May 23 will be a joyous day even though it lands on a Monday this year.
It will be the day after my youngest child graduates from high school.
It will also be the day after my youngest daughter is married.
How these two events came to be scheduled on the same day can be blamed (in part) on the story my husband, Bryan, and I have told our children countless times.
We selected our own marriage date as that none of our four kids will forget.
We were married on the Fourth of July, a Saturday afternoon, in 1987. (Some say we lost our independence on Independence Day.)
The rest of the story goes like this: I met Bryan on Mother’s Day weekend. He asked me to marry him on Father’s Day. He suggested we get married on the next holiday, which was July 4. I agreed.
Lyndsey and Dan wanted to get married on May 22 because it marked the third anniversary of their first date. I could understand the significance.
As it happens, May 22 was the same day school officials chose for the Class of 2016’s commencement exercises.
To some people, having a wedding and a graduation on the same day would be an insane idea. To us, having the events on the same day is a compromise.
Lyndsey originally wanted a destination wedding, to be married on a beach. When her choice of days became the same day as graduation, I made it quite clear there was no way I was missing her younger brother’s high school graduation.
That’s when the wedding destination moved from Florida to the family farm near Hardwick.
Instead of a graduation/wedding day, it’s becoming an entire weekend event.
It begins Friday evening with the groom’s dinner. Saturday is the graduation open house and Sunday afternoon is the graduation/wedding.
While planning two large events seems monumental, we have planned these events before. The only difference is that they have never been on the same day.
The nice thing is we will be doing a lot of things only once.
The one-time massive cleanup of the farm and the bulk ordering of napkins, plates and beverages has its advantages. It’s also convenient that items not used at one event can be used at the other.
With a little planning and foresight everything will be just fine. I keep telling myself that things will work themselves out and the outcome will be worth it in the end.
Adam will be a high school graduate and Lyndsey will be a happily married woman.
All on May 22.
At the time of this column’s publication, May 22 is three days away.
I admit my anxiety level is a little higher than normal.
So when I show up at school for the 2 p.m. graduation with my mother-of-the-bride dress on, don’t worry, I am at the correct event — the wedding doesn’t start until 4:30.