Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Here Comes the Bride

It's the strangest thing. I've been all caught up in weddings lately and I honestly don't know a SOUL who is getting married at the moment. Don't know why I'm suddenly watching all these wedding shows but I'm just hooked.

Over the weekend, I checked out all the internet pics of Chelsea Clinton's wedding (a beautiful, glowing bride) and thought about the years of her growing up in The White House and then later. She grew from a gangly young girl, an awkward teen, into an attractive and obviously intelligent young woman and I have to say it was lovely to see her find the man of her dreams and move into this new stage in her life.

What is it about weddings that gets us all 'glowy eyed'? Lately, I've been watching My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. Weird, I know. Have to say I'm hooked on it though. He is a wedding expert who shows up at the home of a clueless bride and helps her put together the wedding of her dreams. Bling, bling and more bling. Lordy! Had no clue there was so much involved in planning a wedding (whether massive or small). Back years ago, my husband and I eloped. He was in law school and there was quite a distance between us in those pre-marriage days so it just made sense to keep things simple. We often laugh at how we managed to stay married for almost 28 years without all the pomp that comes with a traditional wedding. We basically bought a marriage license and paid for a weekend honeymoon. That was it. Of course, there were no bridal/wedding showers and very few gifts to help us start our household but that's okay. We managed.

The coolest wedding I ever attended was for one of my husband's cousins. The entire family was flown to the US Virgin Islands where the couple married on the beaches of St. Thomas. It was at sunset and the most gorgeous wedding I've ever attended. Another beautiful wedding was years and years ago at Christmas time. The church was already filled with flowers due to the season. The bridesmaids carried while fluffy muffs. Lovely wedding. Perfect in every way with the snow coming down outside and all that rich color inside. I think, if I had to do it over, I might have foregone the 'speedy quick and inexpensive thing' and done something a little bit nicer. Although I'm not quite sure my nerves would have held up under the strain.

Where did you get married? Would you have done things differently?


Coming Tomorrow...Trouble in a Stetson.

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Book two in the Sequins, Saddles and Spurs series.

Lola Lamont leaves Vegas with two pals, never imagining they’d break down in small-town Texas. So what’s a former showgirl to do when she runs smack dab into the hottest sheriff south of the Mason Dixon line? Why, jump his bones, of course!

Sam Campbell takes one look at the Vegas Bombshell and knows damn good and well she belongs in his bed. She probably has the words gold digger tattooed to her ass but he’s ready to take what the sexy blonde has to offer. Vowing to protect his heart, Sam rocks her world. Too bad she’s rocking his right back. Sam is more than ready to handle some sass, spunk and sex, but is he willing to gamble on love?

16 comments:

Clare Revell said...

I had the cheap wedding. I made my bridesmaids dresses - cost of 4 dresses was £170. My dress cost £150 cos I bought the fabric and a friend made it. Wedding was in my church therefore free. Reception in the church hall. We had to pay food, but caterers were churhc members so venue and caterers free.

Compare that to my brothers in Sydney and my sisters on a beach in St Lucia. Neither I could go to as I couldnt afford 5 airfares plus hotel fees while there.
Didn't even get invited to my sisters.
They were my bridemaids
I wasn't at theirs.

Would i do things differnetly?
No. At least ALL my family could go to mine!

Unknown said...

The Christmas time one you described sounds just like mine! For a moment I wondered if you were there. LOL
We married New Years Eve and the church and hall was already decorated beautifully. :)
I wouldn't change it for anything. Though if we ever renewed our vows it would be on an island in the sand.

Regina Carlysle said...

I think every bride has to work within her budget, Clare. And things you do yourself are more meaningful, I think. With the destination weddings, the couple needs to either have plenty of money and be able to fly in family and close friends or expect there might be a lot of no-shows.

The St. Thomas wedding I attended was paid for by the couple and their parents. Very expensive to fly all those people in and put them up at a hotel for that many days.

Regina Carlysle said...

Amber, I think if brides are savy they'll think about that when planning their wedding. During the holidays you already have the venue decorated. Saves a lot of money plus is beautiful. Same with the 'beach' weddings. Most resort areas already have beautiful plants and flowers growing. Nothing needs to be done to make everything spectacular.

Megan Rose said...

I didn't want a big wedding, it was a simple ceremony, with family and friends back at our house. I hate fuss and really, for me..it's not the day...but the days and years after the wedding day that count. I do admit to watching wedding shows too though LOL. The best wedding I ever went to was my friend, Gemma's. She was married in a small church in winter with candles lit around the church, then it was a short walk back to the big house for mulled wine by the open fire. At night they brought in a live band with a casino evening to follow. Wonderful day. And several years on, she and her husband have two beautiful children :)

Julia Rachel Barrett said...

Oooh! Good topic! I loved Chelsea Clinton's dress! Do you know she married a guy from my home state and my mom dated his great uncle??? Too cool! Six degrees of separation!
You know your cover? I saw that photo shoot! Yum!

Tessie Bradford said...

My hubby and I have had two weddings (to each other)! The first time was in a tiny chapel, 28 people attended and we all went out afterwards for a wonderful dinner. 20 years later, we re-newed our vows, with our children standing up with us. It was an incredible celebration of longevity and family and love! Neither wedding "broke the bank" and were two of the best days of my life!

Regina Carlysle said...

You're right Megan. It's the years afterward that matter but dang if those wedding shows aren't addictive. I sometimes even get into watching Bridezillas, at least until I'm feeling the urge to smack one of those spoiled brat straight in the nose!

Now doesn't that country wedding sound just soooo gorgeous. All the candles and everything all crisp and cool outside. Sounds perfect to me.

Regina Carlysle said...

OMG...DID you see that photo shoot??? You have to tell me all about it. She is ABSOLUTELY Lola Lamont and I was just thrilled to get this.

It's a small world, isn't it? I couldn't help thinking Chelsea looked gorgeous. Mature, elegant and poised. That Vera Wang gown was to die for. That beading. WOW.

Regina Carlysle said...

That just sounds amazing to me, Tessie. It's not about having masses of people there. It's about being with the people you love.

Lex Valentine said...

It will never happen at my age, but I wouldn't mind getting married at the Bellagio on the terrace overlooking the fountain...like my heroine in Rock My World. :)

Regina Carlysle said...

Awwww, sounds romantic, doesn't it?

Molly Daniels said...

We had a whirlwind wedding in my church, within two weeks of getting engaged.

If I had to do it all over again, the only thing I'd change is the reception; there wasn't enough time to get a DJ or rent a banquet hall. Tentatively planning on doing that for the 25th anniversary and vow renewal. I've also joked about making it 'official' by doing the vows in the Catholic Church, which is his denomination.

Bronwyn Green said...

I had a big church wedding - mostly because my stepmom who never had a big wedding or a daughter of her own (well, besides me ;) ) was so excited about doing the big church thing. I figured if it made her happy, it was cool with me and besides, I hate planning stuff. :D

However, if I had a do over, it would be in the woods, in autumn with a far fewer people - but I wouldn't change anything about the guy I married. He's a keeper. :) Maybe we'll renew our vows one of these days.

The most memorable wedding I was ever at was my cousin's. His bride was barefoot, had a gorgeous strapless dress with a John Deere tractor tattoo on her shoulder that says "Daddy's Little Angel" underneath it and, the groomsmen wore cowboy hats, the wedding colors were green and gold. The ring bearer and flowergirl were pulled up the aisle in a red radio flyer wagon.

Instead of a limo there was a hay wagon draped with tulle and pulled by a tractor. And at the reception, during the chicken dance, one of the groomsmen put on a giant chicken costume, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. It was, by far, one of the most hilarious weddings I've ever been to.

Julia Rachel Barrett said...

Yes, I was down in Los Angeles when Jimmy was doing the photo shoot with her and he sent them to me as he uploaded them. Unfortunately I was not there in person, but he had told me about the shoot - I couldn't make it!
He thinks she's very sexy! He's on the cover of my book, My Everything.

Laurann Dohner said...

I come from a HUGE family and grew up being the flower girl in a lot of HUGE weddings. LOL. I saw the stress, the expense, the sheer headache of all those arrangements... then the couple who wanted the 'perfect' wedding got so drunk at the reception... LOL... the groom and bride ended up not having such a hot honeymoon!!! LOL. (Either gripping a toilet or passed out cold).

I didn't want any part of that for myself. I wanted fun, pretty, easy, and stress free with a sober groom so we had a romantic honeymoon night. We found a pretty chapel near Laughlin, took just our immediate family, I bought a off white wedding dress without the yards of material, my best friend wore a short black mini dress, and the minister had us laughing. Afterward we all went to dinner together. So...best of both worlds. I got the pretty without the big cost, headaches, or having to figure out how to seat people without someone dying. (If you had a big wedding...YOU KNOW what I'm talking about. LOL. Someone once accidently sat their aunt back to back at 2 different tables with their uncle...and his 24 year old new wife...but good news...She didn't draw blood...much when we pulled her off the ex...LOL!)

Happy release day, Regina. YOU KNOW I'm so buying it!!!