“So when is the wedding?”
They were joking, but now it’s been nearly two months and I wish I knew. Choices are numerous and decisions are tough, and honestly, I’m not very good at either. I mean, I spent over a month calling my latest kitten “baby girl” because I couldn’t decide on a name. (Finally choose “Tabitha”).
As I navigate my way through the open seas of wedding planning I am confronted with questions. Do I have a color scheme? Who would I like to have in my wedding? Do we want a church ceremony? What color bridesmaids’ dresses do I like? But first we have to decide where to have the ceremony and reception.
I always thought I’d like a more rustic fall reception, with hay bales and brightly colored Chrysanthemums and trees. So I’m thinking October. This October, not October 2013, which I’ve heard is way too soon. I work with deadlines all the time and I always make them, or at least try to be nowhere over 25 minutes of them. I’d like to think I work better under pressure, while others would probably call it procrastination.
My fiancé Kevin and I went to a nearby arboretum, which was lovely, and we learned about what site fees include (nothing really). We also discussed how much our friends and family “really drink” since we’d have to personally buy the alcohol.
Another venue we visited the banquet manager wasn’t overly friendly, got right to the point and said all receptions have to have at least 125 guests and starting cost is $17,000. The cakes are sugar-coated but that number was not, so we decided to retreat and enjoy a more reasonable meal at McDonald’s.
Last weekend we toured another venue, a local country club, and the exuberant manager really sold the whole vision. He spent an hour with us, answered all our questions and was flexible with nearly everything on the menu. I think this might be the place.
It is difficult though, because I’m looking for something unique and different, hopefully in Delaware County or nearby, has parking and might be near a hotel and possibly have a good view and not be too stuffy, ect. A friend of a friend visited 25 venues before finally choosing one!
As we explore this wedding wilderness, the good, the bad and the ugly, I love hearing stories about other people’s nuptials.
William and Dorothy Kaiser eloped and last month celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They have a loving family and have traveled around the world.
A World War II veteran I interviewed two years ago, Bill Neef, told me how he met his wife Velma while working as a missionary in Africa during the 1950s. Fellow missionaries and locals attended the affair and then enjoyed piano music.
Another WWII vet, Anthony Ricci, had help from his big Italian family. His wife Antoinette’s mother, a seamstress, made her beautiful wedding dress and his aunts brought meatballs, roast beef and the wedding cake for the reception which was hosted at the local V.F.W. (where he got a discount).
Neef and Ricci, both now widowers, enjoyed long marriages with their best friend and now have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
And that’s really the whole point because it’s easy to loose sight of the big picture. While it’s nice to have covers on your reception chairs and a stretch limousine to take you to the church, it really is just one day. What will make it a great day will be the time spent with the friends and family who will be there for both Kevin and I.
Now we just have to tell those friends and family where to meet us.
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