Cheers to enjoying 'the moment'

As I sit here typing this column, I am battling my second cold of the season. Last month, I was sick for a couple weeks, and I thought it was so strange that I got a cold so early in "cold season." I always get one cold a year, but never before December or January.

The only good part about the first cold, I thought at the time, was that I had gotten it out of the way early.

I could not have been more wrong. Sunday, I woke up to another head cold. Last time I was sick, I made the mistake of trying to push myself too hard, and that didn't work, because my cold lasted for about three weeks. This time around, I was determined to shake it faster, so I actually stayed home from work Monday. I managed to get a little bit of rest Monday morning, but Monday night, there was something very special on my agenda that no head cold was going to ruin ... but we'll get back to that ...

Now bear with me, because I'm going to change the subject a bit and ask all you women out there reading this column: What was the one thing you fantasized most about as a little girl?

Like all of you, I dreamed about the day I would get married. I would have a traditional wedding, with hundreds of people attending a Catholic ceremony that would be followed by an amazing reception. I'd have the best band, the most guests, and the best food. Everyone would have a blast.

When it actually came time for me to get married, circumstances dictated my wedding, and it was nothing like I imagined. Two years after I moved to Tennessee, Jack asked me to marry him. My parents, both in New York, were ironically going through a divorce when I got engaged. I felt like it would be insensitive to them to plan a big wedding in New York while their marriage was ending.

In addition, Jack's family is in Alabama, and we felt like it would be asking a lot for them to fly to New York for the wedding. Tennessee wasn't an option that we liked, either, for the same reason ... It would require a whole lot of money and effort for our friends and family to get here.

So, we simplified everything for everyone and went to Las Vegas. We had planned it ahead of time and had only a handful of our very closest friends and family members there to witness the ceremony. Following our wedding, held at Little Chapel of the Flowers, we flew via helicopter to the Grand Canyon, where we all enjoyed a picnic lunch. From there, Jack and I flew to Mexico for our honeymoon.

So, that brings me to Monday night ... the special item on my calendar that couldn't be missed, despite my pounding head and sore throat.

My dear friends, Tim and Stephanie, were getting married. They decided to have a small wedding, too, with maybe 10 or so of their closest friends and family members in attendance. The wedding, held at their home, was casual, warm and intimate. There was no stress involved, and everyone, including bride and groom, was able to enjoy the moment.

After all, it is "the moment" that weddings are all about ... not the seating arrangements, the band, the food, the shoes, the bridal party -- and all the other stresses -- that all too often overshadow the real meaning of a wedding, which is the celebration of two souls uniting as one.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having a big wedding (I'd be lying if I said from time to time I wonder if I should have had the wedding of my dreams); but all too often I see bridezillas getting caught up in the planning of the wedding, and losing sight of the purpose.

I have now been married for almost five years, and looking back, I believe there's a lot to say for a small wedding. I am glad we kept it simple.

So today, Sadie Says congratulations to my dear friends, Tim and Stephanie. Cheers ... to keeping it simple and enjoying the moment. May you enjoy a long and happy life together!

-- Sadie Fowler is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette. She can be reached at (931) 684-1200, ext. 214, or by e-mail at sfowler@t-g.com. This column is scheduled to print every Thursday.