Don't let Mondays ruin your Sundays

Mimi, her mom, and I pulled out of Ridgeland headed toward Greenville, South Carolina. We were like a traveling circus with our trailer full of decorations, props, tools, and bags packed for some “work” days, rehearsal dinner clothes, and mother and father of the bride clothes. Mia and Cody got hitched the weekend of October 18. Those two had already done most of the hard work—at least the parts I would dread most.

They had secured a wonderful venue for the rehearsal dinner and another for the wedding, which happened to be the same place they first met. They’d also blocked out hotels for everyone joining us, found a great band, and handled all the out-of-town wedding logistics—especially for us “old folks” who have a harder time following directions than most. The invitations covered everything: where to stay, eat, and hike, plus shuttle details. All of it was embedded in a QR code. I felt smart just typing “QR code”—that’s way above my head—but somehow, everyone figured it out.

We rented an Airbnb just five minutes from the wedding site since we’d be coming and going a lot. Our house was also where Mia and her new sisters-in-law would do their final

As we approached Atlanta, I could tell they were a few weeks ahead of us in cooler temps and more golden leaves. AccuWeather showed perfect weather for the entire weekend, with rain not expected until after all the festivities. Outdoor weddings are always a gamble, and with this being the biggest wedding weekend of the year, there weren’t many backup options. We could have squeezed everyone into the barn in an emergency, but it would’ve been tight. Knowing we’d have blue skies and 70-degree days made it all the more exciting—we could pull out all the stops.

After nine hours on the road, we arrived a little weary. We unhooked the trailer, moved in, and still had time to meet some of Cody’s family from Philly for dinner. Everyone was so excited. We made plans to start setup first thing in the morning.

We brought a lot of string lights we use for nighttime events and selling Christmas trees at Garden Works. Mia and Cody had already bought 10-foot poles that screw into the ground to hold up the lights. Power wasn’t an issue—the barn roof had solar panels and a massive battery bank—so we could light up the night.

The 120-acre site where Mia and Cody met is a nature conservancy that also hosts off-road races from 5Ks to marathons. The “barn” is an educational center for conservation groups, and this was the first time they’d allowed a wedding there. Mia and Cody decided it couldn’t hurt to ask—and it paid off. The caretaker, who manages the property and events, was thrilled to help. He seemed genuinely fond of them and wanted the weekend to go perfectly.

He kept the field mowed, the parking area smooth, opened doors before us, and locked up after us. He made everything comfortable. With his grandfatherly demeanor, I could tell he and Mia had formed a sweet connection.

Cody’s family—John, Linda, and Grandma Pat—had driven down with their tools, so we had plenty to work with and enough hands to get it done. There’s no better way to get to know people than through a couple of good workdays. We all worked at the same pace and on the same page—it was truly a treat. It beat trying to connect at a noisy restaurant.

John and I laid out the lights (with the women’s approval, of course) and began screwing in the pole bases about twelve feet apart. The others planned table and bar placement and figured out where to park the food truck.

Later that day, my mother flew in, and I slipped away to pick her up from the airport. She came ready to work—sleeves rolled up. She’s the one who taught us how to throw big pasture parties back in the day, and we passed that on to our kids. Cody’s large family is no stranger to big gatherings, so we were all in sync.

Cody’s sister, Lilly, arrived that afternoon and was a blast to work with. She and Mia already have a real sisterly bond—it’s such a joy to see. Cody and John rolled in later with a huge load of firewood for the fire ring, plus kegs of craft beer and ice. Everything was coming together. As we were calling it a day, the tables, chairs, and bar showed up, which meant we could hit the ground running in the morning.

That night, we went out to eat with just Mia and Cody while the others tended to more family arrivals. We had dinner at a Central American restaurant with an amazing menu—plantains, yucca, and other dishes you only find in Costa Rica or nearby.

The lovebirds had a gift for us that we absolutely love. When I first met Cody, he had a sign on his wall that read, “Don’t let your Mondays ruin your Sundays.” I loved that saying because I’m terrible about letting Monday worries creep into my Sundays. Ever since then, I’ve texted Mia and Cody every Sunday to remind them not to let Monday steal their day off.

For our gift, they had a copper panel laser-cut with those words, complete with brackets for hanging or staking in the ground. It’s beautiful—and it’ll save many a Sunday from being ruined by “tomorrow thinking.” We later found out that Lilly had the original one made for Cody, so the tradition lives on.

The next morning, we got out early to finish setup. Tables and chairs were arranged, the aisle laid out, torches placed, and the stage for the band rolled into position. Some band members showed up to scope things out.

By then, family and friends were arriving from all directions for that night’s rehearsal dinner in Greenville. We rested up and headed out for an evening full of laughter, toasts, and connection. It was wonderful meeting everyone in such a relaxed setting. We stayed until closing time and then crashed back at our place, knowing the big day was next.

We had a few last-minute details to handle—table decorations and the stunning flowers our niece Carly McKie provided. She always goes the extra mile and somehow makes it look effortless.

My buddies and I made a few Home Depot runs to pick up four generators to power the eight-piece band all night—one for backup (thank goodness Mia thought of that, since one turned out to be a dud). Having my buddies along for the ride gave me some laughs and helped me relax.

By the time we got back, everything was ready, and it was time to get dressed. For me, that meant a nap while the girls got ready. When I woke up, they all looked stunning. I put on my suit and chauffeured them to the wedding site.

The shuttles had already dropped off guests, and everyone was finding their seats. The band played the wedding song, and Mia and I walked down the aisle for the handoff. Mimi looked beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to sit beside her as we watched Mia and Cody exchange vows.

Their words were tearjerkers. The same moon gate that Mimi

Carly had decorated for Max and Madeline’s wedding last fall stood behind them, glowing in a perfect sunset. The caretaker flew his drone just out of hearing range, capturing the whole thing—I can’t wait to see the footage.

The moon gate was adorned with amaranth we grew over the summer, along with dried okra pods and cotton I’d grown for the occasion. It looked incredible alongside the flowers Carly and Linda chose.

Mia is my last child to get married, and that realization hit hard—joyful, but bittersweet. You have to trust you’ve done your best raising them for this next chapter.

Before the wedding, Mia had asked if I could guess our father-daughter dance song. I couldn’t. She smiled and

shook her head as the band began playing Neil Young’s Old Man. “Old man, take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you…” It was all I could do not to break down as we danced. Perfect.

After that, everyone was on the dance floor. It was truly one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever been to—and we’re on a roll, because last October’s wedding was another favorite. Somehow, everyone made it back safely that night, and everything felt perfect.

I was blown away by how many people traveled and paused their lives to celebrate with us. It meant the world to all of us.

The next morning, we met back at the site, took everything down, and had the trailer loaded by 10:00. My brother and I returned the generators, then came back to reload our “traveling circus.”

Mia had planned an afternoon of football at a local brewery, so those staying an extra night gathered for one last celebration. It was the perfect way to end a perfect weekend.

After dropping Mom at the airport, we headed back to our place to get ready for the trip home. The drive went quickly with so much to reminisce about. It was good to see home sweet home—and it was a Monday that didn’t ruin our Sunday.