Mimi and her mom and I pulled out of Ridgeland headed towards Greenville, S.C. We were like a traveling circus with our trailer full of decorations, props, tools and bags packed for some “work” days, rehearsal dinner clothes and mother and father of the bride clothes. Mia and Cody got hitched the weekend of the 18th of October. Those two had most of the hard work done, at least they did the stuff I would dread most. They procured a wonderful venue for the rehearsal dinner, a venue for the wedding which happens to be the same place they met, blocked out some hotels for all who joined us, found a great band and had all the questions that come along with an out-of-town wedding especially for us old folks who have a harder time following directions than most.
The invitations had all the answers from where to stay, eat, hike and information on the shuttles that ran regularly from the hotels to the wedding embedded in a QR code. I felt smart just typing QR code, that is way above my head but it seems everyone figured it out. We got an Airbnb five minutes from the wedding spot since we would be coming and going a lot and our house is where Mia and her new sister-in-laws would do their final preps before the wedding.
As we approached Atlanta I could tell they were a few weeks ahead of us with cooler temps and the leaves were just a little more golden than ours at home. Accuweather was letting us know that the weather was going to be perfect for the entire weekend with a chance of rain the day after all the festivities were over. It’s always risky having a big party outside, the biggest wedding weekend of the year didn’t leave them with many options for a back up plan. We could have all fit in the barn in an emergency but it would have been tight. Knowing the weather was going to be in the 70s with blue skies made it all the more exciting, we could pull out all the stops.
We pulled into town after nine hours a little weary, unhooked the trailer and got moved in with time to meet some of Cody’s family from Philly for some dinner. Everyone was so excited so we made plans for the next morning to get started setting up for the big event. We brought a lot of string lights we use for nighttime events and selling Christmas trees at Garden Works. Mia and Cody had already bought some 10 foot poles that screw into the ground made for holding up string lights. We had plenty of solar power since part of the barn roof is made of solar panels with a huge bank of batteries used for storing power so we could hook in as many lights we could dream of. This 120 acre site where Mia and Cody met is a nature conservancy that also doubles as a place for runners to hold events from 5ks to marathons off road. The building that I call the barn is an educational area for all kinds of groups to meet and learn about conservation.
This was their first time to allow a wedding. Mia and Cody decided it couldn’t hurt to ask and it paid off. The man in charge of keeping the place impeccable and running the events was more than happy to accommodate. I think he just really liked them and thought it would be a good time. He worked on making sure the field was cut, the parking area was smooth, he kept doors open and closed before us and after us, he just made the whole thing comfortable. I can genuinely say he made the weekend perfect. He had a grandfatherly tone about him and I could tell he and Mia had a great relationship. John and Linda and Pat, Cody’s grandmother, had driven down with their tools and stuff so we had a lot to work with and we had enough hands to get it done. There is really no better way to get to know some folks than to have a couple of work days together. We all worked at the same pace and on the same page so it was truly a treat. It sure beat sitting around trying to get to know each other at some noisy place spread out all over a restaurant. John and I laid out the lights with approval from the women then we started screwing in the bases of the poles about 12 feet apart. The others were making plans as to where the tables would go, where to set up the bar and where the food truck would be most convenient.
Later that day my mother flew in and I slipped out to pick her up at the airport so now we had even more help. Mom came with her sleeves rolled up and ready to work. She is the one who showed us how to put on big pasture parties back in the day, we passed that on to our kids and Cody’s large family is no stranger to large gatherings so we were all on the same boat. It was really fun putting this on together. Cody’s sister, Lilly, came in that afternoon for even more help, she is a blast to work with. It looks like Mia and Lilly have a real sister relationship going, what a pleasure. Cody and John showed up during the day with a huge load of wood for the fire ring and some kegs of craft beer and ice. The others were making decisions while it all came together. As we were calling it a day the tables and chairs and the bar showed up so we knew we would be able to get started early the next morning getting it all to fall into place.
