For two years they’ve been getting their MBAs together. For four(ish) years they’ve been cohabitating. For most of the past decade, they’ve been in love.
And for months they’ve been talking about graduation. They were throwing a party, and wanted everyone there.
They sent out save-the-date postcards to friends and family in faraway states. Mailed beautiful, simple, custom invites…courtesy of a graphic designer confidant. Requested RSVPs and hinted at mandatory attendance.
As the party grew near, they brought in a caterer and a pavilion tent, a landscape architect and plenty of local friends to prepare. They secretly shopped for rings, and surreptitiously stole down to the courthouse for the marriage license.
Everyone showed up, just like they’d hoped. The food was great, the weather was perfect, and the couple was dressed in casual yet elegant clothes – carefully treading the line between overdressed for a backyard BBQ in Seattle and perfect for a party celebrating dual graduate degrees.
I’d overdressed, as I tend to do when unsure about the situation. (I read somewhere once that it’s better to overdress than underdress, and immediately took the mantra as my own. Years later I still overdress when I’m nervous or excited or in a crowd of people I don’t know.)
Now – to be fair to myself – I hadn’t realized that no one else was told about the “garden party” vibe. Nearly everyone else had dressed for backyard BBQ in Seattle. I stood in a fueshia sundress and vintage overcoat, my hair carefully curled to make it look haphazard and casual…making small talk with a woman in white flip-flops and a cami with a built-in bra. I noted fleece is apparently still very very in. It made me glad I’d talked at least one other person into dressing up. More than one person heckled my obvious attempt to channel Sex & the City style. I laughed off their comments and let them assume I’d seen the movie at least three times already.
But I digress. Apologies. Back to the party.
A couple of hours in, the happy couple thanked everyone for coming. Especially those who’d traveled a long way. They paused and perused the crowd below (despite their vertically challenged stature, the elevated deck made it easy to peruse crowds below).
They waited for quiet.
Announced their engagement.
Waited for quiet again.
Then invited everyone to gather on the new patio.
For the WEDDING!!!
It was a beautiful, simple ceremony. Friends were gathered, family stood by, and the happy couple couldn’t have been more adoring – or adorable, for that matter. We all cried.
Did I mention it was beautiful?
Suddenly I didn’t feel so bad about being dressed up. It wasn’t about the outfit any more; it was about watching two friends be the happiest I’ve ever seen them.
(Which isn’t to say I wasn’t a tad pleased when people realized that my overdressing was actually appropriate for the occasion…while they were suddenly uncomfortable for being underdressed. But again – I digress. Apologies.)
Every day another story -
Sofie
