Scooter at wedding - first snag

[Minouri]

Hit the first snag in the Scooter/wedding plan. I know.....I have to be flexible. I mean, if it rains he's not in the wedding anyway.

I talked to Arrowhead Acres today and she said that YES he could come, but he couldn't walk me down the aisle. Too dangerous. Said the area was too cramped. I can't blame her. Liability.....

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/gaz.jpg

So we brainstormed.....Scooter could give me away at the top of the aisle....or he could come in one of the sides with me. Maybe we could rope off the front two seats to allow for it to be safer.

I could rope off an area outside where he could walk me through people (maybe) she didn't ok that one.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/latest003.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/latest004.jpg

Tony could walk down the aisle with me.

The symbolism and pictres are more important to me than the view everyone gets.

We talked about chaning location but she's booked.

What do you think?

[Barbwire]

Why don't you just RIDE him down the aisle and do a flying dismount when you get to Tony?

[pasofantasy]

The people aren't going to be sitting when you do down the aisle. They'll be standing, looking at you. Can't ropes be put along the center aisle? The guests could be seated from the outer ends.

Otherwise, I think I'd go for riding Scooter in from the side.

[CarolU]

Well, I can understand the safety aspect...especially to Scooter. Those benches are fixed and could hurt if spooked into them. I think I'd go for comeing in from the side...or he could deliver you to the end of the walkway and you walk from him to Tony alone. Or Tony meets you there and you walk down the aisle together.

[PASOFAN]

Well, depends on scooter and people and nerves!! he will be as nervouse as the bride I suspect..lol Maybe test him w/people sitting/standing walk him down that path alot before the wedding? I think that should be fine...

Beautiful spot to marry! I absolutly love it! :D

[baileyholc]

I like the idea of you riding him side saddle and him letting you off at the top of the aisle. You can walk him up to the side of the trellous and show him in side view and you getting off him to walk down the aisle to meet Tony. Of course you will need someone to hold him and also help you off. OH, the way I have it pictured in my mind looks so romantic. I wish I could be their to see it in person. Man, I wish I had thought of this when I was planning my wedding. I can't wait to see the pictures. :razz:

[DebbieS]

Maybe scooter could be one of the bride's maids OR one of the groom's men. That way, he could just stand there (with the others) and watch you walk up the aisle, you could grab him and do the 'who gives this woman to marry this man?' thing.... then put him back.

I like the riding up the aisle thing too. I know my Listo is much more comfortable in a scary situation if I'm riding rather than leading. That could be a liablility issue, though with all those people in such tight quarters.

Sound so cool! And that place is lovely!!

[CarolU]

I think it would be romantic for Tony to help you off...

At the auction at Nationals, they run a fino board up/down the aisle through the middle of the arena between rows of chairs. I'm sure many people have learned the hard way not to sit on the aisle... ;-)

I think in Mel's wedding, she arrived in a carriage at the 'top' of the walkway and got out of the carriage there. The pictures were beautiful

[dana]

Try a test run first. see if you can line up 20 people. have 10 on each side and standing close to the aisle. stop him and let each pet as he goes or even reach out and touch him gently, then have them move up to the next available aisle until he gets to the alter.
a dry run might tell you more about how he will react.

dana

[paintedhorizon]

Yes, like this!

I like the idea of you riding him side saddle and him letting you off at the top of the aisle. You can walk him up to the side of the trellous and show him in side view and you getting off him to walk down the aisle to meet Tony. Of course you will need someone to hold him and also help you off. OH, the way I have it pictured in my mind looks so romantic. I wish I could be their to see it in person. Man, I wish I had thought of this when I was planning my wedding. I can't wait to see the pictures. :razz:

[Blameitonbrio]

Why don't you just RIDE him down the aisle and do a flying dismount when you get to Tony?

If you do this, you HAVE to post pictures!

Why don't you ride away on him? Tony could lead him.

[TrueStepPaso]

Yeah, I like the idea of riding him in (preferably at a full gallop), and doing a "Triple Lindy" (like on Rodney Dangerfield's "Back to School") onto the platform were Tony will be waiting for you. It'll be a piece of cake.....


Speaking of cake....you should have that mug shot of you and Scooter printed onto your wedding cake.....now that's class....

[SandyMM]

I wish I could be their to see it in person. Man, I wish I had thought of this when I was planning my wedding.
greg and I were seriously in to cycling when we got married so had a tandem bicycle Christmas ornament on top of the cake and left under an 'archway' of our (cycling) friend's front bike wheels.... We missed the best opportunity - leaving by boat from the dock on New River just a few feet from the reception... oh - and our dog was definitely invited to the reception! ;-)

I think it's great you are including a 4-footed family member!

[Minouri]

However crazy it seems...Scooter coming to the wedding makes my father not being able to make it there ok.

Say a prayer for him. He's getting more frail as the days pass.....on heavy painkillers.....and Friday he goes in to get a kidney removed that is poisoning his system. His doctors have prepared us for the possibility that in his weakened state he may not make it......or may survive the operation but find the recovery too much for his present level of health.

I pray for him to get better. I also pray that if he can't get better....that his passing is painless and quick.

Happiness and sorrow sometimes go hand in hand. This is the happiest time of my life.....but also one of sadness as my father's health continues to decrease with each passing day.

