A place to party

Well, the reception hall is booked. Now we have the church and a place to party after the wedding. So far, this wedding planning stuff's been kinda fun. Even though I haven't had to do much, except re-hash the guest list about four times. So far.

Finding a place to party isn't as easy as it sounds. Standard hotel ballrooms were nixed as all looking alike (I agree), ballrooms located in more unique hotels or locations (like Atlanta's Fox Theatre) were too expensive, and a few other places weren't available for October 18, 2008.

But daughter managed to find a new place that looks lovely, and since she and her intended are paying, I'm all for whatever suits her. It's called Lambert Place. I'll be in Atlanta next week to check it out, but I'm sure it will be perfect.

Bride and groom are looking for a Mexican-Southern theme to showcase their individual heritages, and it seems they've found a caterer (also owner of the reception venue) who can whip up mouth-watering fried chicken burritos (etc.) along with the more ubiquitous reception food.

So that's one more thing to check off the wedding-planning list. Should be smooth sailing from here on in, right? Right?

Wedding Babies: Pro? Con?

OK, here's our current dilemma. Although, dilemma's the wrong word. More of a, well, puzzlement. As we hone the guest list, we notice that we have no fewer than 15 children (attached to parents, of course) under 3 years old on the list. And yes, they need to be invited - I guess - since many of the parents are coming from out of town and will naturally bring Baby Bunting with them.

I want children at the wedding and reception, truly. Who needs a snooty wedding, where everything and everyone is expected to be perfect? Children just add to the festivities. Kate agrees (I think), but the child-issue is two-fold:

1. Should little kids and babies be at the wedding ceremony? Won't they be bored? Won't they cry and cut-up? Will the parents be kind enough to take the little darlings out if they start raising a ruckus during the vows or the Eucharist?

2. Do we really have to pay $50-per-head, even for little kids who won't be drinking alcohol (we surmise) or eat all that much? That seems really unfair of caterers or reception venues to slap a high-priced charge-per-head for anyone under, say, 5. Am I crazy and out-of-line on this?

Is it bad form to offer a nursery with paid, competent childcare workers available during the ceremony? Will parents take advantage of it?

Can we bargain with the caterers/reception venue to offer a lower charge-per-head, serving peanut butter sandwiches and chicken fingers, for the toddler crowd?

We definitely want the wedding and reception to be welcoming, fun, friendly events for guests of all ages (and don't you love seeing little children in their fancy clothes?). So, what to do?

Is there any way to avoid the Bridezilla Syndrome?

I've spent the Labor Day holiday watching some of the Bridezilla episodes on TV. Where do they find these women (and their clueless grooms and horrible families)? And how do they know they're going to be ballistic bride-monsters from the beginning?

Surely, it's a set-up deal, like professional wrestling. A free honeymoon for as much drama and pain as you can inflict in the run-up and in the midst of the wedding, right? Is that the deal? Is a free honeymoon worth it?

These perfectly horrible women behave in the most outrageous way. Why anyone agrees to marry them or attend the weddings after they've put them through the wringer is completely beyond me.

Perhaps I'm speaking too soon, but I cannot imagine Kate pulling the stunts that the bridezillas do. (And, Darlin', you'd better not make me eat those words!) A little wedding stress is understandable, and tempers might flare in the heat of battle, but full-blown nostril-flaring, ear-steaming, face-slappin' anger is way out of bounds.

Here are the rules:

• Rule No. 1 should always be the Golden one - Do unto others. Be nice.
• Rule No. 2: This too shall pass. Most obstacles can be gotten over, under, around, or through, so chill.
• Rule No. 3: No matter what the wedding books try to tell you, you ain't a princess, nor Queen of the World. This is a ceremony and celebration of the marriage of two people, surrounded by people who love and care for them. Act accordingly.

So, I guess the way to avoid the Bridezilla Syndrome is to under no circumstances sign on with a television production company to act shameless for the sake of a free trip to Jamaica.

End of lecture.