Why Weddings Are Worth It

If you ask me, weddings have a bit of a bad rep lately. While I can agree that sometimes weddings get blown out of proportion and the focus becomes skewed – let’s face it, we probably all know at least one bride who was more concerned about her dress or some other trivial detail than the marriage itself – but in general, I’m a huge fan of weddings and no one is going to convince me that the time, money, effort, heart and soul I’ve invested in our wedding weekend is not worth the expenditure. Does it get stressful at times? Yes. Probably unnecessarily so, but that’s when I just laugh and remember what it’s all about and the problem is solved. And in fact, I already know I’ll miss my evenings of crafting away while M is off coaching his football and baseball teams next year, so I figure I’ll just have to find other great occasions to craft for and again, problem solved.

The true meaning behind a wedding is never lost on me, although this doesn’t mean I don’t love weddings rich in personal details and infused with charm. I admit it. I’m a sucker for a good wedding, but my love for weddings extends beyond my gorgeous lace dress (that I can’t wait to see…hopefully soon!) and being the so-called center of attention for a day. My wedding is not about being Barbie for a day. It’s about the people and our connections with those people. Just as with every other wedding I’ve been a part of either as a bridesmaid or a guest or a family member, I am finding myself amazed at the way our wedding is bringing together people who would never have otherwise been at the same place at the same time. That sense of love and community is unparalleled elsewhere in life and that is the true reason why I love weddings.

Case in point – this past weekend, my first mini bachelorette party, was one of the most fun weekends in recent memory. A group of some of my favorite people in the world and I ventured back to our alma mater for cocktails, dinner, and an evening spent in a favorite corner booth with big glass mugs of mixed drinks and slices of some of the best pizza on earth. This photo was taken with a friend I haven’t seen in nearly 3 years despite having stayed in touch via phone and email. It was an incredible opportunity for us to catch up, reconnect and spend time together, something that I’ve missed dearly in recent years. Honestly, this night was one of those nights that leaves you smiling days later just like I am right now. In addition, two of my dearest friends will be traveling from Seattle to upstate NY for our wedding – again, I haven’t seen them in a few years, but we’ve remained very close. Knowing that I’ll get to reunite with them soon and at the same time marry the greatest person I know, there is no comparing that to any other feeling if you ask me.

So what about you? What makes your wedding worth it? Is anyone else more excited about the people you’ll get to see all at once than just about anything else?