by Kendall Blair

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Fairy-tale weddings are becoming fewer and far between these days. With television shows featuring destination weddings and all of the out-of-this-world celebrity weddings, brides seem to be giving up on the traditional wedding day. That said I want the fairy-tale wedding. Weddings are supposed to follow certain guidelines. If you decide to give up the fairy-tale, then why not head to Vegas? Not to say that theme weddings and destination weddings don't have their share of glitz and glamour, but it does suck the life out of the fact that the couple is making a lifelong commitment in front of God and man.

When there are all the distractions, sometimes the commitment ceremony is lost in all the sequence. I want the long white dress, the large overflowing bouquet of flowers, my hair twisted in a traditional up-do, the veil, and the traditional march played as I walk down the aisle. This is the way my mother was married, her mother, and so on. Once married away, the uniqueness almost drives away any reality. The wedding becomes a show, rather than an inclusive insight of your love for one another.

Having the wedding that was pictured from childhood is the final fairy-tale that my parents can provide for me. Fairy-tale weddings give everyone the excuse to get caught up in the meaning of marriage. The father-daughter dance, the three tiered wedding cake, all has been dreamed about since my parents brought me into this world. It is the combination of their dreams and mine. If I were to have a themed wedding, everyone might enjoy it, but it would not bring all involved the satisfaction of traditions being upheld. Where would you place the something old, something new, something borrowed, and something new?

I want the pastor, my church, and both sides of the new family divided between the pews. It is important to have all my friends and family there to witness my proclamation of love to my groom. Besides the fact that having everyone on board can strengthen the marriage, getting married away in a unique and exclusive ceremony might just tick some loved ones off! Getting started on the right foot with everyone's support is the way to go in my opinion. Marriage is hard enough as it is without the added stresses of the family feeling wronged.

With the divorce rate increasing these days, I believe that these destination weddings are part of the cause. People are too caught up with the elaborate uniqueness, rather than the marriage itself. Having my father give me away is a symbol of his affection for the groom, why give up that tradition? Bridesmaids and groomsmen serve a very important purpose. They are there with you and will continue to support you throughout your married life. These traditions are there for a reason. They shouldn't be tossed to the wind for the chance to go to Hawaii. Having a fairy-tale wedding is getting started on the right foot. Besides, who doesn't want their wedding day to be all about them instead of all about the scenery?

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