There is such a thing as a Nuptial Mass. I've been to one or two. My daughter-in-law's family, on the maternal side, is of Polish descent, and there were a few nerves about whether "the Poles" would be offended because this was not only not a nuptial mass, it wasn't even in a church! However, they all seemed quite amiable. The bride even made a short speech in Polish, translated by her little sister. My son said that this was the 21st century, and if he had to make a speech, so should she

Tinners, you can't imagine how much help you will be to your mother. My elder son "held my hand", and without him I would have felt very lonely indeed, I think. 

Just  seen this awful joke in another messageboard, www.themouthpiece.com.

Knock knock....
Who's there?
Steve Reich
Steve Reich who?
Steve Reich
Steve Reich who?
Steve Reich
Steve Reich who?
Steve Reich
Steve Reich who?
Steve Reich

 
Ad infinitum.................

That's what I was afraid of.  CDs in large gatherings sound so tinny.  I gather town halls have a standard sound system for use before weddings.  We were offered one at our (intimate) civil partnership, and said no.

If anyone had the chance of you, playing, eru, they would be insane to turn it down.

Weddings are the liturgical event you lot probably have more experience of than I.  One of my partner's nieces (the one who is a vicar) got married and she gave the speech at the reception.  Her job involves giving sermons, her personable husband's job involves fixing IT programmes.  So he said nothing but looked decorative.

A very good friend who was a (male) vicar got married a long time ago to a woman who was a widow.  They both walked up the aisle for the Anglican nuptial mass in black dresses.  They like black.  This avoided any giving away.

Partner's niece wore full white rig with veil.

PS Mary - in the offical RC wedding, the couple are meant to enter together, as my friend above did.

Really? Oops! 

Brides speaking at the reception is becoming much more common in my experience (and yay to it too) - most of the time it's a case of "I'm damned if I'm going to let all these men speak for me" 


Me too. Not surprised unfortunately, but sad that this was still the case.

What, like "What's brown and sticky?"  That made me laugh a lot the first time I heard it.  Just the first, though. 

[A stick, btw]

I'm hopeless at remembering jokes on demand but I did like this, which dropped into my inbox a little while ago:

A couple go on vacation to a fishing resort in northern Minnesota. The
husband likes to fish at the crack of dawn. The wife likes to read.

One morning the husband returns after several hours of  fishing and
decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife
decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors,
and continues to read her book.

Along comes a law enforcement officer in his boat. He pulls up
alongside the woman and  says, "Good morning Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book" she replies (thinking "isn't it obvious?")

"You're in a restricted fishing area" he informs her.

"I'm sorry officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the  equipment. I'll have to take you in and write
you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault" says the
woman.

"But I haven't even touched you" says the officer."

"That's true, but you have all the equipment."

"Have a nice day" says the Officer, leaving.

A site that never fails to make me laugh is this, if you've got a spare hour or 5: http://www.engrish.com/

Great to hear good things about the wedding, Mary. Thanks for sharing that  xxx Jan