Monday, April 06, 2009

to have and to hold


On Saturday I attended the most lovely wedding I've been at. It was even nicer than my own, alas. My little brother, Dorian, the one I used to dress up as a princess so I could be the witch and Gareth could be the baddie, got married to his long-time-love Laura. It was a gentle, arty, thoughtful day.

It was brilliant to meet some bloggers there--I felt like two of my worlds had collided, not just the virtual and the real (which I don't see as separate anyway), but the familiar (as in family) and the bloggy, the artful-creative and the lived-history.

And how things change in that lived history...a favourite auntie who I still think of as slim and blonde and super-glamorous is now a rounded middle-aged brunette. One of my 89 year old grannies--I am hugely lucky to have two of them--who looked close to death a few months ago is now almost sprightly, and definitely back to her canny observant self. A wayward teenager who hasn't been able to face his own father since before Christmas was obliged to attend, and the two of them got on like a house on fire because they were both just so HAPPY. Therapy? forget it, you just need a good wedding.

Not everyone chooses to marry, and not everyone who wants to can do so (yet). Dorian and Laura had a rare opportunity to create a day when things and people, generations and worlds, could come together, and they carried it off beautifully. It was magical.

7 comments:

BwcaBrownie said...

I knew those feline bridesmaids would be crowd-shy!

But we all wish Mr & Mrs Jones only happiness and forever too.
oops - is there a name change?
most don't these days I have noticed.
Family gatherings are very important.
I can recommed a french film 'Cousin, Cousine', and even it's US remake 'Cousins' both lovely.

cheers to you

genevieve said...

what a beautiful post, too. Talk about art and life colliding.

Ampersand Duck said...

That's right. Even without the knowledge of the family evolution, it was a life-affirming experience.

It's such a lovely photo, isn't it?

Zoe said...

Ah, there's always a backstory somewhere at a wedding, isn't there? And what happy ones here.

It was really wonderful to meet you, especially on such a beautiful occasion.

Dorian said...

Thanks Meredith - we are hooked on throwing parties now and are definitely having another one for my 50th.

Meredith Jones said...

But didn't you turn 50 last year?

Cressida said...

Why has no one else commented on the brilliant (and brilliantly matching) outfits! I wish I had such flair.