Wedding in 2020
Back in October of 2019, I was warned that there would be a wedding on August 30, 2020 of a dear friend and co-worker. Going into 2020, I had it on a list of things to-do of going out for happy hours, spend some weekends meeting people, and maybe finding someone to add as my plus one. Well, covid screwed that up. I mean, there were some people that I could have gone with, however, with the circumstances, I didn't want anyone to be uncomfortable or put themselves at risk in any way.
When I received the actual invite with the plus one in June, I thought about a fun way of RSVPing. I know, having been a wedding planner for a little while, how important it is to make a decision, stick with it, and actually RSVP to an event like this. When I did log in to RSVP, it popped up with "guest 1 and guest 2." Nothing like hitting a girl when she is down. So my response was "I had plans and then covid" for RSVPing with one guest.
I immediately got a text from Maxine who said that she loved my RSVP and probably how honest it was. There would have been so many opportunities for she and I to go scouting for someone to have as my plus one after work some days. It would have been fun to sit at a bar, although most might be intimidated to walk up to two red heads in a bar (and yes, there is probably a joke there), and find someone that might like to attend with me.
I think it takes a lot of guts to go to a wedding alone when given the plus one. I have, in the past, taken friends when I don't have a guy to go with, but to go alone (unless a family wedding) was something different for me. Even when getting ready on Sunday, I had that thought. It is different this year, since 2020 everything has been ruined and alone, but when it comes to thinking about going alone to a wedding in 2019 or prior and not being a part of the wedding party or destination wedding, I really reflected on the thought of being alone at a celebration of people being together.
I knew I would know some people attending, like Maxine's family, and our other co-workers who were attending. It relaxed the daunting thoughts of all of it, but still was something in the back of my mind. I dressed the part and put on my "big girl panties" and went to have fun, and that was exactly what I had. After not having been around people for so many months, it was just nice to attend something so joyous for someone else.
The wedding was actually the couples one year anniversary but the big party to celebrate and allow them to renew their vows made one year prior in front of friends and family who were not at the JOP wedding. It was beautiful. Seeing the bride tear up when she walked down the aisle, and watching the groom have to catch his breath and compose himself before saying his vows was absolutely adorable. They cried the whole way through the ceremony in the cutest way, and then Caleb made sure he showed everyone how to kiss a bride by full on dipping Maxine and she held on for the ride.
The photos took a little longer then I think anyone expected, but you pay for those, so take advantage and get the pictures because that dress really only happens once in that location! They both seemed so happy to get to celebrate their love and we were all so happy to be there to celebrate them. Our table kept busy with getting to know the spouses of co-workers and catching up on the normal life happenings vs the work ones that we so often have to go over. It was nice to get dressed up and take the tag off of a dress I had for months hanging in my closet. It was the first time I put on an actual face of makeup in months & styled some wedding hair, which 2 days later, I am still rocking!
I can't wait to see where life takes Caleb & Maxine, and I have been told, by Maxine, that when we can start to go to some happy hours again, we will go and find someone that I could have gone to their wedding with, and hopefully, someone I want to spend more time with then just a wedding date.
When I received the actual invite with the plus one in June, I thought about a fun way of RSVPing. I know, having been a wedding planner for a little while, how important it is to make a decision, stick with it, and actually RSVP to an event like this. When I did log in to RSVP, it popped up with "guest 1 and guest 2." Nothing like hitting a girl when she is down. So my response was "I had plans and then covid" for RSVPing with one guest.
I immediately got a text from Maxine who said that she loved my RSVP and probably how honest it was. There would have been so many opportunities for she and I to go scouting for someone to have as my plus one after work some days. It would have been fun to sit at a bar, although most might be intimidated to walk up to two red heads in a bar (and yes, there is probably a joke there), and find someone that might like to attend with me.
I think it takes a lot of guts to go to a wedding alone when given the plus one. I have, in the past, taken friends when I don't have a guy to go with, but to go alone (unless a family wedding) was something different for me. Even when getting ready on Sunday, I had that thought. It is different this year, since 2020 everything has been ruined and alone, but when it comes to thinking about going alone to a wedding in 2019 or prior and not being a part of the wedding party or destination wedding, I really reflected on the thought of being alone at a celebration of people being together.
I knew I would know some people attending, like Maxine's family, and our other co-workers who were attending. It relaxed the daunting thoughts of all of it, but still was something in the back of my mind. I dressed the part and put on my "big girl panties" and went to have fun, and that was exactly what I had. After not having been around people for so many months, it was just nice to attend something so joyous for someone else.
The wedding was actually the couples one year anniversary but the big party to celebrate and allow them to renew their vows made one year prior in front of friends and family who were not at the JOP wedding. It was beautiful. Seeing the bride tear up when she walked down the aisle, and watching the groom have to catch his breath and compose himself before saying his vows was absolutely adorable. They cried the whole way through the ceremony in the cutest way, and then Caleb made sure he showed everyone how to kiss a bride by full on dipping Maxine and she held on for the ride.
The photos took a little longer then I think anyone expected, but you pay for those, so take advantage and get the pictures because that dress really only happens once in that location! They both seemed so happy to get to celebrate their love and we were all so happy to be there to celebrate them. Our table kept busy with getting to know the spouses of co-workers and catching up on the normal life happenings vs the work ones that we so often have to go over. It was nice to get dressed up and take the tag off of a dress I had for months hanging in my closet. It was the first time I put on an actual face of makeup in months & styled some wedding hair, which 2 days later, I am still rocking!
I can't wait to see where life takes Caleb & Maxine, and I have been told, by Maxine, that when we can start to go to some happy hours again, we will go and find someone that I could have gone to their wedding with, and hopefully, someone I want to spend more time with then just a wedding date.