White Lace

Since I am only nine days away from getting married, I laughed when I came across this paper I wrote in College for an English assignment. 

Early in life, girls begin dreaming of white gowns and wedding cakes. Long ago, at bedtime, my mother read me stories of princes and princesses, living happily ever after in a far away land. As a little girl, that is when I began to desire to marry a prince.

Today, there is more than one type of wedding to choose from. For instance, you may choose traditional, modern, or storybook. To determine which type of wedding will be best suited for you, it is wise to look at the variations of each type of ceremony and reception.

Traditional weddings bring up images of Victorian lace gowns, biblical vows, and three-tier wedding cakes. As a result, traditional weddings are the mother’s favorite. Perhaps because she has a chance to save money if she can convince her daughter to wear her old gown. Everything is traditional or old way, meaning the wedding is traditionally done according to the family’s old way. Years ago, I attended a traditional orthodox Jewish wedding. The bride appeared in a traditional white lace gown embroidered with pink roses. As the bride met the groom they grasped each other’s hands and stepped towards a floral Chupah (covering), where a rabbi stood waiting. The rabbi spoke Hebrew vows, joining them in matrimony. Afterwards the bride and groom each stepped on a handkerchief covered bottle, breaking it; symbolizing the Jews are never to forget the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem.

While I remember this being the most beautiful ceremony, it was also the longest I experienced. Following the ceremony, the celebration began. What better way to celebrate than with good food and music? As the bride and groom sat on chairs, their friends and family lifted them up over their heads while they danced and sang joyously. This is an example of a traditional Jewish wedding. Each culture has a tradition to be honored at each wedding.

Another option is the modern wedding, which is also the most casual and inexpensive to choose from. Because of this it is popular among young adults. Recently, for example, I saw a beach wedding on Sanibel Island. As the dawn set over the horizon, the couple gathered at the water’s edge with friends and family. The brides dress was a verse above a bikini. As the bride watched the tide, she sank her barefoot toes in the sand, as she entwined daisies into her sun-bleached hair. The groom arrived clothed in Speedos and sandals. A female Indian guru stood under a sun umbrella as she announced the vows and brought this couple together. The reception was a keg of beer and a clambake at the wedding site: the beach.

Storybook weddings are a little girls dream come true, all paid for by Daddy. A girl’s chance to dress up like Cinderella and have her groom (which is dressed in tights) places her tender foot into the glass slipper. The last time I witnessed this type of wedding, it was almost too perfect. Until the cake cutting ceremony arrived. With anticipation, the bride cut the cake and shoved it into the groom’s upper lip, through his moustache. The groom retaliated with placing the cake gently between his bride’s lip-glossed lips.

As time passes from early evening to late evening, all eyes are on the happy couple as they glide across the dance floor to the tune of “Cinderella’s Ball.” Towards the end of the reception, the women are anticipating two things: the throwing of the bride’s bouquet and the throwing of the rice. By delaying my reaction time, I avoided catching the bride’s bouquet. Moving outside to throw rice, I see the newlyweds run from the reception into their awaiting white limousine. As the couple settle themselves in the back seat, the bride begins to cry because she realizes fantasy life is over, and reality begins. As that thought wrestles in her mind, her husband turns to her and enthralls her in passion. A new thought enters her mind: perhaps this is when fantasy begins!

The limo disappears along the edges of the page where it reads, “They lived happily ever after.”