When it’s your child headed to the altar, life’s a joyful rewind

Reality hit quickly since her surprise engagement in Chicago last month while attending another wedding.

It’s been a whirlwind – first of sleepless nights of “how in the world are we going to plan a wedding in less than a year?” and “how much does that cost?” – to now assurances from above that things can work out when you let go of control and place trust in God (and the child you raised).

Greyson has found her own assurances in the form of a bumble bee – the first one stung her after her fiancé gave her the ring on Lake Michigan and subsequent bees that have been cropping up ever since on logos, at businesses, in gifts she’s since received.

Being Catholic, the church was our first milestone. What local church would even have any weeks open in spring considering the backlog of weddings canceled or postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Having mostly lived away from home since college, she really didn’t have a strong parish affiliation, so we started with a short list. Amazingly, several had one of the two dates she was considering.

One was St. Louis Cathedral, the church where she dreamed of getting married ever since she was old enough to know that there were churches other than the “building with plastic yellow chairs” we used at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Kenner when she was growing up. It just so happened that her father and I got married at the cathedral in 1982, and my husband recently traced early ancestors in Louisiana as having married there. So, I guess you would say it is a family tradition.

Similar to my experience of planning a wedding with 10 bridesmaids, a junior bridesmaid and a mini bride, Greyson is having a large wedding, involving friends and family alike. Let’s just hope she doesn’t leave two bridesmaids home the day of the wedding accidentally like I did. (That’s another story altogether.)

With the church picked out, we looked for reception venues near the cathedral. So many were already booked due to the 2020 rescheduled weddings, but we found one that was moderately priced and yet beautiful and within second-lining distance from the cathedral. Of course, loving the Crescent City the way she does, she had to have a second line, just like I did almost 39 years ago.

We were lucky to find a great band that wasn’t booked, too, as well as a florist and photographer that she liked. And, did I mention she bought a wedding dress? Amazingly, it was at the first shop she visited, and about the sixth dress she tried on.

She’s been a maid of honor or a bridesmaid in so many weddings over the past two years that people are saying it is now her time to bask in the happiness of starting a new phase of her life.

At 27, she is ready to share all the love she has to give with a lovely young man who feels the same. They truly complement each other and have the best interests of each other at heart.

My only reservation – their marriage will take her to another state where her fiancé works – the first time she’s lived life away from Louisiana. Luckily, it’s within a reasonable driving distance. She’s excited about it, but I know I’m going to miss her. Since I raised her with an adventurous spirit, what was I to expect?

While she may not literally be my little girl anymore, Greyson will always remain that innocent child with the big smile and open heart.

Christine Bordelon is associate editor of the Clarion Herald and moderates and edits NOLA Catholic Parenting blogs and podcasts.

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