Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

The post about the no-shows was getting too depressing to read, so rather than dwell on those who couldn't be bothered - who really thrilled you by making extraordinary effort?

First, I have to mention that our priest made a point of commenting on how full the church was and how wonderful that so many had made such an effort to travel from a distance. We had so many friends and family come from all across the US.

Now, the awards for the best effort have to be shared by:

My cousin and his girlfriend who traveled from Barrow, Alaska - that's the northern most point in the US - way up near the Arctic.

My Aunt, who came from Florida, despite the fact that my Uncle (her ex) would be there with his current wife - still a source of pain for my Aunt.

My best friend from childhood, who came from Maryland with her husband. We had just recently gotten in touch after a few years hiatus.

Hubby's young, distant cousin (3 times removed) - She went to a great deal of trouble to make arrangements to be at our wedding and drove from Albany, and back in the same day - just because she really wanted to be there.

One of hubby's relatives who we later found out had lost her 30 yr old granddaughter in a firey car crash just days before, yet kept it a secret from us and still came to celebrate our day.

And special honors to my MOH who has Multiple Sclerosis and lives all the way across the country in California - she was the best!!!! She was so worried about doing the shower right (her first) that she went and bought 'A Dummies Guide to Being a Bridesmaid' She was determined that her health problems would not deter her in walking down the aisle without her cane or brace (her idea - not mine - and she did it!) and she even found that she could dance with the BM as long as it was slow and she could lean on him. Since so many MOH and BM get bashed, I thought my wonderful MOH should be recognized.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

Our furthest travelled award goes to Al's college friend who flew in from Ireland. One of Al's aunts was planning on attending from Italy, but she broke her hip and was in the hospital.

I was amazed at how many of our California friends flew to NY for the wedding.

An old (quite old, I think he's 75? 80?) family friend (who's widowed) flew up from Florida and was escorted by his niece (he has difficulty walking long distances, so she helps). We were shocked and thrilled he came. I got to spend some time with him at the cocktail hour and he was talking about how my parents wedding was the best he ever went to (until now). It was so sweet.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

Mine was my cousin who came from Florida

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

My grandmother (75 years old, mom's mother) who came all the way from India. It was so special to me because my mother has passed away 6 months before our wedding. It's a really long flight and she's diabetic, so I know it was a lot for her. She knew how much it meant to me too and there's a bond between us now that is greater than before my mother died.

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My nana, who is not well, and the children in my class and their families, who took off from camp and work to come to the ceremony only.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

We had several relatives that had to travel from all over the country (California, Colorado, Florida, etc.) But the one the really touched me was my friend that shortened her vacation to come to the wedding:) She said she wouldn't have missed our wedding for anything.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

1st place would go to my fathers cousin who came from Shrewsbury, MA even though she was just weeks into being treated for a brain tumor which she kept a secret until after the wedding. All the while smiling and laughing with us, and telling us how thrilled she was to be there to share our beautiful wedding.

2nd is a tie for distance going to DH's mom's cousins each traveling alone from Ohio and New Hampshire just to share our day.

3rd would be an entire table. This table consisted of a disgruntled bridemaids entire family. She was upset about not being chosen MOH and refused to be a BM or even attend the wedding. Her entire family came anyway, I'm talking Mother, Grandmother, sister, brother (also GM) an uncle, and 2 uncles w/their wives. This could have been a hard decision for them but they chose to come.

and of course.... Special Mention to ...
Everyone single person who made the effort to come and enjoyed themselves - whether they came from around the corner or out of state.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

Mom's cousins came in from South Carolina!
Great aunt & uncle from florida!
Cousins from Albany area!
Friends were supposed to travel from Vegas but for financial reasons were unable to make att he last minute.
And my boss & his girlfriend took a day away from their vacation on Fire Island to be there!!

And the person I think that made great effort is my dads cousin. She lost her husband (only 42) to cancer in February yet partied her a** off at our wedding in July & really celebrated with us!!
Her first wedding since it had happened, so out of respect I avoided playing a song we both would have loved (Have I told you lately that I love you) because that is their wedding song. No reason to upset her!

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

I would have to say the aid that took my grandmother. She past away 6 months after my wedding of Alzheimer's disease. She was in her late stages, and did not remember being at the wedding, or most of the relatives that she is close to. The nurse's aid that took her voluntarily took her to my wedding. They did a great job, they did her hair, nails, and make-up. I was so happy she made it, and couldnt thank her enough. My dad gave her a GREAT tip!!!!!!

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Oh Diane, that is so touching! I'm so glad that she could be there!

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

wow! this is a great thread....it soooo wasy to list the disappointing family memebers- my side- who didnt come- over 30 of them!!

So here goes-
robs great Aunts- 2 of them flew in from Rochester- 80 yrs and 90 yrs old

My brothers Godmother and her mom- up from fla- hadnt seen them in a LOOONG time

Friend Rosa- Flew in from FLa. Sad to say we dont really talk anymore...one of those relationships that is VERY one-sided...I got tired of being the giving/accomodating one

My cousin Paul- G-d bless him- The ONLY cousin that came...and flew in from California! ( I only had 6 family members attend)

Our friends Joel/Christina- originally from bklyn...DROVE in w/ their 2 boys from Denver

Robs aunts and uncles- in from PA, TX, Rochester and FL

Thank you for this thread....

