Lydia Earhart
Awedding signifies the beginning of a commitment.
It’s the start of a long journey for a couple deeply in love with each other.
I’ve been a bridesmaid in at least seven weddings – not nearly as many as the “godmother of the bridesmaids.” See Page 52.
Being a part of that special day, you see all the behind-the-scenes moments, and those make you, as a guest, enjoy the day.
You get to see the bride and bridesmaids take a swig of whiskey before the wedding. You notice the bride forgot her bouquet as she walks down the aisle. You are the one that helps the bride get all the gnats off her dress because the photographer puts her in a field before the wedding. You are on stage when the groom drops the rings. And you might also be the one who drops her Kleenex during the ceremony and debates whether or not to stoop down and grab it – that was me!
You also get to see the sentimental moments: the first look between the bride and groom, the moment the mother of the bride sees her baby girl in her wedding dress or when the groom sends a sweet card right before the wedding.
Those moments make the wedding day. The things that don’t matter are those small details that don’t work out. Don’t sweat the small stuff or you will ruin your dress. Don’t fret a rainy day or if the ring bearer is too shy to walk down the aisle alone.
Wedding planners can help though they cannot plan for the unexpected, though they try to prepare for it. Page 33.
My dad mentioned to my sister the night before her wedding as she was obsessing about details, “It’s OK if something happens. After, you will laugh about it. Think of it this way: It adds a bit of charm to your wedding story.”
Being a maid of honor at your sister’s wedding you hear it all, fight about tasting the pumpkin bisque, then you freak out about what to say during the toast. I wrote my toast the night before her wedding.
I told my brother-in-law, Paul to protect my sister, which as the older one used to be my job. I also threw in some inside jokes from our childhood. My toast wasn’t about marriage advice but was more about getting them to look around right now and see this is the moment when their life will change and they will start a new journey together.
At some weddings during the ceremony, there is a moment when the officiant will tell the bride and groom to stop, turn around and look at the guests. This gives the couple a chance to stop and realize the moment.
Weddings and funerals are the only time everyone you love is in one room. Though that fact is a little morbid, it really means to celebrate and surround yourself with people that uplift your relationship and will help you in this commitment.
As we begin the evolution of CityLife, we begin a new commitment to our readers to tell the stories that give a voice to strong, successful women in our community.
I devote this wedding issue to all the hopeful brides yet to find a groom, the newly engaged brides filling their Pinterest board, the brides celebrating anniversaries and the brides that still have their dress in the closet for their daughter to wear someday.
From what I hear, that day comes too soon.
