Marriage. Every man and their dog seem to be getting hitched at the minute (hopefully not to each other). Even my old favourite Bruno Mars. Luckily most of my friends enjoying the pleasures that nuptials can bring have thought it through rather more thoroughly than Mr Mars, whose ‘Marry Me’ proposal appears to be fuelled simply by a combination of booze and the horn.
I have been invited to 5 weddings this year (surprisingly not Bruno’s) and it seems everyone’s at it: tying the knot, attaching the ol’ ball and chain. I feel I’m becoming something of a veteran wedding-attendee and find myself mentally scoring different elements of these big days like some kind of one man ‘Four Weddings’ show (only without the offer of a honeymoon as a prize for my favourite). Which colours work best, which kind of venue encourages most interaction, who to invite for the best party atmosphere, which services bring a tear to the eye and which don’t quite hit the mark. But the most valuable thing I’ve taken away from these wedding experiences is that the best weddings are the ones where the couple are obviously mad for each other but also the ones where you can see the couple’s influences in every aspect of the day. The people who haven’t necessarily bowed to tradition but done things their own way, in a space selected and decorated to please them.
A good friend of mine even did her own speech alongside the words laid on by her father, husband and best (wo)man. This is something I’ve always wanted to do – for the sheer fact that marriage was an institution designed to pass ‘property’ from father to new hubbie without any comment from the silent bride. Let’s break down those barriers and speak up. Why shouldn’t the bride have a voice on her wedding day, especially when she’s usually done all the work?!
As I’ve attended these many weddings (and still more to come in the next few months – unless I am now disinvited!) I’ve picked up tips, gathered ideas and been making mental notes to apply to my own wedding (if and when that day comes). But all I really know is that I want the process to be as fun as possible and the day to be individual and full of my favourite people – preferably with plenty of drink inside them and ready to party. And what one thing will I make sure is not a part of my big day? ‘Come On Eileen’! I swear if the DJ plays that song I’ll swing for him. That and anything by Bruno Mars.
Image copyright – Andrew English
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