For various reasons, most of the weddings I've been to have been planned in 6 months or less. And apparently, the easiest way to do that and include you big family is to go to one of those all inclusive halls. Just because its a traditional wedding doesn't mean anyone is obsessed with planning it.

What I really dislike (and I know I will catch grief for), are destination weddings. I don't want to spend thousands of dollars and my vacation time so you can have a unique wedding. I'd much rather go to the cookie cutter wedding with the open bar.

 Reply

I planned it in two weeks. Essentially told people, show up if you can. I made my dress in black and red, wrote the vows, had the ceremony in bare feet that was performed by a family friend without any religious language or moral anything. There were 20 people, and afterwards, we went out to our favorite Italian place and had pizza. That's it. It was fun, we enjoyed it, and it wasn't the "best" day of my life.

I don't so much see it as "offbeat" as...not what anyone was expecting. My in-laws had made cracks that I would go "traditional" white wedding, or that my mom would go insane and try to force some weird idea thing.They really didn't see the whole "hey, show up in 2 wees!" thing coming. I think my father in law was shocked.

You know what also didn't happen? My husband and I didn't build up this day into some impossible high point, and it had nothing to do with our level of commitment to each other. 6 years later and we're still doing fine. And you know what else? My friends tell everyone it was the best wedding they've ever been to.

 Reply

I am getting married in August. We are going to Las Vegas with 30 friends and family. And while I am fucking thrilled to have taken a pass on the month of details planning (Vegas takes care of EVERYTHING), I refuse to pretend like I am totally bucking tradition. I mean, the *very act* of getting married is traditional. I could go on and on about how my dress is short! not long! my shoes are red! and i love both those things, but the dress is still white and i am still saying some version of "I do" at the end of it all (which is the best decision I've ever made, by the way).

So I guess what I'm saying is that the only thing I actually find annoying about weddings is the "but MY wedding will be SOOO different! attitude. Throw a party, eat some cake and have some excellent sex: my recipe for a good wedding,

 Reply

There was some planning involved, but at the end we had the FUNNEST TIME, so it was all worth it.

 Reply

I see what you're saying: obsessing about your offbeat wedding doesn't really make you that much different from a bride obsessing about her traditional wedding. But isn't it better to put thought into your decisions rather than blindly going with the industry standards?

 Reply

The only real planning was finding a day when everyone could be present.

Funniest moment: my 32 year old daughter who didn't really know my husband all that well at the time, ran up to him at the wedding and threw her arms around him (she's 6'4") and yelled, "DADDY!"

 Reply

I actually write copy, and I do a lot of wedding-related copy, and I feel like such a fraud. I have to play into all the cliches that I fight against in real life.

You've dreamed about the perfect wedding since you were a little girl. Now it's time to make all of your dreams come true!

 Reply

[www.dailymail.co.uk]

 Reply