Tim's Message - Take 2

I have been asked to post the writing on my poster so that it is easier to read: I wanted to TAKE5 minutes to DOTS my i's and tell you that you are the best Dad in the whole MILKYWAY! Thanks for always going the EXTRA mile and helping me out in a CRUNCH. You have always been MOUNDS of fun making me SNICKERS. You do GOOD & PLENTY around here and deserve to be paid 100 GRAND on PAYDAY! Life can be a ROCKY ROAD, but take it in STRIDE and not like a pack of TURTLES. At the wedding, I hope we can MAMBA and WHATCHAMACALLIT without looking like NERDS. I really SCORed when my mom found a BIG HUNK like you. We will stick together like the 3MUSKETEERS! No more ORBITING the question, will you be a SWEETHEARTS and walk me down the aisle? lol, there you have it! 21 candy bars in all! Whew! Thank you to all my English teachers.

Extra Special Message for Tim!

As you all know, I have the best step-dad ever! I could never have picked a better dad! I decided that I would ask him to walk me down the aisle in a special way. I made him a card using candy bars for words. I went a little overboard and ended up using both sides of the poster, but it came out great and I think he really liked it.

And if you are wondering....he said yes! I love you Tim!

More on Traditional Weddings

I consulted my dear cousin Jerry Padilla, writer for The Taos News, about the old ways of a traditional New Mexican wedding, and this was his response. Jerry forgive my paraphrasing:

The sequence:

• an uncle or male relative, of the groom, would deliver a letter asking for her hand,
• after a few days, the family would reply, if they sent a pumpkin, (dar calabaza), the answer was no. If yes, a male relative would take a letter to them inviting them for the Prendorio (kind of like an engagement party).
• the groom would go for the Prendorio on his horse, escorted by her family. His family were already at her house.
• then they would Correr Tres Banas, (publish bans of Marriage) giving the Priest time to find out if they weren't too closely related.
• then the date would be set.
• the wheelbarrow ride would take place.

Check this out!

This is an old custom where the groom had to give the bride (sometime before the wedding, with witnesses from her home town,) a ride in a wheelbarrow, from her house to the church. This was so he could prove he could handle the load of responsibility he was taking on. If he accidently spilled her out of the wheelbarrow, he had to start all over again. The best man would go along to encourage him. Sometimes her dad and brothers would add rocks or extra weight to the wheelbarrow if she was petite.

• then the wedding,
• La Marcha (see my early post),
• then el Baile del Peso (dollar dance),
• then se Robaban la Novia (stealing the bride, again see my earlier post)
• el Trivilin, for which the groom had to pay a ransom (a future dance with tamales, musicians and all financed by him)

After he recovered her, they would sneak away from the dance, la Luna de Miel (honey moon), and then they would settle in for wedded bliss. The whole process could take up to a month before they went on the honeymoon.

Thank you Jerry for explaining this rich tradition, but alas I haven’t changed the minds of Clint and Natalie.

At least that what I think since they sent me a pumpkin!

Dreaming of a Big Fat New Mexico Style Wedding

Well folks I gave it my best shot, trying to get Clint and Natalie to buy into the old fashioned weddings of Natalie’s “people”.

Some highlights of such weddings in our past include:

1. La Marcha

Is there anything cooler than going to a wedding reception and watching the unfolding of La Marcha? La Marcha is a wedding march danced by couples who separate into lines, circle around and come back together in a kind of tunnel made by raising and holding hands for the newlyweds to pass through. I tried to explain this to Clint, using the “Virginia Reel” as an example. He was not impressed.

2. The dollar dance also known as pin the dollar on the bride.

Wonder if inflation would apply to this tradition, Five dollar dance anyone?

3. Paper Flower Decorations

Hours spent making these flowers to decorate the church hall, the basketball hoop and not to mention all the cars. These cars pulled away from the church honking and honking all the way to the reception hall!

4. Kidnapping the Bride

I think my niece JulieAnn was the last bride I remember getting kidnapped. To those of you unaccustomed to this strange tradition, it is an important duty of the maid of honor to not allow your bride to be taken. Usually some jokester from the family finds a way to lure the bride away. He then calls in the “ransom” to the groom. I have seen poor grooms walking around with a hat begging for ransom money for his bride. Good Times or a possible felony? naaw

5. Real Food

For my wedding my mom and sisters spent several weekends cooking: Tamales, enchiladas, frijoles, chili verde, yummy. I have been to a wedding where, and I am not making this up, the reception included: sliced bread in the bag, a bottle of mayo, and a package of lunch meat! Also quite a few with brownies and rootbeer. Ahh, remembering the good ol’days – my tummy’s growling.

6. Kick-ass Band

One that can blast the Mexican national anthem, La Bamba!

7. A Drunken Uncle

This tradition may not be dead, as Cassandra can testify due to Uncle Tim’s behavior at her wedding.

8. A Fight

It can’t really be declared a great event unless some family members get in a fight! The joys of a BIG FAT NEW MEXICAN wedding……come on Clint and Natalie it’s not too late!

Orange Tuxes or Blue Tuxes?

That is the question! Do you think Clint would look best in a more traditional wedding tux or a display of boldness!

Clint, along with the rest of the wedding party, would also look great in kilts. I know the little boys would be darling in them.

For the era of the Beatles and 50's and 60's, the more traditional formal wear would be something that I know we would find one of my favorite men, Don Draper, wearing.

What Do You Think?

A Bird Cage

A birdcage veil is a twist on an old tradition of wearing veils that dates back to the 1200s. The birdcage veil was popular in the 1930s and 40s, and was so-called because it is short veil that framed the face, enclosing it like a cage.

Question is will Natalie do a bird cage? Or short veil like this?

How about the veil that Priscilla Presley wore in the 60s?, Holy cow what was up with that?

What do you think?

Fine Line Between a Wedding Inspiration and a Themed Wedding

If you know Natalie at all, it will be no surprise that her wedding inspiration will be “All you need is Love”.

Natalie always loved the Beatles (mostly Ringo) and old style rock and roll. One of the first songs she and Ben learned to sing was, “Going to the Chapel”, well now she is.

Her wedding is inspired by nostalgia and romance. Short Dresses, pearls, pumps and of course the Beatles. We would never ask guests to “dress up in costumes”, dress as you would for any wedding. However, if you love the ideas we are going to share in this blog, certainly join in and she will have a dream wedding, “with a little help from her friends” (couldn’t help myself!).