weather prediction. However, desperate for spring, I bought into what the little rodent said. And it appears, although with some hesitation, spring is on its way.
But that's not what you came here for, is it? You came here for something exciting, and, finally, I have something exciting to talk about. Wanna hear?
So my friend, Helena, is getting married for the 3rd time, which is, I'm sure, a charm. Although, given Helena's track record, maybe not. Helena and Mike are getting married on 3/17, the luckiest day of the year according to their ancestors, who were all Irish. They are getting married at 3:17 on the dot, too. However, that's about it. I think Mike wanted to go all the way with the "We're so lucky to have found each other" theme, but Helena convinced him to not go overboard with it. It promises to be a nice wedding, and one that, I'm sure, will be quite memorable.
Why, might you ask?
Because Helena is friends with Ann, Ann's Jerk, and Amy, Ann's sister who is now married to Ed, Ann's ex-fiance who left her at the altar for his current wife, and because she's invited the whole crew to her nuptials, that's why. I asked Helena if she'd told Mike about Ann's wedding disaster and the aftermath, and she said she had. His response? "There's no bad luck they can bring on us! Look, they're all happy now." Helena's gleeful take on the whole thing? "This is going to be effing fantastic! Wanna take bets on who swings first?" That's my friend, always looking for entertainment wherever she can get it.
And she might get it. Amy and Ann do talk, even though Amy stole Ed from right under her bridal nose, but everyone knows Ann is incredibly vengeful and holds grudges forever, and even though she's happy working on her "relationship" with The Jerk, she still has a score to settle with Amy.
If you read the Bridesmaid Sort Of posts from a while back, you might be wondering what happened after Ann and The Jerk's embrace. Well, it was kind of like that scene in An Officer and a Gentleman where Richard Gere carries Deborah Winger out of the factory, except Ann's a bit heavier than Deb and The Jerk is waaaaay older than Richard Gere, so it looked like too stumbling drunks half carrying each other out of a crowded bar. In short, though, Ann decided to give The Jerk another try, even though he's technically married to a new wife. He and Ann are "dating" until he and the current legal Mrs. Jerk work though their conscious uncoupling. I swear on Gwyneth Paltrow's pink Oscar de la Renta dress that I'm not kidding...they are consciously uncoupling like she did with Chris Martin, or at least doing their version of it. What it amounts to is that The Jerk is getting steady, um, attention from both Ann and Mrs. Jerk, and he's never been happier. Ann thinks she's going to win back her ex-hubby from the trophy hussy who stole him, so she's thrilled--to get The Jerk back and to get revenge on Mrs. Jerk. And Mrs. Jerk thinks she's going to convince her errant spouse that he's just having a mid-life crisis and wants to sow some seeds, which is, ironically, what Ann told him when he confessed he'd been sleeping with his dental hygienist, who became Mrs. Jerk, for six months. She thinks he'll come running back to her younger arms and fuller breasts, but Ann is giving her a run for her money, or rather for The Jerk's money.
So there you have it. Helena and Mike's wedding is going to be center stage to Ann and Amy's showdown, while Ed and The Jerk stand around sipping bad wine and comparing sisters. Hopefully, Helena and Mike will take it all in stride, and, if we're lucky, everything will go off splendidly.
I hope your spring is shaping up to be as exciting as mine promises to be. Happy Reading!
But that's not what you came here for, is it? You came here for something exciting, and, finally, I have something exciting to talk about. Wanna hear?
So my friend, Helena, is getting married for the 3rd time, which is, I'm sure, a charm. Although, given Helena's track record, maybe not. Helena and Mike are getting married on 3/17, the luckiest day of the year according to their ancestors, who were all Irish. They are getting married at 3:17 on the dot, too. However, that's about it. I think Mike wanted to go all the way with the "We're so lucky to have found each other" theme, but Helena convinced him to not go overboard with it. It promises to be a nice wedding, and one that, I'm sure, will be quite memorable.
Why, might you ask?
Because Helena is friends with Ann, Ann's Jerk, and Amy, Ann's sister who is now married to Ed, Ann's ex-fiance who left her at the altar for his current wife, and because she's invited the whole crew to her nuptials, that's why. I asked Helena if she'd told Mike about Ann's wedding disaster and the aftermath, and she said she had. His response? "There's no bad luck they can bring on us! Look, they're all happy now." Helena's gleeful take on the whole thing? "This is going to be effing fantastic! Wanna take bets on who swings first?" That's my friend, always looking for entertainment wherever she can get it.
