It’s taken me some time to write about my son’s wedding, mostly because I’ve been so emotional about the whole thing. It’s hard to put into words how it feels to watch your child commit themselves to marriage and to the start of their own family. It’s bittersweet for sure. I’m joyful for my son and his new wife. Joining with her family on that day and beyond is so wonderful. The day itself was perfect. It all went exactly to plan and the party was filled with celebration and dancing. Yet, as with so many aspects of parenting, I felt the loss of my baby as he fully enters his adult life.

The wedding ceremony was special, as it was officiated by a dear friend of both the bride and the groom. My son and his bride wrote their own vows that were equal part touching and funny. Having our two other children and the bride’s three brothers in the wedding party was also incredible. I cried starting first thing that day and was pretty consistent until the dancing started. My tears were all from the joy and emotion of the day. Watching my future daughter-in-law get ready with her bridesmaids and how both gracious and excited she was made me even more sure that my son chose just the right woman to spend his life with. Seeing her in her beautiful dress surrounded by her proud parents brought on the waterworks again. 

Yet what most moved me that day was my son. Watching him with his wife, his friends, family, and guests all day filled me with pride. When do they become so confident and mature? Do they do it despite their parents or somewhat because of us? How quickly the awkward teenager became a married young man, starting his adult life with his bride by his side. His father and I were beside ourselves that whole weekend, just gazing upon this boy we have loved from the second he came into our lives. I’ll even admit that my husband and I sang, “Sunrise, Sunset” the day before the wedding when we were home alone and marveling that our son was soon to be married.

This last year my husband and I have attended a few weddings of couples my son’s age. We have been so impressed with this generation entering into marriage with weddings as unique as they are. They are not bound by traditions that don’t serve them. One young man and his bride chose their bridal party not based on gender, but rather relationships. The groom had his sisters stand by him while he said his vows and the bride had a male cousin and friend by her. It was lovely. One other couple had a school pastor officiate at their wedding, bringing a unique and playful note to a beautiful day. 

Millennials and Generation Z are not bound by traditions that don’t serve them. They are entering into marriage with weddings as unique as they are. #weddings #traditions #marriage #generationz #millennials Click To Tweet

The weddings we’ve attended have combined religions, cultures, and old and new traditions. My son and his bride had a beautiful Chuppah (a Jewish wedding canopy) and they added 1,000 Japanese origami cranes to the Chuppah. It was breathtaking and the perfect combination of their two cultures. I truly could go on and on, but I want you dear readers to come back again! Thanks for indulging me and I promise to go back to my snarky and opinionated self again next week. 

Love,

Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC