It was 25 years ago today that I married the love of my life. I was born and raised in Windsor but we met while living in Toronto. We were off on a free, promotional trip to Vegas, hosted by the Sunbeam Corporation. My husband-to-be had won this trip for his sales excellence.
Photo: Trevor Booth Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel
Along with 30 others, we made our way to the desert and had a glorious, three day weekend. On the Saturday morning over a leisurely breakfast and before a trip to Hoover Dam, John astonished me, by asking if I wanted to get married that night! We had never discussed the “M” word, both of us having been wed before, so this was new territory for us.
Totally surprised, I said I’d give him an answer later in the day. We were all scheduled to dine at a high end restaurant, known only to the locals, and then proceed to a show in one of the hotels. It was going to be a late night- let alone time to slide in a wedding.
We arrived back into the city after six hours of sightseeing and John continued driving up and down the streets of Vegas. I asked what he was looking for and he said, “One of those chapels!” A tad annoyed, I said they were like hospitals- if you needed one you asked or look it up in the phone book!
Back at the hotel, I went directly to the casino, giggling quietly to myself. I knew I’d say a resounding “YES”, but still wanted to do some serious contemplation alone.
I returned to our lavish room to find the yellow pages open on the bed, turned to the category, Wedding Chapels. I asked if he had booked anything and he said no! Thinking ahead, I scanned the pages and found the “Little White Chapel” promoting that Joan Collins had been married there and picked up the phone.
I told the person who answered that we were going to be occupied all evening and was met with, “no problem” we will send our limousine around to the lobby at 1:30 am and to be ready with two witnesses.
Whisked away to the license bureau, we were surprised to see a lengthy line-up in the old bank-like building that was decorated with skeletons, pumpkins, ghosts and goblins for Halloween. It was surreal! Our turn came, we paid with American Express and were back in the limousine and whisked off the chapel.
Promptly at 2 am, in a quaint and cozy atmosphere, we were married by world-renowned, Charlotte Richards and sent on our married way. We called friends and family on the east coast at 4am and by early morning, we were back on an airplane heading home to Toronto.
Our best friends were marrying in 42 days and we didn’t want to steal their thunder because of all the planning that they had been doing, so we decided to keep our nuptials a secret until after their special day. I can assure you secrets can be kept under wraps!
Today we are marking yet another milestone and life together has been one marvelous adventure and there’s nothing that I would change. I might also add our good friends will be marking their 25th next month.
To everyone who is engaged or thinking about a future proposal, know that whether a wedding is big or small, elaborate or simple, it matters not. What is really important, is opening that newly-married chapter of your life and living each and every day together with the knowledge of knowing that you have started something that will take on a life of its own. Your happiness and destiny lies in picking the perfect mate and setting dreams and goals. The rest will take care of itself.
