It's been a while since I've been to a wedding. I guess I'm just at an age in which most of my friends, acquaintances and colleagues are already hitched (whether through marriage or other means) or have simply resigned themselves to not, or have written off the idea of, being so.
I've never been to a bicycle-themed ceremony. However, I did once go to a reception for two of my old riding buddies from the Central Jersey Bicycle Club. They got married in a very small ceremony that included only their immediate families. They held their reception outdoors, in a public park, on a gorgeous day around this time of year. I, like many of the other guests, arrived on a bicycle.
Although they invited me, my appearance surprised them. It wasn't the fact that I showed up: I had promised I would, and unless other circumstances intervene (Is that phrase open to interpretation, or what?), I keep my word about such things. And, even though I was young and did a lot of crazy things one associates with youth (and, I admit, excessive consumption of alcohol and an overflow of testosterone: now I can blame almost all of the jejune excesses on them!), I didn't do anything stupid or gross.
What shocked them was my wheeling into the park on, if I recall correctly, my Trek 510. All of the other club members who arrived on two wheels lived nearby--or, at least, within a half-hour ride or so. On the other hand, I had moved to New York. So, by the time I started eating the barbecued chicken and hot dogs and drinking, I think, Beck's (Microbreweries were in their infancy, so all good beer in those days was imported.), I had pedaled about 40 miles.
Granted, that wasn't a long ride for me or anyone else who rode to the reception that day--or for Ed and Elaine, the honorees. But they were nonetheless impressed.
I don't recall any bike-themed decor at the party. (Let's call it what it was!) But, apparently, there is something of a vogue for it at weddings today. If I were to attend (or--egad!--have) nupitals, here's something I'd like to see:
Hey, I could even get away with putting those wheels on my bikes! At least, the colors are right. And in a wedding, colors are everything. Right?
Would these folks have approved?
I've never been to a bicycle-themed ceremony. However, I did once go to a reception for two of my old riding buddies from the Central Jersey Bicycle Club. They got married in a very small ceremony that included only their immediate families. They held their reception outdoors, in a public park, on a gorgeous day around this time of year. I, like many of the other guests, arrived on a bicycle.
Although they invited me, my appearance surprised them. It wasn't the fact that I showed up: I had promised I would, and unless other circumstances intervene (Is that phrase open to interpretation, or what?), I keep my word about such things. And, even though I was young and did a lot of crazy things one associates with youth (and, I admit, excessive consumption of alcohol and an overflow of testosterone: now I can blame almost all of the jejune excesses on them!), I didn't do anything stupid or gross.
What shocked them was my wheeling into the park on, if I recall correctly, my Trek 510. All of the other club members who arrived on two wheels lived nearby--or, at least, within a half-hour ride or so. On the other hand, I had moved to New York. So, by the time I started eating the barbecued chicken and hot dogs and drinking, I think, Beck's (Microbreweries were in their infancy, so all good beer in those days was imported.), I had pedaled about 40 miles.
Granted, that wasn't a long ride for me or anyone else who rode to the reception that day--or for Ed and Elaine, the honorees. But they were nonetheless impressed.
I don't recall any bike-themed decor at the party. (Let's call it what it was!) But, apparently, there is something of a vogue for it at weddings today. If I were to attend (or--egad!--have) nupitals, here's something I'd like to see:
Hey, I could even get away with putting those wheels on my bikes! At least, the colors are right. And in a wedding, colors are everything. Right?
Would these folks have approved?
