cancelled wedding

My daughter was supposed to get married in October of 2004. About six weeks before the wedding she decided that she didn't want to get married after all. Today I finally put all the engraved invitations into the recycling box. I did decide however to use the respond cards and the insert cards for the reception for notes. After all, they too were engraved and cost a lot of money. The inside envelopes (already calligraphied as were the envelopes) were also recycled. I did save the engraved extra envelopes with our address on them. After all, we can still use them. I put one invitation, one RSVP and envelope, and one reception insert and the copperplates in the box with keepsakes. I was really looking forward to the reception. We had booked the Tyrone Smith Revue. They played for George Bush's party at the White House. The reception was to be here, at our house. We had tents, a stage, lighting, a caterer, deluxe porta potties, valet parking and a policeman to keep any over imbibers from driving.

If you want to know what happened I can give you a synopsis. The groom's parents did not like my daughter. Also, they were strict Church of Christ and had a fit about any alcohol (and the dancing). They didn't want to have a rehearsal dinner anywhere that the guests could have a drink, even if the guests (or we) paid for it. Do you know what kind of places a rehearsal dinner where no alchol is served are like? They are like Cracker Barrell or the Old Spaghetti Factory. Bec got angry and cancelled out on a rehearsal dinner at all. It turned rather nasty. Then she got angry that her fiance never stood up to his parents and wouldn't tell them that he had a drink occasionally. The next thing I knew was that there was a lot of crying going on (both parties) and the wedding was off.

The whole time was a blur. I had to cancel flowers, the band, caterer, photographer, church, organist, minister, tents, porta potties, etc.etc. I paid the attendants for the dresses. Then I told my daughter, "We aren't doing this again." I would have liked to wear my dress, and Rebecca's wedding dress was so pretty. (We still have it of course.) Her father gave her the rest of the money we would have spent for a down payment on a condo.

I guess my point is that finally taking out those invitations after all this time brought up a lot of emotions for me. It was difficult.