Wedding Album

                                                       
Hi everybody, I just wanted to tell you that I am working on a wedding album for Wendy and Jason. I would like for you to email me text me pictures of the wedding. Also, pictures of family members like grandparents or other family pictures.

Also any stories you would want to share about Wendy and Jason or your family. This book will not be for sale to anybody but family and friends. 

Get back to me. Let's make this a great joint family history book.

Linda Meckler, Author copyright 2017

Wendy and Jason’s Wedding 2017

My daughter, Wendy, came to me and said, “I’m getting married.” What a shock since she and her honey have been together forever or so it seemed.

Suddenly meetings needed to be held with both sides of the family. What kind of wedding are we having? That is the big question.
What I found out is the venue or the place the wedding will take place was the most important item on my list. Once I had the date and time the wedding is set sheer bedlam. Everyone for themselves.
I headed to Staples and with their help, the invitations were created and printed within hours. Thankfully, Wendy had a complete list made up of everybody’s names and addresses. The invitations were sent. There will be a wedding.
It started out a small simple wedding and from there all holes are barred. They wanted to get married at the church they attend and they have a small room they use for small affairs. The problem with this is people take up tables and chairs take up room, we will be smooshed together?
Since this wedding was to be on a shoe string I didn’t have any idea where to start. I didn’t realize everything was detailed. I was learning a completely new concept of a wedding.
Thankfully, my friend Carolyn had catered many weddings and with her help, she started me and Jason's mom, Vivian, on the path of what was required, what needed to be purchased and where.
The bridal dress needed to be purchased immediately. Vivian, Wendy and I headed to David’s Bridal and we found “The Dress.” I decided to get it hemmed by an outside seamstress. Along with the dress came shoes, undergarments and don’t forget makeup.
Carolyn gave Wendy the jewelry she wore on her dress it was gorgeous.
Next, the moms dress's Vivian and I headed to a dress shop and we both found our long dresses. This was the fanciest dress I have ever owned and it made me feel special wearing it. All the dresses had to be hemmed and when I received my dress and the bridal dress back finished from the seamstress I signed with relief.
Life was once again on the even ground. Carolyn was the caterer and we quickly decided on a menu. Chicken, baked potatoes, green beans, rolls, and an ambrosia salad. Her grandson Michael helped her cook and transport the food to the church. My friend Janie jumped in to help serve. Carolyn’s daughter Peggy Tucker one of 35 certified sugar artists baked and half frosted the cake. Carolyn finished the decorating. It was beautiful and there wasn’t a crumb left. Thank you, Peggy. A friend of mine Cathy, I had invited to the wedding announced to me she once was a florist and she would counsel me and take care of the flowers. We decided on silk flowers since they are beautiful, time can be taken with them for completion, and they live forever.
Even paper products were discussed and finally purchased. My daughter, Wendy, wanted pastel everything and that is what we gave her.
Vivian took charge of what all the bridesmaids and groomsmen were wearing and since weddings are anything goes nowadays, we were creative in their attire.The girls wore long dresses two blue two purple. They looked lovely. The groomsmen wore black pants white shirts and blue matching ties which Wendy, Vivian and I had fun picking out one Saturday. Jason wore a tuxedo and looked fantastic and all the pictures of him and Wendy together in her long white dress with the accessories of a necklace, matching earrings, tiara, and belt jumped out of the pictures.
From the flowers bouquets the girls carried to the boutonnieres, corsages and I can’t forget the gorgeous table decorations. All the extra flowers were placed on the front of the bridal table and looked colorful and lovely. I still have a vase of flowers which I look at and remember. Thank you, Cathy.My friend Dan built a Chuppah out of wood which was lightweight and easy to move. A Chuppah is a covering where the couple stands under it with the preacher. It signifies their first home together and can be used for any religion. If you need a Chuppah and searched the Internet to find a way to purchase or rent one the best way is to build one yourself or have someone build it for you. 
Everything was purchased for the big day. It was all stacked in my spare room and ready to be hauled to the church. On the rehearsal day which is the day we set the tables with white table clothes, white plastic plates, silverware, colorful napkins and cups Cathy was supposed to come to the church and cover the Chuppah with the material we all had picked out, but she was sick and couldn’t do it. Panic!!I called Carolyn and she said I’ll meet you at the Church in an hour. Thankfully, my niece Michelle and my sister Beverly were here for the wedding. Their plane was supposed to land a 12:30 a.m. and because of fog the plane schedule changed, my daughter brought them by my house at 4:00 a.m. But they were both up and they came to the church to help decorate. With Carolyn’s help, Michelle covered the Chuppah and did a wonderful job. It was the center of everything.
My daughter-in-law Diana took charge of the procession and with her help, everyone knew what to do and everyone and everything ran on time.
Watching Wendy and Jason standing under the Chuppah with Mark, Cantor marrying them brought tears to my eyes. I saw the love in their eyes for each other. It was very emotional not only for me but for the rest of the viewers.My friend Dan videotaped the entire procession and ceremony and we didn’t have an official photographer but I want to thank everyone for taking pictures and sending them to me where I want to create a book with them. Dena, Kristal, Amy, Dan and Michelle, your pictures are fabulous and will live on.
This was a family affair on both sides of the family. My grandchildren were in the procession and one helped with the cleanup. Nothing anybody ever thinks about. In the end, we all chipped in and moved everything out by the time designated.
On the groom’s side, his brother and sister –in- law and children were in the wedding. We had a DJ Cedric he played the appropriate music for the different dances including the honeymoon dance. I have a picture of Wendy and Jason covered in pinned money. Wendy put on the jacket Carolyn had made for her and it looked lovely. The two families merged as one but we have all known each other for many years it seemed natural.
 It was a wonderful day which was planned and re-planned and stressed over and it was over too quickly and I have the photos and videos to prove it.
I want to thank everyone who participated in the preparation and executing of this wonderful day. 
Linda Meckler, author copyright 2017     

Road Trip Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

I think about the places I want to go and things I want to do and I want somebody to go with me I hate going alone. What do you think happens? I seldom take action. I was talking to my friend, Carolyn, and she said I want to go Anza-Borrego and see the flowers too but I think the flowers are dead by now but we can have a road trip and see the scenery. Within minutes with her keys in hand, we were on the freeway and headed towards the desert. We had a great time going through the mountains and seeing all the rocks and formations and I could take pictures to my heart’s content. I posted them on facebook.com.

At the Ranger Station, we saw two videos which were interesting one was on the life of a family who lived in isolation in that location for years raising their three children. There was also a video on all the wildlife in the park and all the flowers and plants. This is a huge tourist center and even though the flowers had died weeks ago the tourists were still strong.

 Don’t’ be a procrastinator like me be more like my friend and take action. There are many short road trips you can take where ever you live. Go do it life is too short.

Linda Meckler Copyright 2017 including photos