OK, I know most normal people have their children get
married well before they retire. But
since when have we ever been normal?
Our daughter was married last weekend at the Homestead Resort
in Midway. I confess – having a
big party was my idea. We have only one
daughter, and she’s having only one wedding (at least, only one that we’re
paying for), and we’d had the money saved for over 20 years, so why not?
As soon as the engagement ring was on her finger, we began
planning. About three weeks into
checking into venues, we decided that we were in the wrong business. Weddings are quite pricey – particularly if
you want the venue to do most of the work, which we did. We settled on the Homestead because the price
was reasonable, the location beautiful, and the wedding planner, Jamie, was
both personable and extremely well organized.
Then it was time to pick a dress. We visited several bridal shops and found
just the perfect one. I tried on a
couple of dresses as well. Good thing I
didn’t buy one because they were a lot more formal than the wedding turned out
to be.
Our daughter did most of the planning and arranging for the
rest of the details. With her Excel
spreadsheet in hand, she showed us the plans for decorations. She hired a photographer and a Photo Bus for
the reception. The spreadsheet details
were pretty much between her and her dad.
I got to do the good stuff.
I attended one of the four bridal showers she was given. We got pedicures together so our toenails
would match at the wedding. I spent the night before the wedding with her at
the Homestead, where we went through the last minute details and then just
relaxed. It was all taken care of.
On the day of the wedding, I was a permanent fixture in the
Bride’s Room. We both got our makeup
done, which was somewhat amusing. Not
only had I never worn false eyelashes, I had never used an eyelash curler! Everyone laughed. We drank champagne. I helped her with her dress. And from the time she walked down the aisle
to the final sendoff, everything was perfect.
Even the following day’s “trash the dress” event, where she and her new
husband jumped into the Homestead Crater – in their wedding attire – was beautiful
and fun.
The most amazing thing for me to witness was all the support
she received from her friends and co-workers.
Her former roommate did our makeup.
Her current supervisor did her hair.
Her close friends prepared a book for her to open the day of the
wedding, and were all there in the Bride’s Room drinking champagne with
us. A sorority sister did all the
decorating. Several of her sorority
sisters came to the reception, each bringing her a red rose. Nearly everyone we invited came. She is well loved by her family and friends, and of course,
by her new husband.
Congratulations to
the newlyweds from the overflowing heart of the mother of the bride.
By the way, did you know it costs $70 to dry clean a wedding
dress?
