Pride and Prejudice: A Country Wedding

"Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style; 

and still different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins . . .

'Dear Sir,

I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. 

He has more to give. 

Yours sincerely, etc.'"

~Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Chapter 60

A few weeks ago I was playing a trivia game with some women from my bookgroup.  One of the questions was, "How much money does the average wedding cost?"  Well, I knew what my barest-of-bones wedding cost, so I tripled that price tag in my head and came up with my answer: 

328 dollars.

Boy, was I off.  Apparently the average wedding costs $28,000 dollars to put on.  Ouch.

I've watched enough TLC shows and read enough bride magazines to know that there are people in this world who spend that and more on their wedding.  For example, Kate Middleton and Prince William's wedding cost around $34 million.  But that is only a drop in the bucket when compared to Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding that came in at $48 million (or $110 million when adjusted for inflation).  Jiminy Cricket, folks!  No wonder they were storybook weddings.  ANYONE could have a storybook wedding with that kind of pocketbook.

But I'm the kind of gal that likes a budget challenge---the kind where you have a $12 budget to pull off something magical.  I guess that is why I fell in love with the sweet little country-themed wedding reception that I attended this week.

The bride was a friend of our family and she married a "country boy", so they went "a courtin'" with the decor.  They booked a reception room next to a golf course to take advantage of the green surroundings and open vistas.

An adorable potted signpost pointed the way to the reception's events.

They decked the indoor tables with fresh sunflowers, monogrammed wood, and mason jars wrapped in burlap and lace that were filled with old-fashioned candy sticks.

The chairs around the tables looked adorable in these burlap bows.

Even the cake had rustic touches of burlap and sunflowers.

Outside guests were invited to enjoy the s'more station.  LOVE this idea!  The bride and groom provided little s'more kits and skewers and miniature fire pits made of wooden boxes, gravel, and sterno set on outdoor tables for marshmallow roasting.

Inside the reception, guests were served gourmet cookies and cups full of strawberries and cream.  

 
 Some of my favorite touches were the burlap banners that decked each of the treats.  Adorable.

The bridesmaids looked sweet as could be with their blue dresses, brown boots, and sunflower bouquets.

And even though there isn't a smidge of "country" in me, I couldn't help but melt when I saw the vignette over the fireplace at the reception.

This reception reminded me of two things: 1) How grateful I am that I gave birth to boys (a move that I hope will spare me the stress of planning and finance wedding receptions); 2) A charming reception doesn't have to cost $28,000.  It just takes a little creativity and the perfect couple to make a storybook wedding come true . . .

 

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Pride and Prejudice: Designed for Each Other

On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary. . . ."You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will be able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an unfortunate—but on this point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other." 

~Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Chapter 38

I don't know what it is about the color red, but "she" and I seemed to have been designed for each other.  (And yes, I believe all colors have genders, as do automobiles and kitchen gadgets.)  My wedding colors were black, white, and RED.  The first wall I ever painted was RED.  And when I take those color personality tests, I always come out as a RED.

 I love red on wallpaper.

 I love red on doors.

 I love red on cushions.

But I don't have NEARLY enough red in my yard. Each year I sprinkle my garden with the queen of colors, but only in small doses.  These are pictures of my yard from last summer.

Can you say restrained, timid, and BORING?

Well, this year is going to be different.  This is the year to "go big or go home."

I want to have sweeping beds of red like these in front of my house . . .

I want bursts of red throughout the greenery like these . . .

And I want my window boxes and porches to be as stunningly scarlet as these . . .

The only thing that could make my vibrant dream complete would be an entry like this.  Be still, my beating heart . . .

Dreaming in red is the easy part.  Now comes the hard work. 
 So if you'll excuse me, I need to head out to my garden to get planting . . .

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Pride and Prejudice: Purchasing Wedding Clothes

"Oh! my dear brother," replied Mrs. Bennet, "that is exactly what I could most wish for. And now do, when you get to town, find them out, wherever they may be; and if they are not married already, make them marry. And as for wedding clothes, do not let them wait for that, but tell Lydia she shall have as much money as she chooses to buy them, after they are married. And, above all, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting. Tell him what a dreadful state I am in, that I am frighted out of my wits—and have such tremblings, such flutterings, all over me—such spasms in my side and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that I can get no rest by night nor by day. And tell my dear Lydia not to give any directions about her clothes till she has seen me, for she does not know which are the best warehouses . . ."  

~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Chapter 47 

Maybe it is because I attended my niece's wedding last week, or maybe it is because spring is in the air, or maybe it is because I have watched WAY too many episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress," but it resulted in a revelation this week:  I am getting married again.  

Well, not really.

I am staying married to my darling man of 17 years and I'm keeping the ring, but I want a do-over of just about everything else---including the dress.  My poor husband, sisters, mother, and dentist have all heard the sad tale of how I looked about as stylish as a pair of tube socks on my wedding day in my satin sack.  

So instead of perpetuating the wedding-dress-gone-wrong-story for another 17 years, I've decided to write a new story---a story about a happily-married mother of five who decides to throw a small, elegant party for friends and family the way she should have done all those years ago.  There will be good food, twinkle lights, a string quartet, and a real photographer.  Oh, and she will be wearing the PERFECT dress.

But what should it look like?  I don't want a train or a veil since I will most likely be needing to chase my children and/or break up their wrestling matches during the event.  Besides, I've already worn those once and this isn't really a wedding.

But I DO want my dress to be reminiscent of these . . .

How could you go wrong with the elegance of Grace Kelly's gown or the flattering lines of Audrey Hepburn's tea length ensemble?  (You know what?  Forget the dresses.  I just want their waistlines.)

So with these inspirations in mind, here are some dresses that I've stumbled across and I'd love to have your input.  Which one would you vote for?

#1

#2

#3

#4

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#6

#7

#8

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#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

Who knows?  Maybe someday I'll actually be able to post a picture of me in one of these gowns---looking happy, looking redeemed, and looking nothing like the Amish Bridal Runway Model of 1996.

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Pride and Prejudice: A Local Pemberley

"Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter. . . . They gradually ascended for half-a-mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something"

~Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Chapter 43

I've often wondered what draws me most to Pemberley House (aside from Mr. Darcy, that is).  Is it the stone exterior?  The expensive furniture?  The glorious gardens?  The melodious pianoforte or historic portraits? 

Nope.

What I love most about Pemberley House is the housekeeper.  

Really, who wouldn't want a small-bodied, well-mannered, crazy-efficient woman who has nothing but good to say about you even though she spends her life cleaning up your messes and keeping the home fires burning when you are off on a hunting party or in London on business. 

I'm telling you.  Elizabeth Bennet had no idea what she was missing out on when she first refused Darcy's proposal.

When I saw this house on a home tour, it reminded me of a smallish Pemberley House with its handsome exterior, manicured gardens, and verdant setting.

I love the details on this house, from its scrolled iron work and rustic bricks, to its elegant lanterns and stone quoins.

My heart feels all melty inside when I see boxwood hedges . . .

especially when they frame white rose bushes.

I love any homeowner who uses a rustic brick wall as a backdrop for a vibrant flower bed.

And what garden is complete without the refreshing sound of trickling water?

The water feature in the back yard is even more impressive.  An actual river winds its way through the property.

It's hard not to fall in love with beautiful houses and grounds like Pemberley and this lovely house above.

But somewhere beneath all the initial "oohs" and "ahhs", there is a special place in my heart for the talented hands that keep it looking that way.

So if you are a housekeeper (or gardener), my hat is off to you.  

And now, I have two questions for you:

1.  What would the Pembereleys of the world be without you?

and

2.  Why can't you come to my house?

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