We have been married for twenty (20) years
We’re pretty proud of that
Twenty years of ups, downs, highs, lows, sicknesses, healths, richers, poorers
Forsaking all others
Some twenty years ago we were in the thick of weddings almost every Saturday between Lent and football season
Getting married in the fall in the South is almost sacrilege due to our other religion’s dominance, college football
As we have aged, the invitations for weddings have slowed
Recently, we received a lovely invitation to a young couple’s nuptials
Engraved
From Arzberger’s in Charlotte
Which we adore
Our favorite stationer as expressed many times
The wedding will be at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church here in Charleston
Same church where we were hitched
The reception to follow will be at an expected venue here in Charleston
What is unexpected is that we were invited
The bride’s parents came to our wedding
It seems an honor to be included
But, dadgum, things have changed in twenty years
Wedding websites
Registry links
Hash tags for the event, e.g., #smithbecomesjones
Via the links we have purchased an appropriate gift to be delivered to the home of the bride’s parents
A gift of something chosen by the bride and groom
For the table
On the website, the retailer asks a question or two
“Would you like to include your home address for a thank you note?”
Of course we would
Plus, the bride and groom should have it
They sent us an inviation
As we clicked and entered card numbers, I asked my bride, “Is it so tacky to do it this way?”
Her reply, “Everyone else does”
I don’t think that makes it any less tacky
Three clicks later
Gift ordered
Note included via registry that the item has been purchased
Wants 12; Purchased 2
Confirmation email
Seems so impersonal
No need for our enclosure card
There are stores in Charleston and Beaufort that still have our cards on file for gift giving
Guess we should ask for those back to use for, well, upcoming graduation gifts
That’s the season of life in which we find ourselves mainly
No need to strike through the name and add a handwritten note on the back for the bride and groom
Guess the bride can send us an email
A pithy text sometime in the next year should be fine, too
Something like this
TYVM 😘
((HUGS))
My reply would be something like this
🤢
OMG
I’m using emoji’s
Make it stop
We’re just too old
The world moved on to less formality
I did not
At wedding receptions, I still go get drinks for ladies
I still never make a plate, either
My parents told me that
A Charleston lady agreed with me one time when I told her that I don’t make plates at receptions or parties
“Dahlin, nice people never do”
Everyone does these days
But, being our age, wedding receptions are always interesting
We’re too young to hang out with the parents of the bride and groom and their friends
We’re too old to hang out with the bride and groom and their friends
We hope to find another couple our age with whom we are comparable, can sneak out early, go to supper, even in our black tie and fancy frocks
The last wedding we attended was a couple years back, and we did just that
Early in
Early out
Supper with friends
Everyone in the restaurant staring at us, but, since it’s Charleston, it’s not uncommon to see folks dressed for supper out on the town
The days of shutting down the reception and then going out are long gone
Long
Long
Long
Long gone
Those days were epic
Back when that email thing was just catching on in offices around the country
Back when that man from Arkansas was President
Back when people still smoked
Back twenty years ago
I love weddings
I love to be invited to weddings
I will have a wonderful time at this upcoming wedding
Even as my wife and I stand alone at the reception looking for other folks our age
Just like all the other sixth graders
Dad, what's for supper? 