Traditional weddings in Northern Nevada
by Jennifer Dean, Contributing writer
Northern Nevada is universally known for its famous wedding chapels which provide couples with quick and inexpensive ways to join together in matrimony, but many overlook the hundreds of traditional weddings that take place in Reno each year.
Away from North Virginia Street and away from its promise of quick weddings and even quicker divorces lies a community that offers all the makings for a traditional wedding.
Traditional weddings require countless hours of planning and coordinating as couples prepare to join their lives together in front of friends and family. One Reno couple in the midst of these preparations understands the demands required when planning a wedding.
Former University of Nevada student body president Doug Flowers, and his fiance Christine Grabber have chosen to pledge their lifelong commitment to one another in a traditional wedding held at St. Luke's Lutheran Church on May 30, 1998. As the wedding draws near and the final preparations fall into place Grabber has a lot on her mind.
"A traditional wedding is a lot of work, but it is what I have always wanted," said Grabber. "I have never even thought about a wedding chapel."
But Grabber has thought of everything else. As is common with most traditional weddings, Grabber has been in charge most of the preparations.
"The first step was to find a church we both agreed on," said Grabber. "After that we had to coordinate dates and times with the reception hall, the caterer and everyone else involved with the wedding. It has required a lot of phone calls."
Traditional weddings not only require a lot more time and energy than chapel weddings, but they also require a lot more money. "It all adds up," Grabber said. "I can't believe I am spending so much money."
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Florist $1,000 Total $23,765 |
But for Grabber, the money has been well spent. Her wedding, averaging about $20,000, may be a little higher than most, but not by much. Traditional weddings can range anywhere from the same cost as a chapel to well over $50,000. It really depends who is getting married and what their plans require.
As hard and as expensive as the process has been, Flowers and Grabber have managed to coordinate every event pertaining to their wedding. The dress is paid for, the nine bridesmaids have been chosen and the 250 guests have been notified. Even the menu for the reception has been planned.
This entire process has taken Flowers and Grabber five months to plan and coordinate. After seeking permission from her father, Flowers proposed to Grabber in November of 1997 after dating her for two years. Since then the two have been consumed with thoughts of wedding details.
Although Grabber is remaining fairly true to tradition, she has made one slight change. Instead of an organ playing the traditional wedding march, Grabber and her party will be serenaded by the sounds of a musical quartet containing two violins, one viola, and one cello. The company String Beings, headed by lead violinist Van Vinikow will provide the music for the actual wedding ceremony, and for the first hour of the reception.
"Organs are good for baseball games, and maybe for funerals, but not for weddings," Vinikow said. "The music of a quartet will be eight times more beautiful for Christine's wedding."
After the ceremony the couple and their guests will head to the reception at Lightning W. Ranch, a beautiful golf course that overlooks the Sierras and is located about 20 miles from Reno in Washoe Valley. Catering Director and employee of Lightning W. Ranch, Debbie Martin, has been helping Grabber plan the reception and has covered details such as the cake, the food, and the alcohol.
"This is a very large wedding," Martin said. "We typically deal with wedding parties of about 100 to 150 guests. The Flowers-Grabber wedding will utilize all three rooms of the clubhouse which is very unusual, but are excited and will be prepared."
Nothing finishes off a traditional wedding better than a honeymoon to Maui, Hawaii. Before the fall semester start, and Flowers begins his long career as a law school student in Texas, the two will spend some time unwinding from the pressures of their wedding.
Once the honeymoon is over and the stress of the wedding preparations fade, the two will begin their lives together, bound by the promises they made during their wedding.
Many other traditional weddings take place in Northern Nevada each year, but most are overshadowed by the neon glitz of the downtown wedding chapels. Traditional weddings may require a lot more planning, time and money, but many people living in Nevada still opt to partake in the age old customs of planning and creating the memories that will be with them for a lifetime.
copyright May 1998 Nevada Outpost
http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost
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