Just got back from my (younger) sister's wedding in Dallas/Arlington/Fort-something-or-other. And WHAT a time it was. Terrible. The rest of my family either lives on the west coast or in Wisconsin, so I was excited about visiting the south, but...

First, everything started off with me being considered somewhat of a nut-job because I'm a vegetarian. I felt like the groom's family wanted to put me behind bars and poke me with sticks to see what I'd do--I was the weirdest person they'd ever met, apparently, just because I don't eat meat. I would be introduced as, "Here's my sister..." "Oh, you're the vegetarian? How strange. We don't have any vegetarians in Texas. Everyone eats normal food here." Yup. And I'd try to say that I was absolutely certain there were others but they were VERY adament that there weren't. Then the groom's extended family asked my sister if she was a veg*n; she said no, and they all clapped their hands and sighed in relief and one of them said to her, "Thank goodness. I like YOU. We'll get along just fine." while eyeing me suspiciously. Whatever.

Then, my now-brother-in-law and I got into a 'discussion' about good Texans and bad Texans. Apparently, the "good" ones are the white ones. And only if they speak English. Everyone else, well... You get the picture. I had to bite my tongue, remember that I love my sister and her happiness is important to me, and then walk (rather obviously) away from him.

Then, my sister and her fiance got into a fight the night before the wedding (because my brother had given him a talking-to and he didn't appreciate it). He took off and she was completely distraught; no one knew if the wedding would happen. Then my youngest sister and I got into an actual physical fight because she wanted my brother and I to turn down the music we were listening to (yes, we were drinking) and she left scratches on my arm that were very noticible in my bridesmaid dress (because yes, the wedding DID go on). And then my grandparents left the wedding reception after learning that alcohol was being served. Ugh.

At least my sister made it off to her honeymoon safely. I just feel so badly, though, all the drama that went on because of my family! We are so rotten. Why can't we function when we're all together?!

So, anyway, I probably won't be rushing off to TX anytime again soon, but I do hope my sister and my new (racist...sigh) brother-in-law will come visit ME sometime, so we can have some non-drama-filled time getting to know each other.

That sucks, not to be rude or anything but that guy sounds like an arse. Is your sister a person like him. Do they have the same believes. Well hopefully their marraige isn't as bad.

That sounds very stressful. All families have their clashes, though. Your family isn't weird at all. Be proud you got through it.

If it helps, that isn't the only one.

I hit my sister-in-law at her wedding. She was very rude to me (and had a history of it) and I slapped her so hard in the arm (of her sleeveless dress) that it left the outline of my hand all evening. But everyone forgot that I hit the bitch when she started dirty dancing with the best man (her "best friend" that she had been caught having sex with weeks before the wedding). :D

I worked with a guy whose sister annouced, at 2am, that she was a lesbian and her "roommate" was actually her long-time lover. Her dad threw a chair at them.

I went to a military wedding w/ my then husband where all the military people, inc me, knew that the groom went to Thailand during his Bosnia vacation and spent $20,000USD there, including renting an entire brothel (containing some 12 year old girls) to be his slaves for him. The best man was in Thailand with him and at the wedding got drunk, and started to tell the story; he got partways through it before the microphone was taken away from him. The marriage didn't last very long once what happened came out.

So there :) Don't feel bad at all.

Some people should not be married, at all. I hope if my bf and I ever decide we want to get married, stuff like that doesn't happen. But it might, his dads side doesnt know he's wiccan, they are strict catholics, and i have always wanted a handfasting and to be married by a high priestess. :-)

veggiewriter, this is for the next time you come into contact with people who say "We don't have any vegetarians in Texas. Everyone eats normal food here." http://www.vegdining.com/GetRestList.cfm?rgk=NA-US-TX :yes:

As for the wedding fiasco, I'm sorry to hear about it. :hug: I don't have any wedding fiasco anecdotes myself, but obviously others do. I hope you feel better about it because in the end, what others think about your diet doesn't matter. It's YOUR choice. :yes:

Everything that starts with the name of this state is a fiasco. :p

I live right by Fort Worth and my mom lives in WI (Madison) and I get really homesick for there (even though I was raised in Illinois).

Fort Worth and Dallas both have active veg. societies. And you can tell jerk-off, if you ever want to, that he would not be doing much around here without the contributions of people who don't fit his description of "good Texans". What a loser. Your poor sis.

Ugh. Texas.

:spew:

:nigel: N/C.

If it helps, that isn't the only one.

