(This was published in Southern Lifestyles Connection, March 2008)
As the parents of three daughters, Jack and I heard numerous times over the years, "You poor things - three weddings!" Nobody says that to the parents of boys.
Since we had eloped, I had no experience with planning a wedding. I was grateful that when oldest daughter Jill married she wanted a simple church ceremony, with the reception at a local hotel. Nothing unexpected happened, it was all beautiful, and we had a wonderful son-in-law in John "One down, two to go," I thought, and the years went by.
Joanna is five years younger than Jill, and Janet three years younger than Jo. I naively assumed that their weddings would eventually follow at chronological intervals based on the difference in their ages.
Silly me.
Both girls began dating their future husbands at about the same time, and after four years were ready for marriage. Jo wanted a spring wedding at White Rock Lake, and the only weekend date available was in April. Janet was graduating from college in May and wanted to be married before starting her new job The result was one wedding scheduled for April 7 and the other for June 24. Of the same year. Eleven weeks apart. That is not a misprint.
I broached the possibility of a combined wedding, with no success. The girls are very different in personality. Jo wanted things very laid-back, no attendants, and no fuss. Janet wanted a traditional church wedding, bridesmaids and groomsmen, and a fancier catered dinner.
With strong opinions about what they wanted, and making substantial financial contributions themselves, both girls did much of their own planning. Even so, for months I was in a daze. I'd lie sleepless in bed at night worrying that I'd get one wedding confused with the other. Janet was away at school, finishing her master's coursework, and already pretty stressed juggling school, work and wedding plans, so I was reluctant to bother her with my concerns.
Jo lives in Dallas so it was easier to work with her. She was a marvel of organization, with detailed poster schematics, supplies, and dedicated work crews. Her sunset ceremony at Winfrey Point was to be outside under an arbor, with the reception indoors. When we arrived in the morning to set up, the weather was glorious. When we returned at 4:00 p.m., there were gale-force winds causing whitecaps on the lake. Twenty minutes before the ceremony we had no choice but to bring everything indoors. We lugged in the arbor and set up chairs, while the guests sat at the reception tables enjoying the novelty. In spite of the last-minute frenzy, the ceremony was lovely, the barbeque dinner terrific, and the reception pure fun, with the bride and groom (who wore leather Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers) handing out Twinkies and Ding Dongs and other nostalgic snacks late in the evening.
The rearranged, non-traditional wedding was a fun way for Jo and Trey to enter their married life. Except that, as it turned out, they didn't legally enter married life until a couple of months later, since the County Records office lost their first marriage license. They had to get another one signed and recorded six weeks after the wedding. But that's another story.
Graduation behind her, it was time for Janet's wedding. Last-minute plans went fairly smoothly, although I wound up having to alter all four of the bridesmaids' dresses. We were fortunate to have close friends as caterer and decorator, and they did a masterful job. The ceremony was beautiful. The reception hall was spacious and inviting, and the dinner was delicious. We sent the newlyweds off in a shower of bubbles. Then, when the last guest left, the building manager informed us that we were required to haul all the trash to the dumpster. There we were, in our wedding finery, tiredly dragging out trash bags dripping leftover beverages. It's a quick way to bond with your new out-of-town relatives.
And oh, yes, the hotel had scheduled the wedding night reservation for July rather than June. By the grace of God I discovered that error in advance, otherwise Janet and Jeremiah would've shown up that night to find that they had no room reserved.
Each wedding was memorable, and we are blessed with two more wonderful sons-in-law and extended family.
But now I understand completely why my mother was so happy when Jack and I eloped.