And she might get it. Amy and Ann do talk, even though Amy stole Ed from right under her bridal nose, but everyone knows Ann is incredibly vengeful and holds grudges forever, and even though she's happy working on her "relationship" with The Jerk, she still has a score to settle with Amy.
If you read the Bridesmaid Sort Of posts from a while back, you might be wondering what happened after Ann and The Jerk's embrace. Well, it was kind of like that scene in An Officer and a Gentleman where Richard Gere carries Deborah Winger out of the factory, except Ann's a bit heavier than Deb and The Jerk is waaaaay older than Richard Gere, so it looked like too stumbling drunks half carrying each other out of a crowded bar. In short, though, Ann decided to give The Jerk another try, even though he's technically married to a new wife. He and Ann are "dating" until he and the current legal Mrs. Jerk work though their conscious uncoupling. I swear on Gwyneth Paltrow's pink Oscar de la Renta dress that I'm not kidding...they are consciously uncoupling like she did with Chris Martin, or at least doing their version of it. What it amounts to is that The Jerk is getting steady, um, attention from both Ann and Mrs. Jerk, and he's never been happier. Ann thinks she's going to win back her ex-hubby from the trophy hussy who stole him, so she's thrilled--to get The Jerk back and to get revenge on Mrs. Jerk. And Mrs. Jerk thinks she's going to convince her errant spouse that he's just having a mid-life crisis and wants to sow some seeds, which is, ironically, what Ann told him when he confessed he'd been sleeping with his dental hygienist, who became Mrs. Jerk, for six months. She thinks he'll come running back to her younger arms and fuller breasts, but Ann is giving her a run for her money, or rather for The Jerk's money.
So there you have it. Helena and Mike's wedding is going to be center stage to Ann and Amy's showdown, while Ed and The Jerk stand around sipping bad wine and comparing sisters. Hopefully, Helena and Mike will take it all in stride, and, if we're lucky, everything will go off splendidly.
I hope your spring is shaping up to be as exciting as mine promises to be. Happy Reading!
Good News
So I have a bit of news...
I'm going to be a mother-in-law again, and I'm thrilled. Our youngest son has found a lovely mate, the girl of his dreams, and now they're planning their impending nuptials. In like three months. God bless 'em.
Seriously. They decided they want to get married in February of 2016, and so they will. He has a particular job obligation and she has a particular school obligation and they want the majority of the family to be there on their special--albeit very cold--day, and February is the only month that worked out for all those things to happen.
I know what you're thinking. Why not just wait and have it when it's convenient for the happy couple? Well, given my son's a workaholic, that's not even ever a possibility. But on a more positive note, they are just wanting to start building a life together, and they don't really care about the "wedding" details as much as they care about the marriage after. Given my hippie background (see the Bridesmaids post from a few months ago), I couldn't be happier. This young lady is more concerned about partnering with my son than saying yes to the dress, and I have to admit, I'm kind of happy to hear it.
I mean, they've got plans. They want to do this together and that together, and they seem genuinely interested in building a life together, as opposed to just planning this huge wedding and being special for a day. They want what they have to be special for all their lives. My son actually said that when I asked him what not to wear to the wedding (after seeing all those articles are terrible mother-in-laws upstaging brides at their weddings). He was like, "We're just glad you're going to be there. Wear whatever you want. We'll have the rest of our lives to laugh at it if it sucks real bad."
Is this my son or what?
Thank you for reading. I had to share the good news and the idea that there are folks out there who care more about the marriage than the wedding (remember my good friend Ann?). I'm all aglow about the big day, but even more happy that they seem to want to really just hang out and love each other. Sounds like a plan to me. :)
Happy Reading!
I'm going to be a mother-in-law again, and I'm thrilled. Our youngest son has found a lovely mate, the girl of his dreams, and now they're planning their impending nuptials. In like three months. God bless 'em.
Seriously. They decided they want to get married in February of 2016, and so they will. He has a particular job obligation and she has a particular school obligation and they want the majority of the family to be there on their special--albeit very cold--day, and February is the only month that worked out for all those things to happen.
I know what you're thinking. Why not just wait and have it when it's convenient for the happy couple? Well, given my son's a workaholic, that's not even ever a possibility. But on a more positive note, they are just wanting to start building a life together, and they don't really care about the "wedding" details as much as they care about the marriage after. Given my hippie background (see the Bridesmaids post from a few months ago), I couldn't be happier. This young lady is more concerned about partnering with my son than saying yes to the dress, and I have to admit, I'm kind of happy to hear it.
