It certainly will not be a Temple wedding. :-)

She is a beautiful young woman who is marrying someone she has known for over 3 years. The marriage will be in a small non-denominational church in downtown Chattanooga on Saturday with a nice reception at a hall in a renovated part of downtown. My little jazz band (12 pc.) will play for an hour then there will be a DJ for a few hours at the reception. There will be loud laughter and plenty of beer and wine.

I was really touched this week as the majority of the people from the band said they would play for free as it was my daughter. I am still planning on paying them. The drummer, who just had a baby yesterday, said there is no way she is going to miss playing on Saturday. I mentioned this to my daughter and she started to cry. Another band member changed his schedule and is driving up from Alabama to play. He teaches music in Alabama and cancelled another gig he had for Saturday (2 months ago) to attend this event instead. A couple of the members offered on their own to arrive early to play some quiet background music for the guests as the arrive from the wedding to the reception. I did not have friends like that in Mormonism.

My mom, age 82, flew here yesterday. My son, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq and has spent 5 1/2 years in the Mid-East and Africa will arrive this afternoon. This will be the first time in years that my little family will be all together.

There will be nearly 200 people at the wedding. It has been stressful with all the details for my wife and daughter and her future in-laws helping, but will be a memorable event. I could not imagine facing the dreadfulness of a temple ceremony versus what will be a fun and joyous weekend.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2012 09:21AM by Eric K.

Mazal tov to your daughter. May you both know nothing but happiness and joy until 120 years.

What a wonderful story to read. Our congratulations to you and your whole family! I'm so glad it's a non-LDS event and that true friends are coming through for you in a big way. Happiness to all!!

I hope it's a magnificently joyous celebration for you all!

Absolutely wonderful!!

Oh the freedom!

It sounds like it will be a lovely affair! Congratulations to all of you!

It sounds great. Congratulations on all coming together.

Lots of loud laughter, beer and wine. That says it all. Congratulations to all!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2012 09:50AM by quinlansolo.

Have a wonderful mormon-free weekend :)

TG

Sounds like the way a marriage should be. Party on,,always be happy and loving,,,

Enjoy every second. A wonderful event with loving friends and family. this is exactly how it SHOULD be.

Congratulations! Have a fun, joyous day.

and NO ONE having to wait in a separate room while the happy couple are married.

Oh and the good music too!

I love happy stories! Congratulations!

you're quite the public servant.

Lovely, lovely, lovely!

So happy for all of you!!! Nobody waiting outside, everyone included and happy, happy, happy!!

Congratulations!!

Sounds hectic but exciting and well worth all of the work and stress of planning and preparing.

Jerry and I will toast you, your wife and the happy couple and send good wishes from afar.

wherein there is exclusion, unhappiness for the excluded, etc. Congrats for you and your daughter. Tell your son a big "thank you" for his service.

Congratulations. Best to you and your family.

My mom and dad gots 25 years today! I wish yer daughter that and then some!

Yer I-Luv-2-Cry-At-Weddings Pal,

Reggie, The StalkerDog™

Congratulations. A big milestone in our life, seeing our children pairing off with another...

Our children is one of the best reasons for leaving Mormonism behind.

Congratulations! It sounds like it will be a beautiful event. :)

Congratulations! It sounds like it will be a wonderful day of fun, frivolity and love! And no ugly baker's hats, aprons & crappy finger food on the basketball court at the ward house!

Congratulations! Nobody will miss the ceremony because they're not "worthy" to attend, plus the bride can wear a pretty veil instead of the ugly ones from the temple.

Congratulations to you and yours!!

You made a very important and insightful point there. Big things, small things, it's all the same in mormonism because they pressure you to do too much all the time. Every thing is urgent therefore nothing is important.

Weddings are family/community events.

Mormon weddings are MORMON events.

Eric, I'm so happy for you! May all the stress melt away as you celebrate your daughter's big day.

