Invitation Conflagration
In the happiness and excitement of wedding planning, there’s one sure thing that is sure to drive most women crazy:
Securing and receiving invitations.
The relationship between me and and my girl is unique in a lot of ways. We take time to care about what the other is thinking, we know when we should shut up and when we should press the issue, and we know how to make time and make fun.
On the subject of these invitations, however, I just can’t get it right with my sweetheart.
This isn’t something that’s exclusive to recent developments; its been an issue between us since that great day of March 3, 2006, when I asked her to marry me. Since then, it’s been a non-stop tussle over when I’m going to get addresses for invitations, how I’m going to get addresses for invitations, and how quickly I’m going to get addresses for invitations. At the outset, I thought it would be a simple process, not unlike securing names and addresses for a graduation.
Couldn’t have been more wrong.
Brothers, we live in a world of countless wedding websites, and an infinite number of television shows all too willing to highlight our inadequacies as partners in wedding planning. As smart and dependable as we may be in the scope of our relationships, as capable as we may be as providers and friends to our beloved women, it’s all too common that we completely blow it when it comes to helping with small things such as invitations.
Cake tasting? I’m the man. Registry gifts, color schemes, creative concepts for the ceremony, invitations? I’m a complete louse. It’s not that I don’t care or don’t want to help, it’s simply that I have no idea what is going to work, and what absolutely has no business being mentioned in the same breath as the word “wedding.”
Not only that, but I’m pretty sold on the idea that anything I say will be tossed out the window anyway, and that her only motivation in asking me was to make me feel a part of the process. Her motivation makes me love her more, but my cluelessness makes her want to get Mayweather-De La Hoya started early in our living room.
Here lately, I seem to have caught on to the whole concept of thinking about people that I would like to have present on our special day. Unfortunately, I am several months too late. Much to the chagrin of my meticulous mate, she has already prepared her seating charts and lists of invited and responses. However, in all of her wonderfulness, she has allowed me to put some people on hold in case we get any invites sent back “regret,” of which we have two.
Moral of the story? For the brothers, get your stuff together for your ladies. By and large, the media portrays us as men who don’t even consider the institution of matrimony. In our best light, we are shown as chauvinistic-yet-kind-hearted buffoons who rely on our wives for guidance and wisdom. And while that may be true sometimes, let it be because she truly knew what was best in a given situation, and not because you didn’t care to try. An organized bride is a happy bride, and a happy bride will reward you for looking out for her and the special day.
Sisters, all I can say is keep your heads up, and try not to aim for our faces.