Our good friends M and R got engaged recently and have quickly found themselves immersed in some big details. One of those details, of course, is picking a date in 2005.
One thing weighing heavily on their decision is September 11th, a day on which few pepole would want to celebrate something as joyous as a wedding. September 11th will be on a Saturday this year and on a Sunday in 2005. That means that for many people, the next two Septembers might as well only have three weekends. The New York Times examines this factor in an article today, noting that reservations for cake makers, hotels and other wedding-related services are down sharply during what is typically the second-most popular month for weddings.
I wouldn't want to share my wedding anniversary with September 11th and agree with M and R's decision to look for a different weekend. However, I wouldn't go so far as one of the people quoted in the Times piece, who describes the thought process of those who chose 9/11 anyway: "Some have the attitude, we go on, because if we don't, they've won - the terrorists." Man, if there's one thing I'm sick of it's people who say, "If we don't do X, then the terrorists have won." As in, "If we don't force people to wear heinous bridesmaids dresses and eat dry wedding cake, then we might as well just lay down at the feet of Al Qaeda."
I think Osama bin Laden and his pals are more concerned with U.S. policy and military action in the Middle East than whether or not regular people have their weddings on a Saturday in September. Although it is interesting to imagine such a scenario:
INT. CAVE - SOMEWHERE IN PAKISTAN - NIGHT
OSAMA: Are our plans set? We attack in ten days.
RECRUIT: Uh, boss, that's the same weekend as the Leibowitz wedding.
OSAMA: Really? But I did not get a save-the-date.
RECRUIT: They sent it out five months ago. Perhaps your mail was not forwarded from the old cave.
OSAMA: Infidels! Who's free next Thursday?
Outrageous, I know, but if you consider the wedding magazines that mysteriously showed up at our door within a month of us getting engaged, perhaps Modern Bride and Wedding Bells have better intelligence operatives than the CIA.
Posted by The Groom at August 10, 2004 12:09 PMI love this entry! We were thinking of a 9/11 wedding becuase we could probably get everything cheaper that weekend! But we decided on the 28th of August...
BTW, speaking of popular dates in history, we share the weekend of the anniversary of the March on Washington in 1963. Check today's article in the Washington Post.
Only two weeks left...congrats!
Posted by: Nicole at August 10, 2004 01:09 PMwhats the link?
Posted by: Sue at August 10, 2004 01:18 PMhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52868-2004Aug9.html
Posted by: Nicole at August 10, 2004 01:48 PMI have a friend whose two kids were both born on Sept. 11, including one born on THE 9/11 in Manhattan. (They were really worried about how distracted the doctors were.) I gather birthday parties are a bit awkward, so far.
Posted by: Gwen at August 10, 2004 02:29 PMMy sons' birthday is 9/8, and as the weekend before is usually Labor Day, we tend to have his party the weekend after. I am having his party on Sunday the 12th this year because I am not comfortable with having it on 9/11. Glad I am not the only one who thinks this way...
Posted by: Julie at August 10, 2004 02:33 PMsomeone very close to me shares his sobriety anniversary with the terrorist attacks. i always feel horrible when the date comes and everyone is so focused on mourning the tragedy (including me) but he wants to celebrate. i suppose one day the date will be as innocuous(?) as Pearl Harbor...maybe...
Posted by: jamie at August 10, 2004 02:59 PMdamn you are funny
Posted by: stu at August 10, 2004 11:48 PMMy fiance is worried about terrorism before our wedding at the end of september. all our guests are flying to florida and she's worried they won't be able to come. kinda think we'll have bigger things to worry about, but i guess i understand her fears.
Posted by: Bill at August 11, 2004 10:02 AMHilarious!
Posted by: Steve at August 12, 2004 03:51 PM