Friends,
When you say to your fiancé that you’re not so much interested in making the event into a spectacle as much as something grand, the obvious reaction is, “Yeah? Like what?” Better have something in your pocket ready to go.
“How about a big outdoor wedding? Something big, like a castle,” I think I said. Then it was time to find a castle.
Scotland? Ireland? A destination wedding was voted down. I tried to stick with something grand somewhere close, but local wineries and other venues in the Wedding Industrial Complex just weren’t doing it for me. Then I found this place—a real castle! Who knew?
The upside is that the company that manages the venue also provides catering and other services. The downside is that they’re very firm about who else can provide services on your wedding day. This meant that my dear friend and talented photographer had to jump through hoops. That meant no ponies, pets, or piglets. This also meant that we had to use the approved disc jockey. An affable fellow with an unfortunate middle-aged dude ponytail afforded us the opportunity to create our own playlists. We used a food-themed jazz playlist for dinner, then one filled with dance tunes for the reception.
We chose a cake and flowers and dresses and suits and colors and entrees and liquor and quotes and vows and got married on a beautiful spring day. How about that?
As the one year anniversary approaches, it’s hard to believe it didn’t happen last week.
A lot happened between then and now. It should keep us both busy for a while.
See you tomorrow.
Your pal,
– bob
