You are currently browsing the planning phase category.
Many of our local guests have been asking us what they should wear to our final ceremony. Instead of writing out a list of guidelines that no one will really read, I have decided to provide pictures.
Ceremony
Men: resort casual is the way. Either nice shorts or linen pants should do the trick. Shirts required, along with shoes. Of course, those shoes can (and should) be flip-flops. Go ahead and wear white if you want, as white and the beach go together. No ties, no suits, no jeans.
Here is an example of what might look good on you:
Here’s an example of what will never look good on you:
Women: Think sundress. It’s that easy. Really! (See below)
Sundresses can come in a wide range of colors and styles, so choose what works best for you. Unless what works best for you is an all-white gown. Oh ya, and skip wearing these:
After-Party (aka dinner and dancing)
Men: switch it up a bit and put on a pair of slacks and a nice shirt. Keep in mind that the location of our party becomes a lounge soon after we’re done, which means that you’ll want to look good for the ladies. Please skip wearing jeans, shorts, and anything that says, “I would paint my house in this.” Something about jeans at our party feels weird- sorry. No ties needed…
Women: go cocktail if you wanna be all fancy or wear your favorite Sunday dress if you don’t.
Here’s an example of what you might wear:
Here’s an example of what you probably shouldn’t wear:
I can just hear all of the sighs of relief from people around the country who had the option to celebrate like this:
Things you can do at the Mall of America:
I love the Fourth of July. As a child, I always spent the holiday in Ventura, where my father lives and also where I enjoyed the best summers of my life. In the morning, we’d go down to town to enjoy the street fair, where my stepmother would make sure to help me win the infamous Ping Pong Ball in a Goldfish Bowl game. Every year I’d come back with a new fish, each becoming part of the Moose family (Moose I, Moose II, Moose III). In the afternoon, we’d head out to Faria Beach, where my dad’s friend John would host a BBQ, complete with volleyball, boogey boards, and fireworks. On the way home, my dad would sometimes play Sousa marches, which was both sweet and corny at the same time.
As an adult, I’ve spent the Fourth of July everywhere from Montana to Vancouver, Canada. I’ve run in Fourth of July dashes in Boston and gone out for margaritas in Scottsdale. But nothing can compare to being in Jefferson City, Missouri with my future husband and nine of the coolest cousins a girl could ask for.
I have to admit, our Fourth of July didn’t start out so well. With rain pelting on the windows and flash flood warnings all of the Internet, I was sure that I’d spend the Fourth of July playing “Go Fish” in my cousin’s basement. Instead we spent three hours discussing love and marriage around the kitchen table before heading off to downtown Jefferson City for the big show.
Downtown Jefferson City is full of historic buildings and midwestern charm. Right smack in the middle of town is the Governor’s Mansion, which would make a wicked haunted mansion come Halloween. The Fourth of July street fair runs right through the middle of town, offering everything from funnel cakes to five dollar camel rides. While my cousin Mike and his daughter Amber were brave enough to take on rides with expiration dates as early as 1982, Chris and I opted to watch from the sidelines as we chatted with my cousin John.
While we could have noshed for the rest of eternity on carnival delicacies like Fried Snickers and Frito Boats, we decided to hit up the local hot spot, Madison’s. The food did not disappoint, and was actually quite diet-friendly, with gluten-free options and low-carb substititutions.
After nightfall, we worked our way down to the waterfront to witness the famous Jefferson City fireworks extravaganza. We were treated to almost a half an hour of sparkly goodness, all set to the world’s most random soundtrack. Even though I am deathy afraid of loud noises, I found myself not minding the bangs and booms of this particular display. I was almost sad when the last set of fireworks faded into the night and we all made a mad dash for the car to avoid an impending thunderstorm.
After experiencing Jefferson City, We might just have to go back again next year- I might even be convinced to try a Fried Snickers.
