Now how in the heck am I supposed to swing this???!!!!

[ReineV]

My sister is getting married November 25, 2006...that is the Saturday after Thanksgiving for those of you without the calendars out. Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday...it's kind of like my prelude to Christmas. I love my sister...I'm the maid of honor...I couldn't be more happy about this wedding...but per the brides request...we will be having Thanksgiving dinner at my dad's swanky neighborhood clubhouse...and instead of it being Thanksgiving dinner...it's her rehearsal dinner...it's like she's taking over the holiday! I'm so used to being able to walk around the kitchen in my pajamas helping mom cook while catching the highlights of the Macy's parade, she's killed that! The second issue is the fact that her bachelorette party (that I have to plan) will be taking place the evening of Black Friday...How do I make sure Thanksgiving is still a holiday for family and friends and not just apart of her "Week of the Queen Bride".

[sheepsnot]

Wow! I'm speechless. (Almost!) I guess the reason no one has responded so far is that this seems like a bad dream. You love your sister and want the best wedding possible, but you have years worth of good memories about Thanksgiving and the traditions associated with it, and now the two are interfering with each other. (I know I'm just restating the problem, but that's because I have no idea what to do.) I'd go full speed with the sister's wedding and just remember that this will be the only time it happens, Lord willing. Wear a turkey pin on your bridesmaid dress as a silent protest. 8)

[Ervserver]

Maybe you could record the parade and then have your own little Thanksgiving on another day. Won't be exactly the same but you could fix some of the good food, replay the parade, and do some of the things you would normally do for that special day.

[RadioJonD]

Connecting an engagement, wedding, etc. with a holiday is never a good idea. Neither is giving an engagement ring on Christmas or birthdays. These events should be an occasion unto themselves!

However, ReineV, your sister doesn't think so. I agree with the sheepster; go ahead and sacrifice this year hoping that this will be the only time. Tell your sister that when their anniversary rolls around each year, everybody is coming to their house for Thanksgiving! She might rethink it all then.

Think positive. One never knows what new Thanksgiving traditions may come from this!

[elfworks]

if i were you, what i would do is talk to mom and dad. i would tell them that you are behind all the wedding plans, however, thanksgiving is really important to you. if it is ok with them, youd like to take a saturday the following week or two and do thanksgiving. tape the parade and the games or whatever it is you normally watch on tday and then just have thanksgiving a week or so late. it is just a day appointed by the powers that be to celebrate a something. it isnt such a bad thing to do it on a different day. and it could actually be even groooooovier!!

xo

[ReineV]

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions, I think that this year, I'm just going to bite the bullet and let her have Thanksgiving, then do a post-Thanksgiving/pre-Christmas pot luck celebration with my friends once i get back down to school after Thanksgiving break. Maybe that Sunday after I come back to my apartment we can decorate the tree and eat the leftovers our families packed for us.

[Ervserver]

sounds like a plan..afterall the holidays aren't just whats on the table but whats in our hearts.

[sheepsnot]

I never expected that from you, Erv. Not that I didn't think you were deep, but saying it's not just what's on the table is scary. Hearts, schmarts, where's the food!?! 8)

[Ervserver]

Just after I typed that the Dominos delivery arrived and I feasted on pepperoni pizza and brownies. Dominos brownies are yucky btw

[ReineV]

Just after I typed that the Dominos delivery arrived and I feasted on pepperoni pizza and brownies. Dominos brownies are yucky btw

yea...when I first heard about the free brownies WITH dipping sauce I was all, "OMG YAY!"....but then I stopped and thought about it...

[Ervserver]

They aren't very good

[elfworks]

personally, i loathe dominos pizza. cant even fathom how crappy the brownies must be.


xo

[Ervserver]

Pizza Hut is my fav but I had to try the brownies...once

[sheepsnot]

It's a good thing we aren't paramedics since we get so easily sidetracked by food. Poor ReineV will have to wait until after we've eaten to get anymore advice.

[Ervserver]

Sounds like ReineV has a plan so its best to celebrate with a feast, it's tradition all the way back to the Romans

[mrshfromjersey]

It's hard to break with tradition, but since this will (hopefully) be a one time break from tradition, celebrate the wedding and then have a Thanksgiving 2. I like that idea...two Thanksgivings...mmmm

I felt this way the year that my Mom decided we would go "out" for Thankgsiving dinner. All I could think was...WHAT??? No leftover turkey to make sandwiches? No leftover gravy??? No leftover PIE???? Saddest Thanksgiving ever....

:family:

[sheepsnot]

That was last year for us. I was not a happy camper, but I don't do the cooking, so my vote is not as important. I do clean up, however.

[Ervserver]

you clean up or you clean up the mess?

[sheepsnot]

Whenever she cooks, I do dishes and clean up the stove, counters, etc. Removes a bit of the guilt from sitting there watching TV till it's ready. I've done it for years. Sinks need to be about 6" higher, though. My back aches after a good Thanksgiving dishwashing.

[Ervserver]

maybe a wash tub on wheels next to the Lazy Boy, then you can still watch the game and go easy on the back