What you describe is what I had dreamed about for years for my 2 kids. But we never even got close, since they both decided on temple weddings. (grrrrrr)

Anyway, we've moved on, and I can at least be happy that some people are doing marriage right. :)

Eric,

First of all I'd like to say congrats to your daughter and her new husband-to-be :) Secondly it will be nice to have all your family together :) And lastly .... congrats to you the lucky father in a "normal" family :)


Now down to business, i.e. everything that matters for all the special people who are better than everyone else. Shouldn't they be having a bouncer there to make sure you have the proper badge? I mean this is your daughter's wedding so they need to make sure you worthily believe in all sorts of hocus pocus, that you give a bunch of money to some old men who don't tell the truth on their spending of it, that you wear funny underwear, and other stuff. If you're not doing this then shouldn't you be kept out and forced to wait outside? And most importantly of all, you're supposed to be super happy about this arrangement with the wedding hall and have spent your whole life preparing your daughter carefully to be happy about the arrangement too. In fact aren't you supposed to be spending every waking hour telling everyone you can how wonderful this wedding hall is ;)

Sounds wonderful! Enjoy the day with your family and friends!

I will send a little toast your way tonight!

Congratulations!! What a wonderful, exciting time this is for you! This will be not only the most memorable day of her life, but one of yours as well. So happy for you that your son will be home safe and sound and that your family will all be together again after so long a wait. How fantastic that your family is out of the cult and will experience a REAL wedding and that you will be there and not waiting in a side room somewhere. My nevermo husband walked our only daughter down a lovely outdoor aisle 2 months ago. ( He never thought it possible 10 years ago when she was president of her Young Womens class.) Thank you for that Erik!! Your site helped me leave and eventually helped our whole family of five.

Again, congratulations on your daughter's upcoming wedding this week end and also on gaining a new son! Please have the time of your life and enjoy it to the fullest!! Some of your happiest days lie ahead watching your daughter and son in law build a happy new life together. What great music there will be and celebrating!!! Your joy will overflow.

I wish you and your family the best!!

Big Hugs from this Mex Mom!

This is wonderful, Eric! Sounds like there'll be lots of joy and good cheer for everyone. Am happy for y'all and wish your daughter all the best in her marriage.

It will be wonderful. So happy for you and your daughter!

My daughter's secular wedding was one of the highlights of my life. You don't get a chance to throw a good party often.

Marshall

Congratulations! We drank a toast to your daughter tonight. I was fortunate to find my way out pretty young. Never wore garments!!!:) Married my nevermo hubby at age 25 after we had known each other for 5 years. We've been happily married for 14 years now. We wish you and your daughter a beautiful day. I was just recently introduced to your page. I really could have used this 20 years ago ... but I'm glad I found it now. Thank you and PROST!

Congrats Ekic there is no feeling like the moment you will be walking her down the isle, you will never forget it



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2012 05:02PM by Bal.

Live it, love it and enjoy it!

Eric I wish your daughter and her husband the greatest happiness! Just remember, because of you and exmormon.org, there are many more families that are together for their children's wedding ceremonies.

But I will make sure we all get a full report!

Congratulations. Wishes for happyness for the bride and groom, and let the good times roll!!

Congratulations!

;o)

All my best to you and your family, Eric. I hope that that all of you have a lovely day. Return and report, okay?

What a fine way to celebrate a wedding: good, supportive friends who wouldn't miss it for anything. Have a great time!

WooHoo,
Congrats to your daughter and the whole gaul dang FAMILY.
Getting hitched with the whole FAMILY the way it should be. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!

congratulations! I wish for you and your daughter's new family all the happiness in the world!

Thanks for setting an example of having a great life post Mormonism. Congratulations to your entire family.

Congrats, Erik.

Would you mind nailing that post to the temple door in Salt Lake?

Brides ought to know the kind of experience they should be having.

Just for contrast, you know the contrast is in the details.

Anagrammy

Downtown Chatt. is great...beautiful walk accross the Walnut Street bridge too!! Ahh man the memories of Chatt. are great! good luck to your daughter!! :)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2012 09:08PM by bignevermo.

Eric, it sounds wonderful. So happy you can all be together. Thank your son for his service. Your daugher will remember this day and the happy family forever. All the best.You have great friends who want to treasure this day too. May the loud laughter begin. Have fun.