I would love to imagine my father simply attending my wedding....but I don't want to allow myself that hope. Instead I'll be happy if he can smile (relatively painfree) at me while watching the video of the day.

[Jasfino]

Minouri, I will keep you both in my prayers.. (((hugs)))

[Brigitte]

:hug It's all going to be fine

[TrueStepPaso]

Minouri...how heartbreaking..I had no idea....I'm so sorry.

Hopefully Scooter is on his best behavior, and makes you smile even more that day :D

[Minouri]

Thank you for all the prayers. He is at UMASS tonight and goes for the operation tomorrow.

Illness is a part of life, unfortunately. He's 80 and has lived a great life full of family and health (he raised 11 children). No operation can make him 20 again.....but we are hopeful that it can relieve some of his suffering.

I didn't mean to write such a sad post. Had just talked to my sister aboutit and I guess it sorta spilled out.

Thanks again for all the supportive IMs and posts.

[GeorgeGuns]

Oh Minouri that is a lot to have to deal with. Have you thought of having another very small very private ceremony in presence of your father either in the hospital or at home?

On the horse issue: ifyou have Scooter wait for you at the end of they aisle, then when the two of you walk back down as husband and wife, remount there and be led off by your man, or get on double! Or have a second horse so you can both ride off together!

[Minouri]

Update on Dad. He made it through the surgery. They did remove his kidney. He's still in ICU but we're all very hopeful. I want to thank everyone who sent out prayers my way. He did better than the doctors had hoped. Now it's just the recovery that will be his hurdle. The kidney was indeed poisoning his body. They removed 1 gallon of puss around it.....ONE GALLON. I can't even imagine. That would explain his recurring fevers and internal pain. We're hoping that without that infection his body can start to heal now.


My mother is now saying that she is going to need a dress for my wedding. That made me cry when she said it. If she ends up walking me down the aisle...then I'll have Scooter come to the wedding.....wait at the altar.....and then just be there for pictures. I teased her that I was going to have her ride Scooter down the aisle to give me away and she laughed until she almost peed herself.....80 year old ladies shouldn't laugh that hard.....lol it's messy.

[lisa l aka marci]

Ok - after reading the other posts, this last one made me laugh!

Glad to hear your Dad is doing better - hopefully he will continue at a fast rate!

:bsmile

[pasofantasy]

I'm glad, that surgery went well. Your family was in my thoughts and prayers as it will continue. I didn't realize, that your mom wouldn't be at your wedding either! I hope, that she can attend now!

[CarolU]

Also glad to read that your Dad's surgery went so well. That is great news. I think Lisa has a great idea there...keep it handy if you need it. The young woman I bought Zar from did that when her father was dieing of cancer - had two ceremonies so he could see them wed.

I'll keep praying he recovers soon. Poor man...that much sepsis is VERY painful. I'm sure he feels a LOT better already.

[Minouri]

Mom came out to my house today. :yay


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/mom.jpg
She hasn't left her house in weeks so this was big. She said she wanted to see her competition for walking me down the aisle. I may have given them something to think about by replacing them with a horse.....she said my dad is already talking about how he'd rather walk me down than see a horse do it. They say he walked around the hospital today (with his transfusion in tow) saying that he wanted to get mobile before the wedding.

They say that the will to live is a big decider in how people recover.

I guess Scooter is going to be a bridesmaid....... :bsmile or would he be an usher? Decisions.....decisions......

[pasofantasy]

HOORAY! It looks as though, your day may really be blessed! How wonderful it would be to have both parents there! I'm sure, that Scooter is understanding. ;-)

[Edurne]

I think Scooter can live with a change of role...... great that your parents are both so enthused. Without all that infection, hopefully your father will make a good recovry. :smile:

[Barbwire]

Hay Ruthie, that's great! Horses have always inspired me to do great things, I'm glad they have the same effect on your parents. ;-)

[Edurne]

how about the ring bearer? or the flower boy?

[JennLM]

I think ring bearer too :D

[Jane Hurl]

I've been too preoccupied to be here much lately, so am just seeing this thread for the first time today.

I am delighted to hear about your father, Minouri. Without all that infection and from his attitude, it sounds like he'll do fine. I hope he can walk you down the isle after all.

A friend of mine wanted her horse in her wedding, so she rode him from the house where she dressed to the area where the wedding was held (about the equivalent of a half a city block). She got off back behind the "chapel area" so her horse wasn't made nervous by all the people and then her father walked her from there through a trellis and on down the isle. It was beautiful.

[Minouri]

hmmm, my friend who said she was going to transport Scooter to the wedding just called and said she is going out west....or at least likely to for a work/vacation. She didn't want to leave me hanging so she thought she'd tell me now.

Plan B is another friend of mine who IS attending the wedding and I know can trailer a horse. I hope she says yes. I hate to spring it on her last minute. I have a lot of horse friends but believe it or not they don't know how to drive trailers...they all board.

I COULD drive him up myself but that seems like a lot of wedding stress.

grrrrrr......last minute snags make me nervous. Deep sigh. Telling myself that it will all work out for the best. If he comes, he comes. If he can't come I'll take wedding photos with him after the wedding. More important that my parents may go......

but.....

grrrr....

I suppose if this is my biggest problem...then life is still not that bad. :confused

[Pasogirlz]

Wish we could all be there to help out on the big day! ((((hugs)))) for all the stress. I'm sure things will work out for the best. ;-)