I know that this blog will get me into trouble for saying things I shouldn’t. Please allow me the opportunity to just rant on for a bit about some of the traditional wedding practices that take place in our society. Be assured, I am not criticizing any particular bride or couple or family, but rather I am criticizing everyone who has ever, in the history of mankind, placed some importance on the practices described below.
To begin, all of the decisions listed below are irrelevant in the larger context of what is really important in life and relationships. It doesn’t matter if you include any of them in your wedding or in the next family wedding. They are not important. The only thing that is important is the commitment of the bride and groom to each other by agreeing to share the rest of their lives together. Take it from me it doesn’t really matter if:
The wedding cars are decorated or not
How many bridesmaids or groomsmen are in the wedding party
The colour of the bridesmaid's dresses
The kind or colour of the flowers the bride holds
The wedding is small or large, indoors or outdoors
There is live music or a dj at the reception
There are special napkins or match booklets for each guest
The couple writes their own vows or not
There is a wedding photographer or videographer
The wedding meal is buffet or sit-down; chicken or beef
The married couple ceremoniously “cut” the wedding cake
The bride tosses out her bouquet to the guests
There are decorations at the reception
There are flower girls or a ring bearer
And the list goes on and on.
In years past, we ran a business where we hosted and catered weddings and receptions. Our experience confirmed that almost all of the stress and anxiety that was evident at every wedding was linked to one or more of the above trivial details. Tears flowed because the flowers for the tables had not yet arrived or the mother of the bride could not sit closer to the actual wedding ceremony. People could be upset if the music was too loud or the food too cold. The supposed joy of a wedding is often dimmed by some minor issue that went awry and had little to do with the actual meaningfulness of the wedding event.
Despite being a man, I do understand the fantasy of every young girl to be a beautiful princess marrying her prince charming on a special day and then living happily ever after. Everyone is entitled to this dream. Just be alerted, that the many tiny picayune details that surround a modern wedding can be the reasons for so much unnecessary stress and strain on the entire wedding family. Remember to ask yourself what is really important, and then don’t let the trivial ruin a wonderful memory.
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