fell in love…”
This is one of the newest “wedding expressions” out on the market, and, while I must admit it does remind me somewhat of a sappy old Brad Paisley cawntrey song…it is nice to hear, especially when planning one’s wedding.
I also liked
“And, They Lived Happily Ever After!”
But, ultimately fell for
“Fall in Love…”
Get it?
A “Fall” Wedding??
“FALL in love”?!?
Anyway.
Luckily for me, all of those decisions can be left for some new bride, planning her, I mean, uh, “their” day, because, my friends…our day has come and gone.
Was it all I hoped it would be?
Absolutely!
Did everything go off without a hitch?
Absolutely not!
But, it is a wedding, and my personal opinion, based on time spent in the industry, my anal-retentive tendencies, and a few thorough heart-to-hearts with other brides is this: Couples who say their weddings went off without a hitch, just don’t know any better!
And, more power to ’em, I say!
Planning a wedding is HARD WORK. Planning a wedding on a set budget – even harder. Planning a wedding – on a set budget – 6,000 miles away…well, you get the picture.
Our drama, unfortunately, was not limited to lost invitations. Twelve days before “The Big Day” my mother and I returned home from an evening of mother-of-the-bride shoe shopping, and grandmother-of-the-bride dress hunting to find my father, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease several years ago, sprawled on the floor, covered with blood.
Luckily he was conscious, and once he was up and clean, he felt better and insisted a trip to the hospital was unnecessary.
He awoke the following morning tired and sore.
That afternoon, he took a cat nap in his oversized, off-white leather chair. Then, he wouldn’t wake up.
My mother and I tried repeatedly to awaken him, but he wouldn’t regain awareness. After a brief consultation with area first responders, he was life flighted the 30 miles to the nearest hospital. He stopped breathing once, and then awoke to, what he called, “one hell of a helicopter ride.”
He spent the next two days in the Intensive Care Unit before being transferred to a hospital room. After one week, he was admitted into a physical therapy rehabilitation hospital where he stayed for 25 days.
For those of you who haven’t done the math – that directly coincided with wedding events.
The doctors, nurses, and other staff members of both hospitals were amazingly gracious and assured my father from the onset that he would not miss this wedding. While, unfortunately, he was not able to make the trip down the aisle, he did make the trip across town for the pre-wedding rehearsal and BBQ, the ceremony, and the wedding reception.
And, THAT, my friends, was perfect!
what a nice post…I was bracing myself for the worst toward the end of the story but it ended up to be lovely! 🙂 We still say that our wedding day was one of the most fun days ever – thanks to all the help of our family and friends. It was just wonderful to have everyone together – and nothing else was much of a fuss (except our cake melted in the Florida summer heat…oh well, not everything can go perfectly :))
I’m so glad your story had a happy ending! May you and your husband have a lifetime of happiness, and may your father continue to recover!
I have to grin at the mental image of your cake melting in the Florida heat. That happened to me at the FIRST wedding I coordinator solo in Orlando! The couple was almost an hour late, and of course, we were all set in advance, the characters were waiting….che drama!
Anyway, their cake melted, and their cute little Mickey Mouse topper slipped right down the front. I turned it around, reset the topper…no one was the wiser…until they came around back to cut their cake and were like, “WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CAKE?!?” It is actually kinda funny…now!
Thank you, Kathy! It also worked out well that I was in Texas for Christmas so I could help him out once he got home and spend more time with him!
Yikes!
Cherrye, that was a trial. When I reached the end I knew what it would be, because that’s the way you are. Auguroni on the matrimonio!
Judith in Umbria
Cherrye – I am so sorry your father was having a hard time. Sounds like you had a wonderful wedding anyway and just enjoyed the time you got to spend with him. thats the best we can do in life right =) Have a positive attitude, and enjoy those we love while we have them =)
i have no funny wedding stories cuz we were married by a judge.hehe not the most romantic but it got the job done. lol
Congratulations. Nothing like starting off the long, strange trip that is marriage with all of that drama! Only in Texas.
That *is* perfect!
Oh, I missed your writing. I used to lurk here before you took a long break, and I find your writing style refreshing. Glad to see you back!
Though I agree there is no perfect wedding it sounds like you had more then your fair share of challenges. What a blessing your father was able to be there on your special day.
I agree with a previous comment, you were very muched missed in your absence. WELCOME BACK!
Hi there! I had written a couple emails to see how you were doing but now I understand, you were just watching Dancing with the Stars and CSI, no worries. And getting married!! Are you going to share any photos with us?? Hope your father is doing well. Congratulations on the big day!
Congratulations! So glad your dad was ok – that sounds really worrying.
J – I am sure that “yikes” translates to Calabrese as…”That sucks!”
Judith – Thanks a bunch. If things weren’t so positive in the end, I don’t know if I could have written it like that!
You are right, Stacy! Job done. No flower issues! Maybe you were the smarter one!
Cupcake! Yee Haw! Only in Texas…ditto that!
Ah, jeez, thanks, R2R! I really missed reading all of your blogs, too. I plan to do that ASAP. (One more reason to put off that afternoon walk/jog, right??)
Thank you, Linda! I am glad to be back. I will post a few wedding pics later on.
Hey Shelley! I did get one email from you – but like I said, I was on borrowed Internet time there in Southeast Texas! I had my Inbox down to 140something before this week without Internet…I am back into the 200s! Dang! 🙂 Thanks for the auguris. I will share pics ASAP.
Thanks, Kataroma! Dad is doing much better and I talk to him almost daily. Poor thing…
So glad to see you back. I’m glad everything went well except your dad being so ill. It’s wonderful he didn’t miss the big day even though he didn’t get to walk you down the aisle. What a thing to go through.
My F-I-L has PArkinsons and last year was full of close calls as he developed a heart condition too. So glad he was able to be there for your wedding day.