We are just back from a whirlwind vacation that included two weddings of our own very close friends and it got us to thinking. So of course that got us to writing and here is the product of those two activities.
After an exhausting twelve days on the road, 4663.8 km of driving, multiple parties, sporting events, brunches, American Thanksgiving and two weddings to bookend the entire trip – we took an entire day off from our days off and did absolutely nothing. But of course the anti-party couldn’t last forever and here we are back again, at the proverbial grindstone, to give you wedding ideas and fire your imaginations.
Our first couple were traditionalists all the way and had a huge family with many elderly and larger established families to accommodate. Their ceremony took place the first day of our vacation, so we drove eight hours, checked-in to the Hotel Friend’s-House, ate some sushi, napped a bit and threw on our party clothes. Jennifer and Kyle’s wedding was a classic formal affair with a hand-drawn backdrop of the place where Kyle proposed and held in a boutique hotel downtown with it’s own bar and waitstaff. Now this is the way to go for young couples who have parent’s who are helping foot the bill but don’t want to go for the church-side ceremony and thus cut down on the jarring change of venues for the older folks. It means everyone gets to meet up in one place, one time and the night ends where it started with valet parking or sleeping accommodations close at hand. How could you be anymore convenient and guest-centered? I don’t know.
The second couple practically eloped but included guests. The ceremony was held outdoors at a beautiful public park with a waterfall, the entire cast was piled into a gigantic limo from the bride and grooms home and whisked away to the nuptials and then to a large informal dinner in the back room of their favorite restaurant where toasts and jokes were made. The couple in question cut out multiple logistics nightmares by running a tight ship and inviting only those closest to them. Although informal the event had a feeling of guarded intimacy which left all those whose presence was requested feeling extremely honored to be there. The wedding party was taken back to the house and everyone just hung out and got real face to face time with the happy couple. Mary and Daniel are an unconventional couple and they had an unconventional wedding which suited them and made those gathered together all the more certain that they were perfect for one another.
Although these two ceremonies were very different they had the same idea, which is absolutely paramount to making the big day special. They did what they felt was right for them. This isn’t always an easy decision but it’s one everyone can respect and means having no regrets after the guests have gone home and it’s just the bride and groom.
Plan your wedding for yourselves. The statement you make will be punctuated by what you choose to do to honor each other just as much as what you do to honor your guests.
Tune in next week as we start a new series focusing on Holiday Themes, Mashups and Combo Weddings!
At GPS Decors our passion is seeing our clients light up once they know that their vision is now reality. Whatever your event, whatever the reason, we’re here to help you every step of the way. In Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto – GPS Decors will always be here to serve your every need.