Saturday, 18 May 2013

New life


In the tradition of week-long medieval marriages, the wedding of the century finally came to a close last night with a good party.

Loads of people who couldn't make it to the actual ceremony turned up, as well as everyone who could, and we all dressed in the same clothes as we wore last Saturday - including the photographer. I didn't even wash my shirt.

Nomatter how much I wash my neck before donning a white shirt, I always find a dirty mark running around the inside of the collar after about 10 minutes wear. Some people just cannot stay clean, and it seems I am one of them. I heard of a wealthy person who wore a brand-new, white shirt every day of the week and I understand why, but I am not one of them.

There was a Christian woman giving a holier-than-thou talk on the radio last week, and she scathingly  said that all the money which used to be saved up by couples starting a new life together was now spent on one day of wedding celebrations, the average being about £20,000.

Modern weddings, she said, were an end in themselves - the vows being just a garnish on a grand pile of showy ceremonial flim-flam, and usually the weddings ended in acrimonious divorce a year or so later. Wouldn't be better, she added, if we all tightened our belts in these times of austerity and concentrated on God instead of Hello! magazine? Well actually, no it wouldn't, you bloody puritanical  spoil-sport.

H.I.'s daughter has been planning this event in her head for over 40 years now and she already has two loving, grown-up children, so what better time to blow a load of money you haven't got and celebrate in style, surrounded by all the nearest and dearest who have stuck by you through years of struggle and hardship since childhood?

Weddings are always fairly easy to enjoy, but I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed one so much as this one - for many different reasons. I have never been to one at which the vows have been said with such sincerity and affection, and the response from the congregation has been so heartfelt. People talk lightly about being surrounded by love, but in all three events since last Saturday, this was a reality.

Anyway, I got up with a bit of a hangover at about midday today - nothing unusual about that. Life goes on. (I know. just another excuse to put up the picture of Green-Eyes, the bride's daughter.)
at

15 comments:

  1. Cro Magnon18 May 2013 at 06:43

    I tend to agree with Little Miss Puritanical Spoil-Sport. People do spend far too much on weddings. I mean, £20,000 would almost pay for my whole week's wine bill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson18 May 2013 at 06:58

      At 3 Euros a bottle, your recycling bill must be quite large as well.

      Delete
  2. sarah toa18 May 2013 at 06:53

    I kind of agree with the HTT woman.
    But in the meantime, fuck it. Wipe yer neck and dance. Her daughter has beautiful eyes and they are in love and that is enough. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson18 May 2013 at 07:05

      I know, but I have seen photos of one of your weddings, and I'm not sure if I could put up with a hippy playing bongos on a beach all night until dawn. I might have to pay him a few thousand quid just to go away.

      Delete
  3. Marianne18 May 2013 at 07:29

    None of us have the right to judge individuals on their choices - and I'm glad that woman wasn't officiating at any wedding I've been to. I'd like to change the culture so young people don't feel they have to keep up, but that's not the way to do it. In the meantime, party on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson18 May 2013 at 08:29

      I reserve the right to judge individuals if they start playing the bongos at my wedding, though.

      Delete
  4. Britta18 May 2013 at 09:00

    "Let every man seek heaven in his own fashion", said Friedrich II, King of Prussia.
    (Nowadays I should hurriedly add: 'and every woman' - otherwise: #Aufschrei)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson19 May 2013 at 03:57

      Sounds like Friedrich had more resources than most to seek out his own heaven...

      Delete
  5. The Broad18 May 2013 at 09:11

    Well I say, Cheers to the Bride and the Groom and may they live happily ever after and the same goes for the girl with the beautiful green eyes!

    ReplyDelete
  6. A Heron's View18 May 2013 at 13:45

    Well I'm no expert on weddings at all, having gone through two formal weddings and three pagan hand fastenings of my own: I can only say that my preference is for the pagan job. My last pagan ceremony included belly dancing, singing, jambe drums, tin whistles and fiddling plus booze and etceteras'... wink wink

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson19 May 2013 at 03:58

      Were these YOUR weddings, Heron? If so, so much for the vows...

      Delete
    2. A Heron's View19 May 2013 at 08:51

      That's the best of being a pagan :)

      Delete
    3. Tom Stephenson19 May 2013 at 11:40

      True - many pardons from one god as a Catholic, or one pardon from many gods as a Pagan - win win.

      Delete
    4. A Heron's View19 May 2013 at 11:42

      :-)

      Delete
  7. Kelly20 May 2013 at 07:32

    I know what you mean about weddings and when hubby and I tied the knot, we didn't spend a lot, but instead planned it to simply have fun and celebrate with family and friends. I had so much fun....and I have never felt so loved. Isn't that what it's about? It all felt so right. Congrats to the bride and groom for doing it their way.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)