I’m looking for suggestions from the good and wise Dopers to help me make my friend smile on her wedding day.
Short version of a long story - one of my best friends is getting married in Barbados on April 16th. (We’re both based in the UK). I was all set to go, flights booked and everything paid for, when I found that I was pregnant. My husband and I lost a baby last year, early in the pregnancy, so I’m majorly paranoid about doing anything I don’t have to, which definitely includes a long haul flight. My friend is absolutely fine with my not going, she’s very happy for me and understands my concerns.
However, I do want to send something to the wedding venue itself to remind her that I’m thinking of her and I wish I could be there. I thought of a telegram, but the international ones I can send seem quite dull, plus they can’t be delivered at a weekend, so I’d have to rely on the venue holding onto the telegram for a couple of days. I may go with this as the fallback option, because I like the fact that it’s very traditional, but has anyone got any better or more inspired ideas?
(wasn’t sure if this should be IMHO or MPSIMS, so I pretty much flipped a coin - sorry mods if the fates chose incorrectly )
I didn’t know that they even HAD telegrams in this modern day and age!!
How about you contact one of the Interflora Florists to deliver a dozen helium balloons with big CONGRATULATIONS FROM CHARLEY signs…if they get bored with the message, they can always have a session of helium-sucking to really liven up the party later.
If you know where the happy couple will be staying, call the hotel and ask to speak to the concierge service (or if they don’t have one, ask for guest relations or something similar)
Tell the nice people briefly what the situation is, and that you’d like to arrange something special for your friend on the wedding day, give them a rough idea of what you’re willing to spend.
There’s any number of things they can arrange for you… from balloons and or flowers (of a specific type if there’s something that would be extra special)… to a special tray of tasty treats, to her favorite candy bar with a note from you on it. Or if she will be getting ready of the wedding in a special “bride’s room” they may be able to arrange a phone with a speaker, and help arrange a surprise call from you so that you can talk to her while she gets ready.
Most concierge services are very good at what they do, and this is the kind of stuff they find fun… it’s likely that they will be able to help you find something that works just perfectly for you and your friend.
If the happy couple will be staying with family, then I’d suggest calling the wedding venue itself… if they do a lot of weddings, they probably have “detail people” who can help with similar arrangements
(I’ve done this type of thing a number of times when various loved ones were traveling on important occassions. I’ve never had any problems, and the staff have always been quite eager to help.)
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