Before I moved to
NY, I styled for a New England bridal magazine and before that, a high end
Bridal salon on Newbury St. (managing their PR and events). I have always had a
love for the crazy "bridal world". It’s an economy-safe money
machine. My Senior thesis at Lasell high, (kidding, Lasell College) was 50 some
odd pages of a detailed bridal consignment business (I guess i’ll keep that
plan for later in life).
Although I have worked in the industry
for over 5 years, I honestly never thought of my own wedding. When asked, I
truly didn't have an answer. I want nothing I've ever seen, nothing I've ever
done, and NOTHING that was cookie cutter. I have never tried on a bridal gown
and I've never put anyone else's ring on (IT'S BAD LUCK).
Now that my time has come, my
experience in the bridal industry has been nothing but a problem. Like I've
said, I don't like typical, average, or normal. I like creative, unique and
clearly expensive.
There are very few things that I want
at our wedding. First, the location. I want my guests to have an amazing time,
feel comfortable, and be able to enjoy themselves. I didn't want a venue
where we had to have cocktails promptly at 6, dinner at 7:05, speeches at 7:20,
cake cutting at 8:00, parents dances at 8:30… you get the idea. Thankfully, my
location was a breeze(not like I saw anything else).
Second, a band. Although I may not be
good at it, I LOVE to dance. My friends, Matt’s friends, my family. You name
it, we all have pep in our step. Well, the more accurate statement would be;
"Trust me, you can dance!" -
vodka
 |
| typical move, one hand up drink in the other |
But in all honesty, the band is the
biggest part of this wedding. I didn't want a "wedding band" unless
it was the Dan Band (Wedding Crashers, of course) but that wasn't within
Tiger’s budget. I have too much of a shopping problem to afford them so I
figured I would look at local bars around Salem. Rockafellas, known for having
great Saturday night bands, was a great place to start. It didn't take me long
it find one that I actually remembered(trust me, Its a big deal)! This one band
had me on my feet all night! She was interactive, expressive and funny. Plus,
she can channel my girl Janice(Joplin for those who don't know).
Anyway, I went home for Fourth of July
weekend in hopes to see them play again. Due to the weather, both of their
performances were re-scheduled. I asked Donna and Tiger to make plans to see
them the following weekend. I, of course, had to work.
I do not understand how people can plan a destination wedding! I am under four hours away from home and can't make it to most of the meetings, viewings or events. Thankfully I have my family, who are trying to see my vision and understand what I'm looking for... I hope.
Because this was the biggest decision
i’ll make within the wedding planning process (bedside maybe my dress), I knew
my dancing, drinking, emotional, partner in crime would be the best person to
give me his honest opinion; My Dad.
So there I was at work, on a Sunday
night doing a floor set (for all of you who do not work in retail or visual
management it's HELL), slaving away, Tiger is sending me videos of the
band.
I’m asking him if he likes them, if he
thinks the lead singer is interactive, if he's dancing, etc… I received no
answer.
Well, let me back up for a minute. My
dad, not the most tech savvy person in the world, recently got an iPhone and
has yet to take his eyes off of it. He used to yell at us for texting at the
dinner table or for being on that "face group thing”. Well let me tell
you, the tables have turned. He's a new man, texting (in abbreviations),
emailing, taking pictures and videos. Not only does he have more pictures and
videos of my dog than I do, but he shares them with his "friends".
"You want to see an awesome dog, this dog right here"… he goes
on and on, then people say “wow your dog is great”, "Oh no that’s my
daughters dog, they live in NY"
He proudly shows pictures of his
family, work he has done and his pride and joy ME(kidding, well kinda. Sarah
and Tj have grown to accept their roles)!
He is obviously a huge part of this
journey and I want him to be involved wherever he can be.
So, back to the band… He's sending me these
blurry videos of songs we like. One of them: a Tom Petty classic. We went to a
Tom Petty concert together when I was in high school. Had a great time dancing/
singing only a few rows away from the stage. Not the typical father daughter
outing, but it’s what we liked.
I finally get a hold of my mom, who is
stuck going on these crazy adventures with him. She thought they were good, but hard to
tell because they did not have their entire 8 pieces set at this event. I
thought okay, good start lets keep looking.
Then… the text from Tiger….
A SELFIE of him and the lead singer.
The text read
"Good-n-You"
Of course, the infamous saying! yeah,
he does actually own the Patten on this phrase. And don't forget the first location of the Good-n- You tattoo! (If you know him, I'm sure its not a vision you want to remember)
Seriously, my almost 55 year old father
was taking selfies with the band I should be listening to for MY wedding!
Honestly, I can't make this up.
I said: “So Dad what do you think?”
He responded; "She's great, we are
tight. I have her personal number. Did you know she played at
_______ wedding last year?"
At that point I put my phone down,
finished the floor set, and went home and pored a huge glass of wine. Jealous
of my dad enjoying the little aspects of wedding planning I’m missing out on.
Sometimes I really wonder, whose wedding is this?
- Ash
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