Moments that Bind, Weddings

Weddings are expensive. My brother’s first wedding was at the Beverly Hills’ Hotel in duh! Beverly Hills, California. Most of us in the groom’s family had to travel to attend the wedding. I was a bridesmaid and my daughter was the flower girl. Trust me, we didn’t stay at the Beverly Hills’ Hotel.

It was fun parking there, for the wedding rehearsal and again for the wedding. They have valet parking. You should have seen the look on the valet’s face when he had to park a Volkswagen Van……..hey! We had three kids and needed the room!

Somehow, the bride’s family decided it was “tradition” for the groom’s family to pay for the flowers. I have no idea how much my parents spent but I do know that the bride’s bouquet alone cost $2000.00. How do I know this? Well, despite having a hyperactive wedding planner, the bride managed to walk down the aisle without her bouquet. You know, the $2000.00 one?

She apologized profusely to my parents, after the wedding, for forgetting to carry it. My mother—you HAD to know my mother—told her: “that’s okay, dear, just don’t put it down, for any reason, for the whole reception. All the reception photos show her, the bride, doing whatever….dancing, talking, hugging, cutting the cake….whatever carrying that damn bouquet!

Oh, and my mother? Smiling in every photo!