My post this week was going to be about our visit and tasting with the one and only Sylvia Weinstock. [Editor’s note: For those who aren’t as food-obsessed as our groomzilla, Sylvia Weinstock, nicknamed the “Queen of Cakes,” has designed cakes for Whitney Houston, Donald Trump, and many other celebrities.] I even promised I was going to write a whole post about her if she read my blog! With all due respect to Sylvia, however, something happened this weekend that is bumping her (although I do promise that she will be my next post).

So what happened? If you’ve been following this blog, I’m sure you’ve gotten the idea that we’re having a “big deal” wedding. Lots of family, lots of friends, lots of food, lots of fun—lots of everything. But in one of my first posts I talked about how crazy out of control I think the wedding industry is. That hasn’t changed, and in fact, after this weekend my judgment is even harsher.

So again—what happened this weekend? I went to a wedding. My very dear friends Peter and Sherri got married in Cincinnati, and it was amazing! They had a beautiful and uncomplicated ceremony surrounded by their friends and family. It was in a gorgeous park with one of their friends officiating. Instead of registering, they asked people to make a donation in their name to a favorite charity. They didn’t have all the fancy trappings of a “big deal” wedding, but they had the most important thing of all: love.

I’ve found that it’s very easy to get caught up in the minutiae of a wedding, especially when you’re lucky enough to have lots of choices. It’s easy to spend lots of time figuring out if you want flowers draped or cascading over the cake (Sorry, Sylvia—I love you, but in the very grand scheme of things . . .), but when put next to the magnitude of pledging your love to one person forever, it all sort of falls away.

So . . . we’re still having the big fancy wedding, I’m still a reluctant groomzilla, and Sylvia Weinstock is still doing our cake (yay!), but I hope I now have the right perspective on all of it.

Peter and Sherri: I wish you nothing but the best in your life together. I also want to thank you for the present of your wedding and the perspective it gave me. I can’t wait to see you guys in October.

Josh, Bridal Party’s guest-blogging groomzilla, writes every Wednesday about the groom’s perspective on wedding planning and everything that comes with it. To follow his story from the beginning, click here.

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