Have you ever brought up a subject that everybody and their meerkat seems to have an opinion on?
I recently brought one up.
The evening was on a fairly innocuous Wednesday this week. I drove an hour and a half west from work to meet my family at the local Perkins. I passed many Perkins on the way there, so I definitely wasn't there for the food or atmosphere, let me tell you! My dad, mom and brother was there.
Besides the awkward and weird relationship I have with my brother (another story for another time), things were going pretty well. I ordered the french dip and a water, and everyone else ordered their favorites. The topic of conversation immediately zeroed in on my impending venue search that was to happen in a few days.
"We need to book something quickly," I remarked.
My mom froze up and pinned me with a disapproving gaze. "You know you have to research many places before you book anything," she responded.
My mom gave me a set budget that she would offer up for the wedding, so that alone was awesome. She had already shot done some of my prior suggestions for the wedding, like breakdancers and a photobooth. Okay, so I was kidding on the breakdancers - but I am sticking to my guns on the photobooth.
I glanced up, midway between dipping my sandwich and taking a bite. I returned her level gaze, a bit affronted. "We don't have much time," I repeated slowly, "Mr. Fox and I don't want to have a wedding later than winter next year. We don't want to wait two summers. Not only that, we have a lot of traveling to do starting in December. We are also moving on January 1st."
"That's your choices," the woman across from me chuffed, "Not mine."
I glared back but didn't say anything. My dad intervened at that point, calling her out. "They need to book a place quickly, I see that. Can't we help them with that?"
My mom seemed to relax a bit, as if somewhat defeated. She slouched in the booth a little. "Fine, but you should keep your options open. I don't want to book the first place you look at."
"It wouldn't be the first place," I added helpfully, "It would technically be the second."
The conversation kept on, going back and forth over the specifics. Mom wanted me to list everything I would need at the wedding, including the prices of each. Great, mom. I guess I'll just call around with the two days I have and write down the rates for the DJ, the photobooth, the cake, the photographer, everything. I can't possibly do this much research in the allotted time, unfortunately, but I am thinking of writing up a guest list on Friday. That might help us at least see how many people would be coming.
My mom can be very contentious when it comes to spending money. She claims I spend too much of it (true at times, not at others). She thinks I'm irresponsible with the green and careless to where it goes. I suppose I should stop sending the Franklins out to the Save the Glaciers fund. Huh. Anyways, she is so far giving me a (literal) run for the money. We would like to get married next year, but we need the time to do it. Getting married during the winter in Minnesota is just asking for it. Waiting another 18 months doesn't really fit with our time frames and where Mr. Fox will see himself career-wise. We have no choice but to go for next year during September or October. If we take our time and look at venues into December, many of the dates during those two months will be filled up. Of the two places we are looking at this Saturday, only a few dates are still open. We need to get in while the going is good, so to speak.
Ah, wedding drama and I'm not even engaged yet. Lovely day!
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