“Mom, Jaron and I are engaged! We’re getting married! We need to talk Wedding!”
Gulp!
Engaged, married, wedding plans? Jennifer, fresh out of college and with a new teaching career, suddenly on her way to becoming a wife? What happened to my little beach baby in her pink swimsuit and Pebbles Flintstone hairdo? What happened to the three-year old who once screamed out “more bones!” in our favorite Chinese restaurant and the laughing waiters scurried to bring her more spareribs?
Worse yet, me, the Mother of the Bride?
Okay, I can do this, I thought…..sure I can!
Following their joyful engagement announcement came the meeting with our future son-in-laws family; a very pleasant evening spent getting to know each other and talking….wedding plans. My husband and I have been fortunate to have them become part of our extended family. Faye and Leo were anxious to help in whatever way they could with (what I was secretly planning to become)….the wedding of the century. From that point on, the creative wheels turned in my head day and night. Of course, I was armed with Martha Stewart’s Wedding Planner, a book no self-respecting mother should be without when a daughter prepares to marry.
I love Martha, regardless of the time she spent in the hoosegow.
And so, it came to pass, in the land of Kent, located in Putnam County, New York, a small Garden Wedding was planned for September 21, 1996 and…for only about 100 to 150 guests. As word of the event spread through the kingdoms of both families, people begged to be invited, prior to the mailed formalities, and what was to be an intimate gathering rapidly blossomed into one of epic proportions with a final head count of……275!
Helloooooo? Like, almost no one sent back… “Regrets”? Blame it on Martha.
My saved wedding organization lists take up an entire, 32 pound storage box marked “Jen & Jaron’s Wedding – 1996”. The rental company still sends us cards, thanking us for the fortune we spent on a tent, china, silver, glassware, linens, outside ovens, dance floor, tables, chairs…you name it, I rented it and my husband still gets misty-eyed when he passes by the, now-empty mattress (that is an Italian-thing). It didn’t stop there. We had the caterer from our favorite Italian restaurant, a Sushi Bar, Liquor, Beer on Tap, Fancy Portable Toilets, Waitresses, Bartenders, Disc Jockey, Strolling Mandolin Player, Stuffed Derma (that is a Jewish-thing) and…the “God Squad”….a Rabbi and Priest who officiated at the nuptials, both providing an uplifting and joyful experience for all who attended.
It was….a beautiful event, considering the weather that year had been horrible up to the big day. A summer of rain and humidity, soggy grounds at the tent site and endless preparations gave everyone stress, especially me. On the morning of the wedding, as I sat in my workshop putting the finishing touches on all the flowers and the Wedding Cake, the sun came up and put its welcome arms around the day. The festivities started at noontime and lasted until almost midnight. People were everywhere, dancing, eating, drinking and laughing. If I had forgotten anything, it mattered to no one; suddenly, the stress was gone and I realized that the feeling of satisfaction that one gets when you’ve tried your best is… a very good thing.
Martha always says that.
I say….Happy Anniversary, Jennifer and Jaron!