I mean, they've got plans. They want to do this together and that together, and they seem genuinely interested in building a life together, as opposed to just planning this huge wedding and being special for a day. They want what they have to be special for all their lives. My son actually said that when I asked him what not to wear to the wedding (after seeing all those articles are terrible mother-in-laws upstaging brides at their weddings). He was like, "We're just glad you're going to be there. Wear whatever you want. We'll have the rest of our lives to laugh at it if it sucks real bad."
Is this my son or what?
Thank you for reading. I had to share the good news and the idea that there are folks out there who care more about the marriage than the wedding (remember my good friend Ann?). I'm all aglow about the big day, but even more happy that they seem to want to really just hang out and love each other. Sounds like a plan to me. :)
Happy Reading!
Apple
When you see the word "apple," what does it bring to mind?
A. Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter
B. Orchards of tall trees bearing shiny fruit.
C. That story about the Garden of Eden
D. My IPhone crisis
Your answer might be A, B, or C. Mine is definitely D. All in all, I'd say I spent 24 hours last Saturday freaking out about my IPhone and it's sudden ill-timed decision to lose photos and videos. Typically my phone is fine. It does what I need it to do and gives me few problems that can't be resolved by turning it off and on. However, Saturday, this was not the case.
No, Saturday I pick up my phone and suddenly where there were 100 photos, there were 14. Where there were 17 videos, there were 2. Where there was my sanity, there was a burning smell as my synapses misfired and my brain juices boiled out my ears in stunned dismay.
My DH and I had been to the wedding of a dear friend earlier in the day. She is a lovely soul, a very loving and kind person, and without much money for the nuptials. The reception was actually a carry-in type affair, not catered, and there was no money for a professional wedding photographer or videographer, so the family was taking all the video/pictures. I had asked her if I could get some video and photos and she was very happy to let me, knowing I'm a creative type. Also, her dad had kind of asked me to take some pictures and video because he wanted to make sure if his didn't turn out, then they'd still have something from the wedding and reception (a bit of foreshadowing here).
I really wanted to present her with a DVD of memories and pictures of her special day, and because I knew everyone there, I got some great stuff, which anyone who's taking pictures knows can be a hit/miss proposition. I used my camera most of the time, but it's been acting up and doesn't do video, so I got some cool stuff on my IPhone. My DH and I were thrilled that we'd have something special to give her, but then...
Poof!
I get home after the reception and not but two hours later go to get the pictures and videos off my phone. I tap the photos app and to my horror, I find 20 pictures. Twenty pictures of everything but the wedding. No, wait. There was one of the wedding. One. And there was a picture of a blanket my cousin kintted, a picture of my cat, a picture of a chair I wanted to show my husband--all taken before the wedding--and various other stuff that I can't remember now because I panicked.
Immediately, I try turning it off and on. No luck. I do the next thing everyone does: get on the Internet. I spent hours searching forums and websites and everything I could think of, but no one had a solution that seemed to go with my problem. The worst thing was I couldn't tell if the pictures and photos were backed up or not, so restoring from a backup could wipe everything and restore nothing I needed. The big problem was that my statistics on my phone were showing my stuff was there, but I couldn't see them or get to them. I alternated between frustrated, ticked off, and desolate that I'd let my friend down on her special day.
So I ended up doing what I swore I would never do. I called Apple. I hate calling corporate tech support because it always costs in time and money and stress. If it had just been my random pictures, I would have said good-bye without issue. But it wasn't, so I dialed the number and hoped for the best.
I know many people complain online about tech support from the big tech corporations; however, that guy at Apple, in short, saved the day. Yes, it did cost about $20, but my pictures came back from Bora Bora, or wherever the hell they were, and my videos did, too, although they were upside down. That's my fault because I never can figure out how to use video feature right, but since my DH loves playing with video, he fixes it for me. The Apple guy was patient, professional, and a problem-solver, and thanks to him for helping me be able to give the priceless gift of special memories to my friend.
So my Apple crisis ended up happily ever after. I am in the process of compiling everything to create a memory DVD for the newlyweds. As I look at the pictures and video, I'm so glad I got to be a part of their special day and maybe help capture it for them to watch on their 50th wedding anniversary.
I hope you are having a special day, too. Happy reading!
A. Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter
B. Orchards of tall trees bearing shiny fruit.
C. That story about the Garden of Eden
D. My IPhone crisis
Your answer might be A, B, or C. Mine is definitely D. All in all, I'd say I spent 24 hours last Saturday freaking out about my IPhone and it's sudden ill-timed decision to lose photos and videos. Typically my phone is fine. It does what I need it to do and gives me few problems that can't be resolved by turning it off and on. However, Saturday, this was not the case.
No, Saturday I pick up my phone and suddenly where there were 100 photos, there were 14. Where there were 17 videos, there were 2. Where there was my sanity, there was a burning smell as my synapses misfired and my brain juices boiled out my ears in stunned dismay.
