Timeless Traditions
Posted May 4th 2009 at 04:14 AM by s_tor_m
The other day, I got a request from a friend to keep her company at a wedding. Despite the fact that I don't particularly enjoy weddings, I agreed to go since I knew the bride. (...and of course since I wasn't going to prom, my Saturday was wide open) So we get there and as I'm sitting there, I realize that the reason I don't fully enjoy weddings is because every one I go to is essentially the same....
As the bride walks down the isle, everyone marvels at how beautiful she looks, and smiles spread across everyone's face, including mine. As they reach the alter and begin the ceremony, those smiling faces become eyes trying to hold back tears, unsuccessfully. Until the groom "may now kiss the bride" and the crowd loosens up. Then comes the boring half-an-hour wait in line to get food. (Steak or Chicken?) Next, the toasts. The best man always goes first, cracking traditional jokes that have been told time and time again, and yet somehow always gets a laugh. Like no matter how many times the joke is told, the fact that it's about two totally different people than the last time you heard it, makes all the difference. The maid of honor follows the best man, making an obviously prepared speech about how these two were made for each other and how she can't imagine a better pair. Again, the crowd struggles to hold back tears. And finally, the timeless classic of the cutting of the cake. Everyone knows exactly what's about to happen...and yet, as the groom spreads a handful of frosting into his new wife's perfectly made-up face, everyone goes "ohh!" and laughs like they didn't see it coming. Oh, and you can't forget about the two random, crazy girls and the wacky uncle who get drunk and always attract attention, that's a must.
I suppose the whole point of this is to say that weddings are losing their originality. I mean, your wedding day is supposedly the happiest day in your life, right? So shouldn't you do what you want, and not what society expects you to do? I guess some would say that people do enjoy these traditional occurrences, but it just always seems so typical and scripted. Maybe if your the one saying "I do", the one being toasted to, and the one getting covered in delicious frosting, maybe then it will seem more personal. But in my experience, I've seen too much of the same deal, year after year. If I ever get married, I want a wedding that people will remember, because it was unique and original. Of course, cake fights are still timeless.
As the bride walks down the isle, everyone marvels at how beautiful she looks, and smiles spread across everyone's face, including mine. As they reach the alter and begin the ceremony, those smiling faces become eyes trying to hold back tears, unsuccessfully. Until the groom "may now kiss the bride" and the crowd loosens up. Then comes the boring half-an-hour wait in line to get food. (Steak or Chicken?) Next, the toasts. The best man always goes first, cracking traditional jokes that have been told time and time again, and yet somehow always gets a laugh. Like no matter how many times the joke is told, the fact that it's about two totally different people than the last time you heard it, makes all the difference. The maid of honor follows the best man, making an obviously prepared speech about how these two were made for each other and how she can't imagine a better pair. Again, the crowd struggles to hold back tears. And finally, the timeless classic of the cutting of the cake. Everyone knows exactly what's about to happen...and yet, as the groom spreads a handful of frosting into his new wife's perfectly made-up face, everyone goes "ohh!" and laughs like they didn't see it coming. Oh, and you can't forget about the two random, crazy girls and the wacky uncle who get drunk and always attract attention, that's a must.
I suppose the whole point of this is to say that weddings are losing their originality. I mean, your wedding day is supposedly the happiest day in your life, right? So shouldn't you do what you want, and not what society expects you to do? I guess some would say that people do enjoy these traditional occurrences, but it just always seems so typical and scripted. Maybe if your the one saying "I do", the one being toasted to, and the one getting covered in delicious frosting, maybe then it will seem more personal. But in my experience, I've seen too much of the same deal, year after year. If I ever get married, I want a wedding that people will remember, because it was unique and original. Of course, cake fights are still timeless.
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