I have always thought it was nuts to let the groom plan the wedding on their own. Not that I don’t think they are capable but that is a super stressful situation. It’s like a test to see….do you know what I like or want? However, I think this is beyond nuts – letting a sports fanatic plan the wedding. I only pray he doesn’t have people throwing baseballs as they leave the ceremony.
Being careful to choose a day for the wedding that doesn’t conflict with the Red Sox game, it is clear that this may be a wedding nightmare. Joe and his groomsmen recognized that the venue the place they needed to start. As Cristin scouts out a local church, Joe focused on a local baseball field with hints of cracker jacks and a round of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Luckily he nixed the idea and headed towards a more classic idea…a clam bake! As he and his friend checked out venues, the focus seemed to be more on setting up arcade basketball games as opposed to dance space.
My fear was the dress but I really should have worried about ALL the details, starting with his idea for a ticket as the invitation…which would be covered in basketballs with bows not to mention a catchy theme poem. It won’t exactly scream elegance…or even whisper it, but at least he remembered them! When the boys sat down with the wedding dresses, it was first time he began to sweat. However it was the first real decision he made.
Over a couple of drinks Joe and his groomsman, Nick, made the final decision on a venue….a beautiful Lucianos’ at Lake Pearl. The only problem, Cristin didn’t want an outdoor wedding. But hey – at least she isn’t standing on a dusty pitcher’s mound. Check out this deleted scene from when he was looking for a place to hold the wedding.
Rolling with the punches, the tuxedos and bridesmaids game quickly. All in Boston Celtic color schemes, it was like a leprechaun wedding. Fortunately he kept the bridesmaids in the dark so they didn’t have all that “he did what” up until the wedding. That is one secret that would be hard to hold on. It is best they didn’t know.
The most clueless area…flowers. Looking to make flowers manly, Joe inquired about making the brides bouquet into the shape of a football and adding baseballs into the arrangements. I can’t believe the flower store didn’t shake him! However a 3-point shot was made on the actual invitation to his fiancée which was written on a basketball with a sharpie and delivered by Finz, the hockey mascot. It was actually sweet and a little nerve-wrecking. Suddenly it was clear that he was going to make this a sport’s theme wedding – not at all what she had hoped for. Cristin let us in our exactly what she was thinking, “I’m screwed!”
Two days before the wedding, the bachelor and bachelorette parties were in full swing. With limos, drinks and dancing, for once the groom spent more money on the bachelorette party than his own. How refreshing! The next day was all about the wedding dress. With tears of joy flowing, Cristin couldn’t have been happier with Joe’s choice. She looked amazing.
With some extra money burning a hole in his pockets, Joe headed to an event shop to see what novelty game he could incorporate into his wedding. With everything from oversized tricycles to boot camp obstacle courses to jousting, it wasn’t clear how big he was planning on going. Luckily he kept it to a basketball game.
With everyone geared up in their Celtic leprechaun attire, it actually turned out to be very elegant. Even Joe was crying. Cristin was overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude for all that Joe had done. It was a great way to start a marriage.