Nobody will ever accuse New Orleans of being a "normal"
city!
Where else do otherwise sensible people run around shouting "who dat?"
for five months (hopefully, six) out of the year?
Where else do six-year-olds do line dances right along side of their parents,
and do them just as well?
Where else does the entire city shut down on a business day once a year
to throw a party?
Where else are sidewalks known as "banquettes" and street medians
are referred to as "neutral grounds"?
Where else do shoppers "make groceries"?
Where else do crowds of people dance in a line toting umbrellas and waving
handkerchiefs?
Nowhere but in New Orleans!
So, in a city with such a "unique" way of doing things, why should
anything be normal at all times, including weddings? Just look at what took
place during some recent weddings right here in the New Orleans area:
At one wedding reception the four-tiered wedding cake collapsed just as
the Bride and Groom approached the cake table.
The wedding in New Orleans East, in which there were 24 BRIDESMAIDS (and
of course, 24 GROOMSMEN !). The limousine service and the tuxedo rental
company must have "been in their glory".
The Bride and Groom who were surrounded by all the "tuxedos" at
the reception when the time came for the Groom to remove the Bride's garter,
and he lifted the Bride's dress to mid-thigh, and removed the garter with
his teeth! The crowd loved it.
The four-hour reception where, as unbelievable as it seems, the photographer
was still taking the preliminary photographs as the four hours came to an
end. The last song of the reception turned out to be the Bride and Groom's
dance. The cake had to be cut after the reception had ended. The Bride's
mother was furious!
The wedding where the Groom was missing at ceremony time and he was found
drunk and passed out cold in the dressing room.
The reception during which the Bride, grinning from ear to ear, sat down
and broke a major rule of etiquette by sitting down and opening her presents
in front of her guests, looking like a kid under the tree on Christmas morning.
Tacky, tacky!
In light of the time in the not-too-distant past where the Bride and Groom
were anxious to be the first ones to leave the reception, there was the
one that was held in a community facility where the low rental rate called
for clean-up afterwards by those who had rented the room. The reception
was over and all the guests had gone. And there they were . . . the Bride
in her gown (with a cigarette dangling from her mouth), and the Groom in
his tux, along with their parents (and their kids!), pushing brooms and
mops and cleaning up the hall! Everyone left before they did!
The afternoon reception where the hours were locked in as contracted at
the hall. The Bride and Groom arrived twenty minutes late, and assumed that
they still had a full three-hour reception coming to them. At the end of
the scheduled three hours, the hall shut down the music, due to an evening
event at that hall which had to be prepared for. A big argument erupted
between the guests and the hall staff, and it ended with (believe it or
not) the Groom and the Best Man being arrested and hauled off to jail in
a police car!
He's a great guy and he was looking forward to a "normal" wedding
day. But, during the week before his wedding, his car got stolen.....his
mother and the Bride's father got into a furious fight.....he lost his job.....and
he had to pay the $300. balance to the reception hall with a sack full of
coins! No wonder in his wedding pictures he has a "Why me?" grimace
on his face.
This one's terrible...but true. Grandpa waited through the entire reception
for his chance to dance to "I Just Called To Say I Love You."
The DJ finally played it, and midway during the dance, Grandpa dropped dead
on the dance floor!
And, one of my all-time favorites...the Groom was in the Marines and it
was a formal military wedding. Upon exiting the church following the ceremony,
the Bride and Groom strolled under the military archway of raised swords.
As the couple passed the end of the column, the last man whacked the Bride
on her butt with his sword and said "Welcome to the Marines, ma'am!"
Yes, these things really did happen right here in the New Orleans area.
But, not to worry. Your reception will more than likely be "normal".
The hall, the flowers, and the food and drinks will probably be perfect.
Now comes the entertainment, which can turn a reception into a party (Grandpa
notwithstanding):
Do you want your guests to show they are having a good time by dancing themselves
silly? Here are some tips...
Ask the staff to dim the reception hall's lights as early as possible. For
the most part people just do not dance much in well-lit rooms. If your reception
is held in the afternoon be aware that the dancing usually doesn't begin
as quickly as it does at a nighttime reception. People aren't as motivated
to dance during the day, especially if sunlight is pouring through the windows.
Your chances are better to get the party going more quickly if the windows
have the curtains closed.
If your reception is going to be "dry," don't expect a lot of
dancing.
If your crowd just doesn't want to dance, no amount of persuasion or "cheerleading"
will make them dance. All your band or DJ can do is try to play the music
that will make your crowd "comfortable. "
If nothing else gets your crowd started, a "line dance" or two
will usually get them on the floor. Heaven knows everyone today seems to
love the "Freeze" and "Strokin' ". Once the ice is broken
your DJ or band can usually keep them there with the right music.
If the party is going to continue someplace else after the reception, have
the band or DJ announce it before the last song.
Some other random thoughts:
Has the "Receiving Line" tradition just about vanished from New
Orleans area weddings? It's definitely not done as often as it used to be,
and that's a shame, because the receiving line is an efficient way for the
Bride and Groom to greet everyone, instead of chasing their guests around
the room - or being chased by guests who just want to say hello to you on
your wedding day and tell you how beautiful you look. And, YES, the Bride
and Groom MUST make it a point to greet and thank ALL of their guests. Not
only have they come to celebrate this happy occasion with you, but they
have given you gifts, and, believe me, they're all EXPECTING recognition....
Be aware of the policy of your reception hall concerning late arrival. Some
allow for a reasonable late arrival without "starting the clock"
until the Bride and Groom actually arrive. With others, if you book the
hall for certain hours, those are the hours you get, regardless of when
you arrive. Knowing the policy of your hall will assure you of a smooth,
happy ending to your reception.
Planning on inviting people with infants and small children to your wedding?
Every video photographer can tell you a horror story of a beautiful wedding
he has photographed in which a baby in the church screamed and cried through
the entire video! You might also want to keep in mind that at receptions,
small children often run around and yell in groups, generally "whooping
it up" and having all the fun they usually do at the playground, while
annoying the majority of guests.
Think twice about saving money by getting a friend with a camera to take
your pictures. This is your wedding day, and you will never again have the
chance to capture these memories. For your own sake, NEVER trim a professional
photographer from your wedding budget. All the "I'm sorry's" in
the world won't bring back good pictures of your wedding.
Now, the rest is up to you. Best wishes for a "normal" wedding
day. However, as I have shown you, unexpected things do happen. But most
"glitches", no matter how unwelcome they are when they happen
on YOUR wedding day, really just turn out to be things you can look back
on and laugh about (hopefully). Who knows? Next time I write a story like
this, maybe I'll be able to include something funny and unexpected that
happened to you.
Like when the Best Man squirted shaving cream on the passenger's seat of
your getaway car and you didn't notice it until you sat down.....