WaPo Wedding Week

It’s Wedding Week – Washington Post style! A colleague alerted me this morning to the special feature, and I thought I’d take a look. All papers do this type of things, and typically they’re more ad/vendor-heavy than they are substance. And, seeing as I am not getting married in the District – I don’t really care who makes the best cake here! But...seeing as it’s the Post, I knew they would have something worthwhile to share.

I’m particularly enjoying the Travel Log blog. While I’m not having a destination wedding, I’m still planning a hometown wedding long-distance – which means a packing nightmare! I’m already nervous that I’ll forget something important. Although, I’m pretty much doing most things in Kenosha – dress and veil being the most important – it’s still a big job. We’ll have to pack for the wedding weekend and the honeymoon at the same time. And then there’s remembering the wedding bands, gifts, jewelry, etc. I think I need to get started on those lists I’ve promised myself I would make.

I’m not quite sure how people plan destination weddings – it seems like so much work. Sure, planning from long-distance is one thing. But, planning long-distance to an exotic location you’ve never been seems like even more work. Although I think couples who take that option are probably a little more laid-back than me, and may not sweat the details as much. Which is why, this story that was posted by one of the Travel Log’s editors confirmed these thoughts on the complications a destination wedding poses (or really, any outdoor wedding)....

The couple whose dream wedding in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., was ruined by rain. So in the spirit of Wedding Week, we offer this cautionary tale -- and a warning that if you're planning a ceremony at a beach resort, make sure you ask about the hotel's contingency plans in the event of inclement weather.

"It should have been a fantasy come true," our reader reported about her stepsister's wedding at a St. Thomas beach resort. Except it rained, and the hotel didn't have enough indoor spaces to accommodate the seven couples getting married there that day. "They offered her a hallway, which she declined, so we all stood around for a couple hours (no chairs or water even for the grandparents) along with the guests from the other weddings until her bridesmaids asked if they could use the restaurant (which didnt open til 6), then moved the tables and chairs (themselves) and had a quick ceremony with guests standing. But the icing on the cake (no pun intended): When we finally got to the reception, they had confused the hors d'oeuvres with a kids' party in another room, so instead of shrimp cocktail and beef wellington we were served chicken fingers and pizza bites! We had one unhappy bride, let me tell you..."

A hallway! Oh my gosh. That’s just insulting! I know rain can happen anywhere, anytime, but still, a hallway? Heck, it could rain September 8...but that would just spoil planned outdoor pictures. No sweat. (I hope I don’t regret that statement). The appetizer screw-up I could live with. In fact, I know of one particular groomsmen that might prefer that. He’s got a thing for appetizers. And, no, we won’t be serving buffalo wings during cocktail hour.