The Wedding

I was fretting about having to pack for 3 days in Boston - including my mother-of-the-bride gown, a rehearsal dinner dress, appropriate shoes, jewelry, something decent to sleep (we were playing musical beds to accommodate young friends who couldn’t afford Boston hotel rates) plus travelling and casual clothes. Meanwhile my daughter flew from Florida to Boston with one small dog and two wedding dresses. She spent one night in Boston, then 5 nights in Nantucket visiting with her fiance’s family, then rented a truck and drove 3+ hours to our house to pick up all the decorations, gifts and ther wedding paraphalia, stayed one night with us, drove back to Boston for her wedding, spending 3 nights in a hotel and then left for 10 days in Italy. And she did all that in one suitcase. Show off.


The wedding was planned while Peachie lived in Boston, but then moved to Florida so this became a destination wedding for everyone. But all the guests, coming from both coasts and everywhere in between, arrived safely, including two groomsmen who quickly changed flights to get out of Florida before the hurricane.


On Friday we had a dry run of the outdoor ceremony and it was so windy the bridesmaids were holding their dresses down and were blinded by their hair whipping around. We were all concerned about how that would bode during the actual ceremony.

Then we had a lovely dinner where I got to meet a lot of the groom’s family, including his younger brother who was absolutely charming and thrilled that our families were blending.

Later I got to sleep with Peachie in the bridal suite where she fell asleep holding my hand. I suspect it will be a long time before I get to tuck in my baby girl again.

We spent Saturday with the bridal party having our hair and makeup done. I never wear makeup so it was a little odd for me but I humored my daughter by getting individual false eyelashes, and something sprayed on my face with an air gun. Very strange, but a fun time spent with many of my bonus daughters I have known since they were 3.

We then boarded a bus and headed into downtown Boston for pictures. We got diverted by the “Straight Pride Parade” and counter protests but had no issues otherwise. Then back to the venue for an endless sessions of pictures - groups shots, individual shots, this family, that family and on and on and on. I am not very photogenic so I am hoping that at least a couple of the shots are not cringe worthy.

And then the ceremony. The weather was picture perfect - warm but not humid, a very gentle breeze, and the perfect sunset at just the right time. (which was of course planned that way)

I walked Peachie down the aisle and didn’t start crying until I saw the tears in the groom’s eyes. Damn. The ceremony was short and they both said personal vows which were sweet and included not only their love and commitment to each other but also for their dogs.

And then the party. The venue was high above the city with a view to the west that was all rolling hills and an open wall to the east, overlooking the skyline of Boston.

I don’t drink and I don’t dance so weddings are rather boring for me but I did enjoy going around catching up with the parents of the bridesmaids, my family, and especially chatting with the groom’s 96 year old grandfather who is sharp and funny and still travels to Europe 3 times a year.

That night I spent a sleepless night as revelers straggled into the room at all hours and then muddled through, hosting a morning breakfast for all the hungover guests. We packed up the truck with all the wedding paraphernalia, drove home and collapsed.

For all the kazillion details and special touches both large and small, the whole thing went off near perfect, with many thanks to my other daughter's fiance who made runs to the airport to pick up delayed guests, the liquor store for some special champagne, the hotel for folks who had forgot their IDs, and very sweetly escorted my sister since her husband was too ill to attend.  The only glitch the entire weekend was that the shuttle from the hotel to the venue was 15 minutes late. 

And while I think weddings have gotten way overblown and ridiculously expensive, my baby girl had the wedding of her dreams so I suppose it was worth it.


May they live happily ever after.

(and now we start the planning for my other daughter.  Same time, next year)