Monday, June 11, 2012

Wedding

Weddings. They're nice aren't they?

All pretty and full of lovely foods and brimming with people you like. There's always plenty of booze, and plenty of dancing. The people getting married are having the best day of their lives, and they usually let everyone else ride on their coat tails for the day.

I've got a lot of love for weddings.

But weddings are different now.

Weddings used to go: dress up smart, enjoy ceremony, eat nice food, laugh at speeches, get drunk, have great chat with other guests, get a bit more drunk, do some dancing, have plentiful hugs, maybe fall over a bit, go home, wake up with hangover but feeling like you've had an awesome time getting it.

We took Cam to a wedding reception on Saturday. We'd have been going to the ceremony before we had him, but we didn't want a grumpy baby (or grumpy parents).

Saturday's wedding went like this: dress up less scruffy than usual, but not smart because it'll only get puked on, miss ceremony, soothe baby while wife eats nice food, eat food while wife soothes baby, position self near exit of marquee during speeches, in case of tantrum, stare at wine on table longingly, chat about babies with other guests, stare at pints in people's hands longingly, dance with the baby in a quiet corner away from the dancefloor, have far less hugs than usual, go home, wake up feeling like you have a hangover you don't deserve.

Don't mistake the above for not having a good time. A wedding with a baby is still lovely. I am incredibly pleased that I was able to be there to share such a special occasion with two of my favourite people. They had the happiest day of their lives and that's the most important thing.

We enjoyed the day, but it's a world away from how we'd have enjoyed it a year ago.

We have five more weddings to go to this year. What are your top tips?

Thanks for reading :-)

14 comments:

  1. ....Honestly?....see if someone (perhaps a wonderful Grandparent?) could have little one for a few hours so you can enjoy yourself. You dont have to stay away from him at night if you don't want to - it could just be for a short amount of time. Only if we totally have to, do we take our boys to weddings. The babies don't enjoy it, you are stressed about noise/ disturbance to routines etc. And well, my husband and I find it is really really REALLY nice to be able to enjoy something together, like grownups, just for a few hours. And if you do this, you must not feel guilty about it.
    But that is just what we do. It may not be your thing.
    Han
    x

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    1. Probably when he's a bit older. Don't think Mrs L would be happy leaving him yet. Not sure if I would.

      Thank you :-)

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  2. We had a wedding in May and can relate to the soothing while you eat part completley. Our little man talked through the ceremony part which was amusing because it was a very very quiet ceremony (muslim wedding).

    The only real tip I have is dont rush to put lamb kofta in your sons hand/mouth because hes had them before and loved them, until you have tried them first. Did I mention muslim wedding the food was spicy hot, poor son didnt appreciate the kofta :(

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    1. Our next one is a muslim wedding, so will be prepared to be even more vigilant of noise!

      Is it wrong that I find your kofta tale amusing? Sorry if it is :-)

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  3. Always ( well nearly ) available for weddings, barmitzvahs, parties etc.... x

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    1. Thanks, not sure we're quite there yet, but we'll be sure to let you know :-)

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  4. Ah now that explains the champagne Silent Sunday ... *penny drops*

    My top tip, eat and drink as much free food as you can ;)

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    1. I did eat plenty of the food, and it was lovely.

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  5. Sorry I have no real tips as its been such a long time since we actually went to one.

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    1. Want to go to some of ours? I'll give you a mask so you look like me ;-)

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  6. We have had to miss two weddings this year because the 4 children weren't invited and I'm not really ready to leave the smaller two yet plus it's hard finding a suitable babysitter to take all of them for longer periods.

    My experience with babies has been the same as yours (no top tips) relegated to corner, chatting babies with an old lady whilst wanting to dance with bridesmaids and usually early to leave because disco too noisy!

    Think it's just a part of our lives as parents we have to accept has changed out of sight! x

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    1. We loved that he was invited (he even had his own place setting, which was sweet) but it was more awkward than we expected I think.

      We didn't leave that early, though I think Mrs L would have liked to get going a touch earlier than we did.

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  7. Oh lord that makes me sound terrible!

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