Fairy Tale Wedding destroyed by Katrina, put back together again

[Horse with no Name]

in Texas.
http://www.ssnewstelegram.com/news/2005/september/nt091105Cinderella.html

Sept. 11, 2005 -- “Something Old” was going to be her grandmother’s antique lace garter. “Something New” was her beautifully embroidered white strapless wedding gown with cathedral train and chapel-length veil, and “Something Borrowed” was yet to be determined for the Friday, Sept. 9, traditional wedding to be held at the Presidential Palace in the Crescent City.

But in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, all hopes and dreams for that fairy tale union ended for one New Orleans bride-to-be turned evacuee. And all that remained was a double portion of “Something Blue.”

That is, however, until 21-year-old Heather Good found herself a refugee among the people of Sulphur Springs -- who, of course, took care of everything.

“This community has created a Cinderella wedding for my daughter,” said an emotional Gary Good, Heather’s father, who flew in from Iraq to give his only daughter’s hand in marriage.

[lwin]

1. dimwits

"My heart was broken,” she said. “I cried for two days.”

Because she thought she couldn't have her dream wedding as planned? Her heart wasn't broken because...oh, I don't know...a city was destroyed and people were dead? And these dimwits in Texas that "created a Cinderella wedding" for this vapid family...they couldn't think of a better way to contribute to the victims of this disaster and administration? How about buying some baby formula or contributing money to help create temporary shelters?

[Horse with no Name]

3. I actually thought it was pretty nice

The people in this particular town have done quite a bit for the evacuees, so it's not just "this one". They have a pretty large shelter there as well--considering this is a fairly small town.
Alot of little girls grow up dreaming of their weddings, so what is wrong with her wanting what many women have had?
Her dreams are just as important as anyone else's. It's really kind of selfishly rotten of people looking at this like it's bad.
Geez...some people could never be happy for another human being unless they are suffering.

[SeattleGirl]

4. I'm with you Horse

I think the people of Sulpher Springs saw this as another way to help the victims of Katrina, and it sounds like they are doing plenty already. And while the bride was crying for two days, I think it was over more than just the ruination of her wedding. I think it was the disruption of "normal" life in the affected region. And, I did not read anywhere in the story where she was trying to get people to do these things for her.

When human beings are in shock, for reasons big and small, they react in all different kinds of ways. And yeah, the ruined original "dream wedding" may seem like small potatoes in light of everything that has happened in the Gulf Coast area (and yes, it is small potatoes), it affected this young woman, and since I am not in her shoes or the shoes of anyone else directly affected by Katrina and the slow response to helping them, I am not going to judge her.

I, too, thought it was a sweet story. Instead of seeing this as an act of selfishness on the bride's part, I see it as another example of the incredible way that others reach out to those in need, whatever the need. And I think the bride, groom, and their families got an upfront and close view of the amazing kindness and generosity of others. And the people of Sulpher Springs got to take part in something that is positive, along with the other positive things they are doing.

In the midst of incredible suffering, we want to -- need to -- see "happy" stories. They represent hope. They represent the continuation of life.

No, this is story is not the most important story in the whole Katrina saga, but it's one that makes me smile.

Flame or dispute me if you want, but what I wrote is how I feel.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I'm with you both

[SeattleGirl]

6. Thanks!

Part of why this story got to me is that I just finished doing bouquets and boutonnieres, and my husband is finishing a wedding cake, for a couple getting married tomorrow. The groom will be shipping out to Iraq in November. We wanted to do an extra special job for them, not because they are better than others, but because we wanted to help give them both good memories to carry them through their separation (and God, I hope he comes home safe!)

[Pepper32]

18. I agree with you.

I say congrats to all newly married couples affected by this tragedy.
I hope they find some sense of normalcy again. This is a start.

[lwin]

7. We must have our feel good white bride stories...

to offset the reality of people dying and lives being destroyed...:eyes:

[Horse with no Name]

8. ALrighty

So WHAT exactly did THIS girl do wrong that she should be punished so severely and not allowed happiness?
Why should SHE be made to suffer?
How did her having HER wedding affect one goddamned thing?
And why is it wrong to have a feel good story out of this whole goddamned mess?
You know I deplore racism, but what you are showing is reverse racism which is just as deplorable.

[SeattleGirl]

9. I'm wondering if you would have the same reaction

if the bride was African American, Native American, or another non-white race. Not stomping on you here, but just wondering.

To me, this story is just an example of something good that can come out of something so horrendous. I also like the stories of pets rescued, families reunited, etc.

[Pepper32]

13. Wedding bells in the Houston Astrodome -- African American couple

Another good news story...


<snip>
Rebecca Warren and Joseph Smothers planned to marry in New Orleans on Sept. 9. Those plans fell apart in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Warren and Smothers were separated by the storm, reunited in Houston, and determined not to be apart again.

Walked down cot-lined aisle
With the help of volunteers who learned of their failed plans, the new nuptials came together quickly.

A donated dress, a wedding cake from a nearby bakery and enough cameras to convince anyone the bride and groom were famous faces.

There was one in the crowd. Boxing champ Evander Holyfield was making an appearance, and offered to give away the bride. He walked her down an aisle surrounded on each side by cots.
<snip>
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9350336


Bride Rebecca Warren, left, is escorted by boxer Evander Holyfield


Bride Rebecca Warren, left, dances with her groom Joseph Smothers after they were married in a shelter for hurricane Katrina refugees in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005

[Horse with no Name]

14. Awesome!

What a great story! :applause:

[crispini]

16. How sweet!

Two weddings in this thread! Very nice. It's adorable.

[dorktv]

2. So this chick is marrying Prince William?

Did they find the pea in her bed?

