Getting Ready for the Big Day

Practice means to perform, over
and over again in the face of all
obstacles, some act of vision,
of faith, of desire. Practice is a
means of inviting the perfection
desired.
—Martha Graham

Wedding planning is something of
a long term project. With the average
length of engagement in the United
States being 17 months, you have plenty of time to
get yourselves in shape for the big event. Think
about the things that will be central to the big day
and the impression you’ll make. You’ll be smiling
and dancing, and you’ll need to be gracious and
hospitable to all your guests, of course; you’ll need
to look good doing it all because you’ll be followed
by at least two people carrying a camera and spotlight
throughout the entire day, from the moment
you walk into the church with your hair in curlers,
carrying your Starbucks cup, until you hop in the
fairy tale carriage about 8 hours later to be carried
off to “happily ever after” land. By the time this
day ends, you’ll feel much more sympathetic
toward celebrities, who are followed everywhere
by paparazzi.

All your life, trips to the dentist, the hair stylist, the
gym, and the dermatologist have been leading up
to this day when you are going to shine for all to
see. Perhaps I overstate the purpose of those
cosmetic efforts of a lifetime, but not by much.
On this day of all days, you need to look really
good, be really graceful, and smile no matter how
much you want to sit down, kick off your shoes,
and rest for a few minutes.
Queen Elizabeth, never considered to be a natural
beauty, taught us that all brides are beautiful. All
brides and grooms can be gorgeous on the day of
their wedding. It helps to do a little cosmetic and
fitness work ahead of time though. We must assume
that Queen Elizabeth, due to her place in society,
was trained in all the social arts. Perhaps you have
been, too; then again, if you’ve been busy learning
about nuclear medicine or elementary education
and have overlooked a few of life’s necessities, such
as cutting a fine figure on the dance floor or even
shaping up your eyebrows, this is your opportunity.
In fact, it is your responsibility to prepare yourselves
to be the stars of your own show.