Mel's Pops

Growing up as my dad's little girl, I was given the implied notion that some day when my marriage came to fruition... I could have the wedding of my dreams and "daddy" was going to make sure of it. As November has crept up quickly in this year of 2010, two weeks short of my 24th birthday, I have the wedding of my dreams all made out in my head. The October engagement that Andrew and I excitedly shared is now nearing it's graduation into the wedding planning seed.

Andy, the high school science teacher and I, the production assistant to graphic designers are now heading down this heavily treaded trail of wondering... "what's our budget?". As I mentioned... I had grown up with the idea that my pops was taking care of everything. Of course, things have changed.

Here's the short shorts: I moved from my hometown of Toledo, OH four years ago, leaving behind my closest friends and most of my family. Andy's family is scattered throughout the midwest, so needless to say there is going to be a lot of travel involved for those sharing in the joy of our big day. My father, Rick, owns a 200+ room resort, complete with a full-service spa, banquet halls and more recently, an outdoor seasonal tent. Ah ha! Our love of the outdoors with the comfort of a roof and some walls in the event that Nature decides to rain on our parade. Or blow wing up my dress. You get the picture. Perfect, right? This is where the mess really begins.

Daddy doesn't want to let me have the wedding I want. He wants to plan everything from the decorations, dinner, lighting and all else between corny and dancing. So... what is the young couple to do? Is it more important to have the wedding that screams "WOW! This is exactly how I imagined you two putting together a wedding" and going into debt orrrr... "This is your guys' wedding?" and not having to spit out more than a few bucks here and there?

Our choice is quite simple... go into debt. I see it this way: Money is what you spend while living but life is the real currency of time. Do you want to spend your life on making money or love and relationships? Obviously, we are going to be cut short on many things for our wedding but what's important to us is well... us and will it be ours.

This Sunday, at 5pm, we'll be having dinner at his house. Hopefully the old man isn't going to try to dodge any more questions I have about wedding ideas and plans. That's what he has been up to. Every phone call, in-person meet and e-mail has been disregarded and turned into something of a work conversation. Oh, that's the cherry on top. He wants us to have it in Spring so he can use our wedding as a showcase wedding to show potential clients. Once again... being put after his business is showing to be more painful now than it ever has.

I''l keep you posted. And ideas to come!