That night we went out to eat with just Mia and Cody, the others had more family pouring in they had to take care of. We broke bread at Central American restaurant with a great menu with some of my favorite hard to find dishes including plantains, yucca, and some others that you don’t normally see unless you are in Costa Rica or someplace near it. The lovebirds had a gift for us that we just love. When I first met Cody I noticed a thing hanging from his wall that says “don’t let your Mondays ruin your Sundays.” I love that saying, I am bad about thinking about my Mondays during a Sunday afternoon. Every Sunday since then I would text them reminding them not to let Monday creep in on their day off. They had a copper panel laser cut with those words with brackets for hanging or for staking in the ground,. It’s really beautiful and will save many a Sunday from getting ruined by thoughts about what to get ready for tomorrow, it takes practice. We found out later Lilly really kept the saying going when she had that one at Cody’s house made for him so he wouldn’t forget.
The next morning we got out early to finish. Tables were set up, chairs were lined out with an aisle for the bride and the groom up the middle. Torches were set up strategically in the distance and the band stage was rolled into place. Some of the band members showed up to get a feel for the place. Now we had friends and family pulling into town from all directions since this was to be the night of the rehearsal dinner at a fun spot in Greenville. We got rested up for that night where we met each others’ families and friends. We had a great time, had some toasts for the bride and groom and got to know each other in completely different setting. We stayed until they told us to leave and went back to our place to crash. The next day would be the big day.
We had a few last minute things to get done like laying out the table decorations and the flowers our niece Carly Mckie provided, just like she did for Max and Madeline’s wedding. The flowers were absolutely fabulous. She always goes the extra mile, but she always makes it look so simple, she has a great gift. Some of my buddies and I went off to three different Home Depots to pick up the four generators that it would take to keep the eight piece band going all night. One of them was for back up, thank goodness Mia had thought that out because we wound up with one dud so we needed that extra one. Having my buddies ride around with that truck and trailer helped me to relax and have a few laughs.
By the time we got back and unloaded the generators the others had finished up with everything else and it was time to go get ready which for me meant grabbing a nap while the girls got ready to be out there at 4:30 for a 5 p.m. wedding. Mimi and her mom and my mom got ready with Mia, Lilly and Madeline, I snoozed right through that part. When I came to they all were looking beautiful. I got my suit on and chauffeured them the 10 minute drive to the wedding. I felt like a lucky dude when we arrived and these gorgeous gals got out of my truck.
The shuttles had already dropped the guests off who chose not to drive so they were taking their places. The band played the wedding song and Mia and I headed down that aisle for the hand off. Mimi had on a beautiful dress and I was anxious to get to sit next to her while we watched Mia and Cody say their vows, which were tear jerkers. The same moon gate that Mimi and Carly had decorated for Max and Madeline’s wedding last fall was between them and a perfect sunset. The caretaker of the land had his drone getting shots and videos just out of hearing range, I can’t wait to see those shots. The moon gate was decorated with all that amaranth that we grew over the summer along with dried okra pods and cotton I grew for this occasion. It came out really cool along with the great flowers Carly and Linda chose for the day.
Mia is my last child to get married so it hit us pretty hard, happy of course but it does rattle your bones a little when you begin to realize what all this means. They are both in the hands of another now. You have to trust you’ve done the best you can raising them to be ready for this next chapter. Mia asked me if I could guess what our father and bride song would be. I couldn’t guess. She was shaking her head when the band starting playing a Neil Young song, Old Man… take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you… it was all I could do not to break down while we danced in front of the crowd. Perfect. After that I think at some point every one was in front of the stage dancing the night away.
I can honestly say that was one of the funnest weddings I have attended. We had the other best wedding ever last October so we are not doing bad in the wedding category. I think everyone made it back to their places to stay alive and well that night so all was perfect. I am blown away when so many people stop their lives and travel to be with us for this most momentous occasion. It meant so much to us and Mia and Cody that our folks from both sides of these two giant families came together to make this event what it was.
The next morning we all met and took down what was left, loaded up the trailer, done by 10. My brother and I returned the generators and came back two hours later with the trailer empty so we could load up our circus. Mia had planned an afternoon of football at a local brewery so most us who were staying one more night could relax and do our goodbyes then and there. It was the perfect weekend due to some perfect planning. I got mom back to the airport after that and headed back to our place to get ready for the ride home the next morning. We had a great time reminiscing about our time spent, the ride home went quickly with so much to chat about. It was good to see home sweet home. It was a Monday that did not get ruined on our Sunday.
