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It Must Be The Heat
August 09, 2005

People are just acting crazier and crazier all the time.


I don't know if it's the heat or if there's finally been a collective stopping of the medications, but something is just not right.


We had a Trick on Saturday and I am happy to report it was issue free. It was a fabulous affair at a seaside locale with everyone on their best behavior.

Well, except for The Mother of The Groom, or as we like to call them - MOG. I've run into this wierd dynamic of MOGs, lately, and it seems to be a trend for everyone in the business. MOGs have a hard time of letting their "baby" run off and get married and they do things that I find just odd and creepy. Loving your child is one things, being IN love with your child is an episode fit for Jerry Springer.

This particular MOG insisted two days alone with her son so they could have one "last trip as mother and son..." Which, technically I guess there's no harm in that. But let's cut the cord, already. Suck it up, embrace the idea that you're going to gain a daughter, and move on. This trend of MOGs weeping openly during the ceremony and practically dragging the ankles of The Groom has got to stop.

So anyway, as I said, our job was nice and smooth. We got to deal with The Bride's Family and they were fabulous.

But The Florist had another issue, all together.

The centerpieces were being assembled on each guest table when the MOG came through and scoffed at what was being done. They "weren't grand enough - they needed to make more of a statement." Now, I was there. These centerpieces were stunning. The Bride's family had a budget of $15,000 for flowers and the MOG found that to be insulting.

Insulting? I happen to think spending that much on flowers for ONE DAY is the insulting part. But what do I know. I'm just a kitchen sloth.


Anyway, so The MOG pulled aside the florist and wrote out a check for $5,000 on the spot and demanded they get more flowers and make the centerpieces "fit for a king!". And I can only assume that the "King" in this case was her son.

Blech.


The Florist was a bit stunned and was in a really wierd spot. On the one hand, you don't just scoff at a $5000 check. But on the other hand, do you go behind your client's back to supplement what they did? The bigger issue here, however, was having the ability to get that amount of flowers delivered and placed on site.

The MOG demanded some sort of reply and seeing the potential for a scene, The Florist looked in my direction. I gave the universal "Surrender to the Idiots" signal by raising my hands, shrugging my shoulders and shaking my head.

There were a few frantic phone calls made to the floral supplier and it just so happened there was a truck in the area. So with some lucky timing and an extra floral designer called on site, the centerpieces went from gorgeous to really - way over the top.

But the MOG was thrilled.


And I was more convinced that my hope for all of man kind is tanking for a reason.

Posted by Foodwhore at August 9, 2005 11:11 AM

I simply love how you lay things on the line. The recipes are great, too.

Posted by: Cynthia at August 9, 2005 04:59 PM

I'm speechless... the bride's family spent more on flowers than some people do on weddings and the MOG wasn't happy with that?

And sigh - wouldn't it be nice to have a spare $5000. in your back pocket to throw at something on the spot?

(I'm not even going to touch on the Mommy and Me trip except to pity the poor bride. Those apron strings can be a bitch to sever when they're made of iron)

Posted by: Alida at August 10, 2005 12:20 AM

My son is being married in four weeks. My philosophy is "Wear beige (or, in my case, pink), keep your wallet open and your mouth shut." Oh, and try to get along with the ex-husband for the day. (That's the hard part.)

Posted by: Annie at August 10, 2005 07:16 AM

I am offended at spending $15,000 on flowers for one day.

That is ridiculous.

And then, that isn't enough?

People are absurd.

Posted by: Barbara at August 10, 2005 08:10 AM

And how pretentious of her to just think she can "fix" things by writing a check and expecting everyone else to jump at her request. Let's get a reality check people.

Posted by: Kim at August 10, 2005 08:27 AM

MOG obviously believes that money DOES buy happiness. Sad.

Posted by: HomefrontSix at August 10, 2005 04:30 PM

15K for flowers!! Some people don't even earn $15K in a year.

Posted by: Valerie at August 11, 2005 06:20 AM

I don't think we spent $5000 on my entire wedding in '94 including the dress, the rings, and my husband's Charlie (to go with his kilt) ($500, and he's been told it's his dress suit for life). It was an early January wedding so we just used the christmas greenery that the church still had up with a few pieces for the ends of the pews, and the centerpieces were those little table lamps that the reception site (the petty officers' club in Norfolk) already had, with some greenery and baby's breath around them. They were very pretty, very simple, and hey, these people were here to have a party with us - I wanted them to remember a fun time, not merely how "pretty" the site was. It was a good reception, with plenty of good food, and a good DJ for dancing. What else do you need?

Posted by: LibraryGryffon at August 11, 2005 07:01 AM

You could write a book on how not to behave at your child's wedding.

How offensive for the bride's parents.

Posted by: Mindy at August 11, 2005 09:57 PM
 
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