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

The guest that I was most thankful that made it to my wedding was my grandma. She was very very sick in the months before my wedding. I jept telling her that she did not have to feel pressured to come. I said I rather her rest and I have a heathly grandma than her there that day. She lost a lot of weight (and she is barely 90 lbs to begin with) and was very week but she got dressed up and acted all strong and looked beautiful. I am grateful to have her at my wedding and in my life!

Some of DH's father's family came in from California and Lancaster, PA. A month before the wedding, my DH's grandmother died. She had been so looking forward and bragging to all her family about our wedding. These people all made it my wedding. It meant so much to his father..otherwise he would not have had any family members at the wedding if they did not come.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

This one is too easy to think about...

My cousins from Nevada! I haven't seen them for over 15 years and they flew out just for my wedding! What makes this even nicer is that my cousin Donna has 2 young children at home and is expecting her 3rd any moment! She left the 2 younger ones home with her husband and flew in by herself. My cousin Ronnie (he hates being called that, but I used to call him tht when he was younger) is suffering from a painful disease and needs a cane to walk (he's only 24!). They don't know what's wrong with him yet and he goes for many tests each week- in and out of hospitals! My aunt and uncle also came if from Nevada....(my cousins parents). Their house burnt down due to an electrical problem only a few months before my wedding. They have been bouncing back and forth between their children's homes until the insurance co. pays up and they can rebuild. They had lost everything!

And the amazing part of all of this is that none of them have money- they struggle just to get by each week with bills and groceries. We offered to help them out with their tickets and a place to stay and they refused! They also only stayed for a day (came in on Sat. night and flew out again after our wedding on Sunday).

Aren't they lovely and thoughtful people! I want to cry! They made me feel really special!

Kelly

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

This is a wonderful thread because we have so much to be thankfuk for.

-two aunts who came from Guyana
-two aunts and a counsin that come from England
-uncle and wife that came from Canada

I was really happy to celebrate my day with them.

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

I would have to say it was my FIL. He lives in El Salvador, the $$ is tough at home, the plane tickets were expensive, but he knew how important it was for him to be there with the rest of the family that he went everyday for a month to the Visa office to get his traveling papers. He was allowed to stay in the US for 6 months, which he did and that was the best present my husband could have received

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

Mine had to be my niece. She is only 9 years younger than me, and we have always been very close. She is married and her husband is in the army and they got stationed in Germany 2 months before the wedding. Her husband could not come due to all the things going on and not being able to get leave, so she came by herself with her two daughters (3 1/2 and 8 months). They are great kids, but God bless her. What a trip to make all alone with 2 kids. Poor thing flew in 12/11 when we had that nasty rain storm and had instead of 45mins, a 5 hour lay over in Philadelphia. What a trooper.

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We were married 9/14/01 so travel was difficult to say the least. The person who made the greatest effort to get back to NY and my wedding is my friend Lisa. She and her Husband were on a diveing trip and were supposed to be back 9/12. They had to take a bus and then hitch ride over the Mexican boarder, then they took a number of connecting flights cross country to get back to Newark. He is a NYC Firefighter and she is a United Flight Attendant they would have never made it if that were not the case. Tom understandably, went right to work but Lisa came to our wedding.

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What a great idea this post is!

We had so many people travel to be at our wedding. I was touched so many friends from work drove from Buffalo to be there, including my boss. Another friend of ours just separated from his wife, and drove from Buffalo by himself to be at our wedding.

I think the best was my DH's basketball coach from HS and his family drove to NY from West Virginia to be at the wedding. DH was so happy he could be there!

Weddings really do show you how much people care

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I guess I was really happy for all my family that came from Jamaica and Canada. Hubby's sister came from New Orleans and his brother came up from Trinidad and Tobago. Everyone who could not make it sent their love, cards and gifts. It was great having everyone there. My uncle who sings in a band, performed Louis Armstrong what a wonderful world as a total surprise to us....it was very nice.

We were happy for everyone that came, from near and far, b/c w/o them we would not have had as good a time as we did. What is a party w/o people?

Re: Who put the most effort into being at your wedding?

What a great thread.

Most of our guests had to travel to be at our wedding. I was born in NY and still have some family there but I pretty much grew up in PA so that is where most of my friends had to travel from. DH's family all lives on Nantucket so they all had to come from there. Even DH and myself had to travel from FL.

But one my friends who is a single mom struggling with $$ was able to make the trip all the way from FL to be in our wedding. DH and I had offered to help her out with her airfare and hotel but she refused. I know how hard it must have been for her to make the trip but she did it for us. What a sweetie.

And probably the best one was DH's grandmother. She is a very stubborn German woman who is in her 80's. She has never been off of Nantucket island since she came here from Germany. She made the 5 hour trip (with 2 ferry rides) just to be with us on our wedding day.