I owe my cousin Daniel an apology. Back when he was in high school and I was in the sixth grade, my grandmother took us both to Clovis Lakes, the local water park. For the entire day, I reported to Daniel and gave him the phone numbers of girls who he thought was cute. By the end of the day, he had about twenty numbers. This sounds like a great story except…
All the numbers were fake. Every last one of them.
Sure, the girls thought Daniel was cute. They even told me to tell him that. But when it came to giving out their phone numbers, they weren’t going to go the extra mile. Desperate to impress my super cool cousin, I went the distance for them.
And so there it is, Daniel. The secret that’s been haunting me for years. I hope you forgive me… and please don’t tell your sister that I read all of her diaries while she was out on a date.
Daniel has since grown up to become a doctor and has no problems asking women for numbers. This confidence is probably what snagged him Kiva, his girlfriend of two years. Kiva is also a doctor, something that brings out a competitive streak in both of them from time to time. Word has it that their dinner table discussions often center on radiology, a study neither of them ever seems to find tiring.
Over breakfast, Daniel and Kiva shared the secret to their success- working long hours. Given that they only see each other for a few hours of week, they treasure that time together and don’t sweat the small stuff. Okay, I made up the fact that they tout long hours as their secret sauce, but it completely makes sense. After all, who has time for mindless drama when you can be saving people’s lives?
Daniel also shared an insight that he had several years ago about people in general. After dealing with a particularly difficult situation with an important person in his life, he realized that the problem was actually his own. By accepting that “people are people” and that he wouldn’t be able to change the person in question, he was able to let go of the angst that he felt. I found this to be particularly helpful advice, as Chris and I have recently been dealing with accepting the reality that we both suck… a little bit.
Kavi commented that she has never spent so much time talking about relationships in one sitting. This made me laugh, as that’s pretty much been our lives for the past month. That brought up another point, however. If we spend so much time dissecting our relationships, when do we have time to live them?
Spending time with Daniel and Kavi reminded me of how relationships and life are cyclical. Family members especially, play important roles that ebb and flow over the years. While I haven’t had a deep conversation with Daniel in several years, after this meeting, I am sure that Chris and I will find a path to Massachussetts to connect once again in the very near future. There’s something beautiful about finding your way back to a relationship that was once very important to you. And Daniel, I promise not to give you any more fake numbers… not that you need them.
In the Mahoney household, things happen fast. From the second they opened the door to the moment we left, life was happening at a breakneck speed. Kids laughing, dogs barking, parents shouting. I haven’t seen Tanya in three years, but from the moment I first saw her again, I felt at home.
Within fifteen minutes of arriving at Tanya and Bill’s house in Irving, Texas:
- Bill popped open a bottle of Vueve Clicquot, subsequently cementing his place on my list of Top Ten Spouses for-evah.
- Tanya’s dog Dutch humped me on the leg and from behind approximately 422 times.
- Tanya handed me a copy of Dallas magazine to “use as blog fodder.” I am currently employing my secret sources to investigate whether she’s been hired by the Chamber of Commerce to convince Chris and me to move to the Lone Star state. After being plied with champagne and my own personal doggie “friend”, I have my suspicions.
Within thirty minutes of arriving at Tanya and Bill’s house, we were playing miniature golf across the street, drinks in hand. Even though I was once a member of the prestigious PMGA, I managed to show how well I can slide into last place after just one drink. Bill, on the other hand, mastered the course like he lived across the street from it. Which, coincidentally, he does.
Can we just pause for a moment and say… SERIOUSLY? I mean… SERIOUSLY? How many people have a MINIATURE GOLF COURSE basically in their yard? To add insult to injury, the house two doors down from them, a 4,000 square foot, gorgeous home complete with pool was selling for $500,000, which is basically the cost of a studio in San Francisco. Tanya was quick to point out that the house for sale right next door, a smaller version of the house on the corner, is going for three and change, which is approximately what you’d pay to own a cardboard box in the Bay Area. Grr…
Little did I know what was in store for us at dinner…
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