I hit my sister-in-law at her wedding. She was very rude to me (and had a history of it) and I slapped her so hard in the arm (of her sleeveless dress) that it left the outline of my hand all evening. But everyone forgot that I hit the bitch when she started dirty dancing with the best man (her "best friend" that she had been caught having sex with weeks before the wedding). :D

I worked with a guy whose sister annouced, at 2am, that she was a lesbian and her "roommate" was actually her long-time lover. Her dad threw a chair at them.

I went to a military wedding w/ my then husband where all the military people, inc me, knew that the groom went to Thailand during his Bosnia vacation and spent $20,000USD there, including renting an entire brothel (containing some 12 year old girls) to be his slaves for him. The best man was in Thailand with him and at the wedding got drunk, and started to tell the story; he got partways through it before the microphone was taken away from him. The marriage didn't last very long once what happened came out.

So there :) Don't feel bad at all.

:eek:

Oh my lord. ((Mind you, this only furthers the fears I have surrounding marriage :worried: ))

:nigel: N/C. again!

You can tell your new family that yes, there are actual vegetarians in Texas. And apparently our numbers are growing judging by the amount of vegetarian offerings in mainstream grocery stores.

Please don't judge all Texans based on this one experience. Texas is a fabulous place with lots of very nice and friendly people.

I'm sorry you had to go through that. That is precisely why I will be eloping...

I used to work as an assistant wedding photographer. The worst job I did was when the groom showed up to the (10am!!) wedding so drunk he couldn't stand up, the bride was upset at the bridesmaids for getting pregnant before her wedding (3 out of the 5 bridesmaids were in various stages of pregnancy) so she had their dresses re-altered to their pre-pregnancy size, the mother of the bride kept whining about everything that was going wrong, the bride and groom weren't speaking with each other (later they complained to us that none of the pictures we took were of smiling people. We had to explain to them that no one was smiling at their wedding.)

And they played the Macarena.

my wedding went well, actually, but if i ever marry again, i'm getting what i want.

i wanted a wedding less formal, less 'extreme' even though it as a simple, quaker wedding with about 70 guests. I didn't want sit down dinner. i didn't want a wedding gown. i didn't want more than 10 guests (tops).

my ideal wedding is my immediate family (mom, dad, sister) and my SO's immediate family (which in our case would have been mom, dad, sister, grandmother, aunt, and sister's boyfriend). I wanted it to be an outdoor, perhaps civil ceremony. i wanted to have the wedding in the morning or afternoon. I wanted to have brunch afterwards. I wanted to wear something that i wanted to wear--something dress casual.

So, if i ever marry again, this is what i'm doing.

for the most part, i hate weddings and think that they're stupid. often, people are doing things that they don't normally do (ie, going to church--i had many friends who were raised different religions, were non practicing or even atheist, who still got married 'in the catholic church' or 'in the lutheren church' or whatever--that shiitake pisses me off), doing things that they can't afford (the average wedding costs $17,000!--hello, downpayment for a house?), and acting in very weird ways (fancy dresses, getting into arguments over weird things because of the high drama of the situation).

in any case, sounds like a relatively 'normal' wedding for me. WE had people freaking out because we didn't serve meat or alcohol. it was strange. this is the way we live. We had guests complain: 'but i have a whiskey sour at every wedding' and 'how are we going to have a real toast?" and 'what is a meal without meat?" and 'we'll just eat the rabbit.' (he was at the wedding with us. he's the bunny!

wow.
just another reason why eloping's a good idea. you can't have a huge get-together and have everyone get along - it's just not possible. i dont' know why people try.

That's so sad! I got married and it was a beautiful experience! I wore an elvish, nature-inspired dress, it was a celtic/harvest theme (in the Fall) with lots of red and yellow, our ceremony was in our church (we were the first to wed in the new chapel) and the afternoon reception was in a made-over barn with awesome intimate lighting and a killer sound system. We played instrumental celtic music and only had veggie hors d'oevres and apple cider! It was everything that I had dreamed! So, it can be done!!

BTW- One of my favorite veggie towns to be in is Austin, Tx! They have several sit down vgetarian restaurants, and LOTS of veggie friednly ones! Everyone is concerned about health and environment there and it's a cute little artsy town! Also, San Antonio, though you wouldn't guess it from the lack of restaurant offerings, has one of the most vital, active and large vegetarian societies anywhere! Texas isn't all bad!

LOL @ there are no vegetarians in Texas. Yeah right! :D

I've lived in Dallas all my life and while I wouldn't say it's the greatest place on Earth, I'm sure there are worse places, lol.

I sure wish I'd had some of you Texan vegetarians around this weekend! Sigh. