Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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THIS WEEK WITH MARGARET Here They Come — All of Them! by MARGARET DICKSON Lord have mercy! Here it is — almost the end of June, when some of us are still getting used to writing 2013 on our important papers! June is all about celebrations. First come grads, proud and hopeful. Then come dads, proud and loving. And, then, here come the brides! And everyone else who attends them! I am already concerned about what I will wear to two back-to-back weekend nuptials, since many of the same people will attend both happy occasions ensuring a repeat outfit will not do. My situation, though, is nothing compared to those of my children and their contemporaries who are in the throes of wedding season for all their chums. One is so scheduled that weekends are no longer referred to by their calendar assignments but by the location of the next wedding — Wrightsville Beach, Charlottesville, Greenwich, Connecticut. Blessedly, the stock event of older generations — the funeral — cannot be scheduled so far in advance that wardrobes loom as much of an issue. I have long read and enjoyed the engagement and wedding announcements in local papers, as well as those from elsewhere, particularly those featured in major papers like The New York Times. In a trend that has not quite found its footing in the hinterlands, Weddings and the decorum of how they are carried out has changed over the years.. we learn how the happy couple — be it man and woman or some other combination — met and fell reports several examples. Cynthia Figueroa, who wed — and pricey — trips to New York, New Orleans or in love. We also learn how they earn their livelihoods, Paul Prato a year ago summed it up this way, "It's not some other fine destination. I have even heard of one what they like to do in their spare time and how much like I don't want to spend time with him by myself. We or two outside the good old U.S. of A. they adore their pets. Sometimes all of this seems like have the rest of our lives to be together and spend time Brides bare more than ever — "demure" rarely major TMI —too much information — but riveting together, so let's get our friends involved." applies. So do their bridesmaids with tattoos often nonetheless. Twenty-eight of their nearest and dearest peeking proudly out of strapless bodices. Wedding Back in the olden days when I got married, certain accompanied them on their Las Vegas "buddymoon." parties may be supersized. I heard about one young things went unquestioned. My chicken salad sandwich cousin was a pioneer in couple with so many friends there will be 24 —yes, Whatever the bride wore, it could be described as this emerging movement. When she married in 1974, 24! — warm bodies clustered at their altar! "lovely," sometimes even "demure." Chances were, she took a crowd to several cottages at Topsail Beach, Fading, too, are the days when brides and grooms some sort of veil was involved. Decorum reigned could not wait to be alone for however many days they including her newly-minted brothers-in-law, their during the marriage ceremony, where ever it might wives and children, and—I confess — me! could spare and afford. My maternal grandparents be. The reception for family and friends, whether in Fashions change, including those related to got married shortly after sunrise so they could catch her parents' home, a church fellowship hall or some relationships. However we choose to marry and the 7 a.m. train to Washington, D.C., apparently other suitable spot, almost always featured chickenpreferring that to spending their wedding night in their regardless of how many others participate, marriage salad sandwiches on squishy white bread with the remains the glue and foundation of millions of hometown of Kinston. Remember the ads for round crusts carefully trimmed and bowls filled with mixed families. Professor Wilcox heads up an endeavor beds and heart-shaped bathtubs in the Poconos? nuts. I have a cousin who says that no one is ever truly called the National Marriage Project which studies and Something tells me their days are numbered. married until she, my cousin, has eaten 10 chickenwrites about the health of marriage in our country and Since about 65 percent of couples live together salad sandwiches. the cultural and social forces that play into it. before marriage, according to sociology professor No one brought a dog to any of the festivities. Well worth a google on a hot summer day. Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia, the Ever. honeymoon is for the purpose of couple time. It is Nowadays, things are more loosey-goosey. more about the destination — fun, exciting, exotic or Before the wedding venue is in sight, brides and whatever, and about taking along some friends. MARGARET DICKSON, Congrooms go off with their best buddies on bachelor No less a cultural authority than The New York tributing Writer, COMMENTS? and bachorlette weekends. Some of these are modest Times has dubbed this trend the "buddymoon," and it Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. excursions to the beach but others involve glamorous Daily Specials Breakfast Lunch Dinner Fresh Seafood Hand Cut Steaks Homemade Desserts Italian & Greek Children's Menu Banquet rooms available up to 100 guests WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 484-0261 1304 Morganton Rd. Mon-Sat: 6am-10pm Sun: 7am-2:30 pm Serving Fayetteville Over 50 Years! JUNE 19-25, 2013 UCW 5