In four weeks our second daughter is to be married. Like her older sister, she has decided on ‘the full catastrophe’ – a ceremony, bridal gown, attendants, flowers etc, etc., followed by a formal sit-down breakfast.
This poor mother-of-the-bride is not looking forward to the big event with unbridled enthusiasm. Getting dressed up for formal occasions has never been my cup of tea. ‘So what will you be wearing?’ people have started to ask. To date I’ve made only two desultory attempts to find an outfit befitting the occasion. The experience so far hasn’t been encouraging. Trouble is I have no-one really, on whom I can depend to give me the necessary push in the right direction - or even better, to accompany me when I muster up the courage to slink into one of those confronting little salons.
My strategy is to leave the dreaded task until time is on the short side, thereby ensuring that the final decision will be necessarily quick and hopefully, painless.
Notwithstanding my personal agony, we, the brides two parents, are more than delighted about our CM’s coming marriage. Both the timing and the choice of partner are exactly right. Although she and her intended live in far off melbourne, we have had the chance to get to know him - and heartily approve.
There was some interesting discussion during their visit this Easter, on the merits of a woman retaining (or not) her surname. I told her that I wished in retrospect I had elected to keep mine, and had hoped that both my daughters might have retained their names. But it is not to be. It seems that we managed to bring up some very traditional children.
Even the choice to be legally married is a sign of arch-conservatism these days. Of the similarly aged children of my friends and family, probably half have decided to dispense with the nuptials. I don’t know that it matters a great deal any more. In some cases these are couples who are perhaps being realistic about their chances of staying together, while for others it’s sheer economy that deters them from a big public knot-tying.
I still say I would prefer to attend a dental appointment than play a role in a wedding, but on the bright side, I do look forward to meeting our prospective son-in-law’s family. They sound an interesting lot and I want to know just what they are like if our daughter is to become one of them. Also, it will be nice to see CM all decked out in something feminine and pretty – and quite a change from the power suits and the faded jeans.
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