My DH and I had been to the wedding of a dear friend earlier in the day. She is a lovely soul, a very loving and kind person, and without much money for the nuptials. The reception was actually a carry-in type affair, not catered, and there was no money for a professional wedding photographer or videographer, so the family was taking all the video/pictures. I had asked her if I could get some video and photos and she was very happy to let me, knowing I'm a creative type. Also, her dad had kind of asked me to take some pictures and video because he wanted to make sure if his didn't turn out, then they'd still have something from the wedding and reception (a bit of foreshadowing here).
I really wanted to present her with a DVD of memories and pictures of her special day, and because I knew everyone there, I got some great stuff, which anyone who's taking pictures knows can be a hit/miss proposition. I used my camera most of the time, but it's been acting up and doesn't do video, so I got some cool stuff on my IPhone. My DH and I were thrilled that we'd have something special to give her, but then...
Poof!
I get home after the reception and not but two hours later go to get the pictures and videos off my phone. I tap the photos app and to my horror, I find 20 pictures. Twenty pictures of everything but the wedding. No, wait. There was one of the wedding. One. And there was a picture of a blanket my cousin kintted, a picture of my cat, a picture of a chair I wanted to show my husband--all taken before the wedding--and various other stuff that I can't remember now because I panicked.
Immediately, I try turning it off and on. No luck. I do the next thing everyone does: get on the Internet. I spent hours searching forums and websites and everything I could think of, but no one had a solution that seemed to go with my problem. The worst thing was I couldn't tell if the pictures and photos were backed up or not, so restoring from a backup could wipe everything and restore nothing I needed. The big problem was that my statistics on my phone were showing my stuff was there, but I couldn't see them or get to them. I alternated between frustrated, ticked off, and desolate that I'd let my friend down on her special day.
So I ended up doing what I swore I would never do. I called Apple. I hate calling corporate tech support because it always costs in time and money and stress. If it had just been my random pictures, I would have said good-bye without issue. But it wasn't, so I dialed the number and hoped for the best.
I know many people complain online about tech support from the big tech corporations; however, that guy at Apple, in short, saved the day. Yes, it did cost about $20, but my pictures came back from Bora Bora, or wherever the hell they were, and my videos did, too, although they were upside down. That's my fault because I never can figure out how to use video feature right, but since my DH loves playing with video, he fixes it for me. The Apple guy was patient, professional, and a problem-solver, and thanks to him for helping me be able to give the priceless gift of special memories to my friend.
So my Apple crisis ended up happily ever after. I am in the process of compiling everything to create a memory DVD for the newlyweds. As I look at the pictures and video, I'm so glad I got to be a part of their special day and maybe help capture it for them to watch on their 50th wedding anniversary.
I hope you are having a special day, too. Happy reading!
Wedding Plans
Do you like cake? My son is getting married this fall, so the past few months have been filled with wedding preparations. I love my future daughter-in-law and we are friends with her parents, so this has actually been a lot of fun. Most of the details have been set for months, the venue for the wedding and the reception, the menu, the dresses (except the mother-of-the bride & mother-of-the-groom dresses. Neither of us have a dress yet. And of course, we both want to lose weight before the wedding, so there's been a lot of talks of diet and exercise as well.
Yesterday we went cake testing. Yeah, not a big help for a diet, but it had to be done LOL And the engaged couple practiced posing for the camera.
Flavor and fillings and designs and colors. All the decisions were made while we tasted deliciously moist cake. Maybe I'll get a chance to eat a piece this time. At my daughter's wedding I was so busy trying to hit every table and talk to all the guests that I missed the entire cut-the-cake moment and never had a taste.
You'll probably hear more about this wedding as the year goes on. I'm sure I'll post the looking-for-a-mother-of-the-groom-dress experience. Any advice for where to look outside the typical dowdy options out there? I'll be looking. As soon as I lose a little weight...
Natasha
www.natashamoore.com
Yesterday we went cake testing. Yeah, not a big help for a diet, but it had to be done LOL And the engaged couple practiced posing for the camera.
Flavor and fillings and designs and colors. All the decisions were made while we tasted deliciously moist cake. Maybe I'll get a chance to eat a piece this time. At my daughter's wedding I was so busy trying to hit every table and talk to all the guests that I missed the entire cut-the-cake moment and never had a taste.
You'll probably hear more about this wedding as the year goes on. I'm sure I'll post the looking-for-a-mother-of-the-groom-dress experience. Any advice for where to look outside the typical dowdy options out there? I'll be looking. As soon as I lose a little weight...
