Thank you, @sevmom. It looks like I will be meeting them in MA on Saturday–he’s only on call for Thursday and Friday and I managed to snare a rental car–expensive but worth it! I don’t know about how fiance acquired the ring and the extent (if any) to which my daughter participated in its selection. If nothing else, it will be wonderful to see it on her hand and to give both of them a hug and in-person congratulations. Next year she does her rotations in school and gets a month off each year and I believe that’s when they plan to get married. But who knows?
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Finally home from Wedding Week 2.0. Man, we had a great time.
I hadn’t seen the venue, and it was lovely. It’s a working organic farm, and they made a brunch for us while getting ready that was AMAZING. The wedding was at an arch outside, and the cocktail party and reception were in a beautiful barn inside. It was hands-down a top three reception, IMO. Great Lebanese food was served, and people sang and danced so much that ds1 was hoarse by the end of the night. My dress looked great, and he picked the perfect surprise mother-son song, Forever and Ever Amen.
My Friday-night happy hour went really well, too. I loved meeting people I’ve been hearing about and seeing ds1’s college friends. And I finally got to meet ds2’s new roomie!
The kids stayed at a wonderful, fancy hotel for four nights, and on the night before the wedding the hotel put up its Christmas decorations so her mom got GREAT photos of them by the giant white tree. I wish I felt comfortable posting it!
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Ok, so DD and fiance found a venue and picked a date, in November 2023. Presumably she’ll be able to take some time off from her rotations then! It’s in the general vicinity of her med school and the website looks beautiful, on the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie. She’s taking her first stab at wedding gown shopping on 1/2 and I will meet her future mother-in-law there. We’ve been communicating online and she’s a lovely person!
A couple of weeks ago, after consultation with my financial adviser at Vanguard, I told the couple how much I can contribute and they were surprised and delighted.
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Congrats @oldmom4896! 
@oldmom4896 Happy to see another date in Fall 2023. My DD and fiance have picked a date and venue in September 2023 in Philadelphia. DD is in a PhD program and will be starting year 3 by then, so done with coursework. DD’s engagement ring was made of 2 heirloom diamonds from the groom’s family with a green tsarvorite stone in the center.
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Corinthian, my friends DD had her wedding at the Redding terminal. I didn’t chose to fly in and attend, but I heard it was quite good.
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As I mentioned elsewhere, kid and her fiancé picked their wedding venue: an old, rural farmhouse with grassy grounds turned into a special events venue. It is dilapidated IMO but turns out great in photos. Late summer and outdoors, so while there should be fewer monkey wrenches from Covid, weather can still be an issue (heatwave, anyone?). Ugh. My major concern is: what if the caterer Covids out? The place is quite in the boonies, so getting an alternative is next to impossible.
The current plan is to have it at the College of Physicians. Events at College of Physicians of Philadelphia – Wedding & Event Venue in Philadelphia
They like the location because it’s close to the church where they want to have the ceremony. I actually suggested this space because I had seen it when DH and I visited a couple years ago and toured the Mutter Museum. At that point they weren’t engaged yet but I made a mental note of the space.
Their initial reaction was to think it was creepy to have the reception in the same space occupied by the Mutter Museum ( a museum of medical oddities). But after they toured the event space they were sold.
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My D has been invited to a wedding in Texas. It will be at a winery, 45 minutes from anywhere, with no Uber service, and no organized group transportation.
It will be challenging for some of the guests.
S17 (vet school class of 24) got the ring delivered today. He is at his gf’s for Christmas and will be asking her dad. Then they come back here for New Years and head to Cancun.
Their plan was to get engaged this summer in Europe. Due to continuing Covid uncertainty he decided to ask her during their trip to Cancun. They have a 5 course meal at sunset on the beach set up with the resort and are working to confirm the resort photographer! She will be surprised because all their discussions and plans have been about Europe. She loves the beach and should be happy with the change of plans! Their wedding will probably be summer of 24 so she can finish PA school and he can finish his DVM.
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I’m in Texas and am curious which one.
Spicewood Vineyards. Recommended hotels are in Marble Falls. Do you know these places or distances?
They are 20 min apart. Near where my dd lives. Not far from Austin. In TX terms not far at all!
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My D sends her thanks for the timing info.
I have two daughters. One is the ‘professional bridesmaid’ and while she hasn’t been to as many weddings as her sister, she keeps being asked to be IN the weddings. Cha-ching$$
The second D keeps getting invited to more and more weddings! I think she has 5 or 6 in 2022, and now the 2023s are starting to roll in.
When niece postponed her wedding a year (Oct 2020 to Oct 2021), she went from wedding party of 12 women to 8 women (2 maid of honor and 6 bridesmaids). People’s lives change where they are no longer in the area or have other situations and need to ‘decommit’.
Yes it gets expensive when the bridal party of gals go on an expensive ‘trip’ - DD2 had one trip last year and one trip is coming up this next year. Both DDs have been in bridal parties that are more local and not as expensive. DD2 has 3 wedding invites ‘save the date’ on the same May 2022 date - she will attend the one close to where she lives. DD2 is in her cousin’s wedding the prior Saturday in May 2022 (with the expensive gal trip). DD2 with BF have been on a number of out of state trips for weddings, usually flying or driving and flying combination.
I have a question about setting the expected dress code. Specifically, Formal vs. Cocktail? Groom really wants it to be Formal. I’m MOB and the bride’s parents will be paying for most everything. We’ve already selected the venue, which would work for either Formal or Cocktail. This will be in Philly in Fall 2023. I guess I have two questions. First, these days do wedding guests view Formal (i.e., Black Tie Optional) as overly burdensome? Second, does a Formal dress code up the expectations about how fancy the decor, food, etc is? (The venue we’ve picked has an exclusive caterer.)
I would start by talking with the couple about their vision for the wedding. The groom to be should be able to share his idea of what formal entails, and the couple should be able to articulate what their ideas are for the event. Go from there.
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As my father used to say, the one who pays orders the music. Personally, I think people are tired of zoomwear. This will be a chance to kick it up a few notches! Make it as formal as you wish.
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This is an oldie but still goodie - an article dissecting the dress codes. 
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