Looking Forward To Spring’s Activities
I usually enjoy the first weeks of January as it’s a nice quiet time after all the frenzy of the Holiday season. But after another 4 - 6 weeks have passed, I find I’m tired of winter and can only look forward to Spring. It shouldn’t be too much longer before I am finally able to see the buds swell on the trees and the birds come back.
When Spring finally arrives with all it’s glory, we all have an innate human desire to get outdoors. We also love to celebrate - really just about anything. Two traditional hallmark occasions of Spring are graduations and weddings.
Ideas for graduation parties include keeping it simple. Often a simple barbeque will do with a small tent that you can buy or rent. Hot dogs, hamburgers, pop and beer are enough to keep just about everyone happy. Throw in a cake and you are set.
My daughter is getting married this Spring and goodness I’m overwhelmed at how much work is involved getting all the details sorted. We’ve gotten lucky on getting the photographer and caterer that we wanted. I think she’s found a dress. And we are just getting started.
Weddings can sometimes be simpler without losing any elegance. Instead of a pricy room to rent you could, just as you do with a graduation party, have the reception in your backyard with a large tent. If you have sufficient electrical outlets on the outside of your home, you can rent a portable dance floor and DJ to provide music.
I was so excited when the kids wanted to have an outdoor wedding reception at our home. We have plenty of room both inside and out so I’m not worried about some unplanned rain or even wind. We’ll have the affair in the late morning before the afternoon heat gets to be too much.
Because outdoor weddings are a bit less formal, the groom and groomsmen can often look quite nice in suits and avoid the rental of tuxedos. I’ve even seen a wedding where the groomsmen just wore matching shirts and ties with some very nice slacks and skipped the suit jacket and it was still a very lovely occasion.
Because the wedding will be outside, we’ve arranged to have a manned table set up for the gift giving. That way we don’t have to worry about someone who was not invited showing up just to help themselves to the gifts.
When the Springtime events start up this year I may be tempted to complain about being too busy. But all I need to do to snap out of it is to look back at the last days of winter and then look outdoors at all the vibrant colors of Spring. I know that’s all I need to feel joy.