Natasha
www.natashamoore.com
The Wedding - Romantic Event or Performance?
Over the Labor Day weekend, I attended a weekend wedding. By that, I mean, an entire weekend of wedding festivities. Yes, the days of a wedding ceremony followed by a reception are gone the way of the twentieth century. This was a full weekend event, and we were informed that our presence was expected throughout. I have to attend the rehearsal dinner? Neither I, nor anyone in my family, was in the wedding. Of course, as it turns out, we were in the wedding as “the audience”.
And here's how a 21st century wedding unfolds.
The rehearsal dinner is fun. No more than 100 handpicked guests.
But it takes the wedding itself to show me how much things have changed since I married. Start with the photography. Four photographers plus a video photographer take over the wedding room. Cameras are mounted on 15 foot tall stanchions on both sides of the room. A huge klieg light is mounted on the altar in front of the bride and groom and faces directly into the audience. We won't sleep through this ceremony. We won't see it either, due to the blinding spotlight which remains on for the entire ceremony. The spotlight is reinforced by flashbulbs that pop randomly just when you think you've located a vista uninterrupted by the kleig. The photographers buzz the altar like pit bulls seeking prey. They stand in the aisle. They discuss their work among themselves in stage whispers. My daughter observes that we seem to be the studio audience in a reality tv show.
When the bride and groom exit down the aisle, they are preceded by two photographers scuttling backwards to record the event for all posterity. Do we actually get to see the bride and groom? No. But I guess they’ll enjoy seeing themselves in perfect photos forevermore.
The string quartet plays beautifully before the ceremony and during the following cocktail reception. But I miss the organ pumping out ‘Here Comes the Bride’. I comment to a close friend, “Did you realize the gown was made to order?” She looks at me like I’ve just rolled off the turnip truck (and she is not fond of turnips, nor anyone who travels with them). “All gowns are made to order,” she informs me.
We move into the ballroom for dinner. Despite an ample buffet during the cocktail reception, the men are starting to get hungry. It’s about 8:30 pm. The music from the dance band is so loud we quickly exit the ballroom, posting a sentry to watch for dinner. Folks start searching for the parents of the bride. If the music isn’t toned down we’ll all require pacemakers. My chest hurts from the noise (which is something I’ve never experienced. Rock concerts are quieter.) My teenaged nephews can’t even take it. The bride’s SIL sends her twin 8 year olds back to the hotel for good. She wants their hearing to remain intact.
Dinner fails to materialize. At 10:00 pm my husband storms the kitchen to procure a plate of chicken tenders and French fries for our youngest, who is on the verge of passing out. She doesn’t eat chicken, but I spot her guarding the fries with her arms literally over her plate. Her tablemates are hungry. The groom even comes over and high fives her for scoring food. The chicken tenders she doesn't want are brought back to our table and broken into pieces for the adults to share. Now I know the conditions under which civilized adults will dispense with silverware.
Two entire tables of guests have cleared out by the time the food arrives at 10:40. The meal is delicious, though few guests take the time to appreciate it. Mainlining it is preferable. The bride and groom cut the cake, I think.
No one can see them due to the photographers circling them like vultures over a kill. (Maybe they hadn’t received dinner yet.)The band plays on. It's the first band I've ever heard that never takes a break. They do play very well (once the parents get the volume toned down.) But as midnight approaches, the volume increases. The dancing gets frenetic, and that part is fun. Lots of fun. But the old folks and the young ones are getting tired as midnight passes. I proclaim that no one can leave until the bride and groom do. But this is another custom that apparently has gone the way of the dodo bird.
The bride and groom aren't leaving. No honeymoon for them. The bride started law school last week and classes continue this week. I guess the groom is going back to work. Huh? Where’s the romance? Where are the special memories to savor when marital life has its bumps? Where is the chance to take a break from busy individual lives and begin to meld your lives together with fun and pleasure? (You know what I'm talking about.)
Yes, they had lived together before the wedding. Yes, they’d been engaged for two years. (It takes that long, the mother of the bride told me, to line up all these props that go into such a performance...ummmm wedding.)
This wedding was beautifully planned and, for the most part, executed. No expense was spared. The only thing missing was the romance.
But it did get me thinking. How would I like my daughters to get married? The mother of this bride told me you get caught up in the whole rigamarole. You must have rose petals strewn down the aisle. You must have the imported wedding dress. You must have an invitation packet consisting of several pages plus individually printed cards for the “goodie bags” for every guest.
But, I ask you, is all of this necessary? Has anyone attended a special, romantic wedding not built around props? Or are we all doomed to such extravagance to show we love our children?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)