There are so many things in the this world that can be considered "timeless," to me it's hard to pick one single solitary material object. Diamonds, beauty, friendship, classic cars and even that little black dress - to some people, the word "timeless" has a meaning all of its own. For me, creating memories with my friends, Jill and Adam, on their wedding day is a great example of the word timeless.
I first met Jill when I was a sophomore at Mount Aloysius College. My then boyfriend, now fiance, Jeremy, was good friends with Jill's brother, John. They would be frequent quests at our apartment, and we would enjoy their company. I find it odd how much time has passed since then.
Now, five years later, Jill and I are both engaged to be married and I have a lovely daughter. As an ode to Jill on her wedding day, I thought it would only be proper and slightly amusing to comment on some of the worst wedding traditions, from a blog I found on the internet.
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And in no particular order, they are as follows ...
Matching Bridesmaids - Chances are the friends, sisters and cousins the bride has selected to be in her bridal party aren't all of identical make and model. One's a tall lanky brunette, another is a short curvy blonde. So outfitting them all in the exact same dress means there's a good chance someone might look a little awkward. Instead of one singular color, try an array of colors to mix things up a bit.
This is frightening to me, because I was a bridesmaid when I was seven-months pregnant, and we all wore the same colors. Oh no.
Long Vows - Be kind to your guests by keeping your vows on the shorter side. This is especially important if your ceremony is under the blazing sun without umbrellas or fans. Say what you want to say, but don't bore your guests!
It's not your guests' wedding day - it's yours. Be sure to embrace it with whatever traditions you choose to use. And if Jill and Adam have long vows, they won't bore me one bit!
Throwing Rice - Does a blushing bride really want to be doused by a storm of hard little pellets that end up getting stuck in her hair, veil, gown, and worse, inside her shoes? Not the most comfortable situation when she's whooping it up to "Brick House" on the dance floor.
I semi-agree with that "worst" wedding tradition. I don't think I would enjoy having rice thrown in my general direction. I guess I will just have to wait and see what is in store for Jill.
Expensive Wedding Favors - Weddings aren't about giving showy gifts; they're about celebrating your love with your loved ones. None of your guests expect pricey parting gifts. If you want to show your appreciation, leave a short, sincere note on each place setting thanking them for being there.
Again, I can see the point here. Weddings are expensive, and if you and your significant other are paying for it solely on your own, why waste money on something uber expensive? You can easily give your guests a gift that comes directly from the heart.
Throwing the Bouquet- Nothing in life - not the SATs, not parallel parking during our drivers' test, not meeting our boyfriend's parents for the first time - can compare to the pressure of being a single gal expected to push, pull, and pummel to catch that doggone bridal bouquet. Enough already.
Did I mention I have a fiance? I just sit back and relax. It's like the jungle out there.
Love is the ultimate meaning of something that is timeless in my eyes. It is raw, powerful and something that will fundamentally make a person stronger. My heart goes out to Jill and Adam on their special day and I wish them nothing but the best!
There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.
- I Corinthians 13:13
Sentinel reporter Tara Maguire can be reached at tmaguire@lewistownsentinel.com.