[NorthernSpy]

10. reminds me of the MadTV sketch of the couple who married on 9/11...

Me, I hope I'd think twice before having it recorded for all eternity that amid all the death and destruction, my chief thought was for my prospects for a "fairytale wedding".

Ones moral awareness develops as one grows older. That's why I'm not sure that the memory of this "wonderful experience" will necessarily improve with age. We've all done things that seemed okay at the time, but that later made us cringe to think about. It's not a popular idea in our culture, but going for immediate self-fulfillment regardless of the circumstances often does not work out too well in the end.

[SeattleGirl]

11. I'm sorry, but why are people stomping on this woman?

I don't disagree with your point about moral awareness developing as we get older, but what if the story had been about a community that came together to give a baby shower for a woman who had been rendered homeless after Katrina? Would the "right thing" to do be to stomp on her and the generosity of a community if they had a community baby shower? Why does it have to be "either/or"??? Why can't it be "both/and"???

Again, this is a nice story in the midst of so many ugly, awful stories, and I just don't see why it has to be seen as negative. When my father died, nearly 30 years ago, my best friend told me she was pregnant with her first child. I was in extreme pain over my loss, but I was not without my capacity to feel joy at my friend's news. Was I wrong for feeling that way? I don't think so. In the midst of death, was a story of life. I am not sorry for feeling joy at my friend's news. And I'm not sorry for feeling happiness that this couple could have a moment of goodness in the midst of a nightmare.

[Horse with no Name]

12. Thank you!

I'm not a racist. Many here aren't racists. I'm beginning to think I need to apologize for being white.
However, I don't feel the need to assuage any guilt by bringing a happy story about a white woman.
This woman is a Marine. Her husband is a Marine. Her father is a Marine.
These aren't the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers. There are ordinary, everyday people who lost everything that they owned in this hurricane, just like many others--and one of those things she lost was a wedding she had probably dreamed about her entire life and had spent countless hours , days and months planning. If you have never planned a weddding, then you have no idea of how much work that is.
Her getting her wedding wasn't in lieu of people being fed, housed or clothed, it was IN ADDITION to.
I don't understand why her having a moment of happiness provided by strangers is a bad thing.
Good things are allowed to happen in this world in the midst of tragedy. It is what keeps people sane. However, some of the sentiment here is that she should have been in mourning for a year over the hurricane.
Life does go on. There isn't any reason for the ones alive not to live.
Nobody here blasted BOSSHOG when he posted about Mardi Gras.
Parties are okay but weddings are not?
Somehow I just lose the rationale in some of these arguments and I fear that some of the others do as well.

[NorthernSpy]

21. life goes on, and gawd forbid it should even pause...

... while the dead lie about unburied.

:eyes:

I'm not a racist. Many here aren't racists. I'm beginning to think I need to apologize for being white.

Poor you. However, you'll notice that I didn't mention anybody's ethnicity.

Life does go on. There isn't any reason for the ones alive not to live.
Nobody here blasted BOSSHOG when he posted about Mardi Gras.
Parties are okay but weddings are not?

Sure, sure, life goes on. Personally, I'd hold off on the partying at least until those lost to the catastrophe have a chance to get settled in their graves -- but hey! That's just me.


And Mardi Gras? That's not until the last day of February.

[NorthernSpy]

24. the point of a baby shower is to aid new parents

When my father died, nearly 30 years ago, my best friend told me she was pregnant with her first child. I was in extreme pain over my loss, but I was not without my capacity to feel joy at my friend's news. Was I wrong for feeling that way? I don't think so. In the midst of death, was a story of life. I am not sorry for feeling joy at my friend's news. And I'm not sorry for feeling happiness that this couple could have a moment of goodness in the midst of a nightmare.

Unlike a fairytale wedding, a pregnancy is just a fact of nature. And it's not people's feelings I object to.

I believe in the concept of the decent interval. Call me old fashioned.

[Sydnie]

15. This couple will carry true compassion and graditude for

community in the face of disaster for the whole of their lives now. Their families will also carry that knowledge with them. They will share their story and their experience and, I believe, pay it forward, just as the people of this community did for them. They will teach their children to always lend a helping hand and when all seems lost, how much you can do with so little if you support each other with hope and true empathy.

This is not the first "displaced bride" story and I hope it will not be the last. Making lemonade when life gives you lemons is not a bad way to start rebuilding, IMHO.

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom and to that wonderful, caring community.

[poppet]

17. Whose moral awareness?

Are people never allowed to have joy? Should people never marry? There is suffering and injustice going on in the world all the time - should we all just be paralyzed by it? I am assuming that both these couples suffered more directly than you did from the hurricane, and yet they can still have hope about their futures and can love another person. Would you rather they just be defeated and crushed by the experience? It is really out of place for you to question their moral awareness.

[NorthernSpy]

19. it's all about having a sense of propriety...

And if you haven't got one, then you won't understand the point I'm making.

[iamjoy]

20. In Jewish Tradition

One is not supposed to have simchahs (celebrations) during a time of mourning, which I believe for an immediate family member is one year following the death.

However, if the event was planned prior to the death, it should proceed because a smichah is always more important.

So, to these couples going ahead with their wedding plans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction I say L'Chaim! :toast:

[crispini]

23. What a wonderful sense of balance!

:toast:

[Lars39]

22. You don't know what kind of hell those people might have been thru

to make a life-affirming ceremony all the more precious.

[NorthernSpy]

25. folks are entitled to do what they please, and I'm entitled to dislike it

I don't think it's quite decent to have a lavish, public celebration so soon after a dreadful catastrophe. Which is why I would not do anything of the sort.

[Lars39]

26. Obviously.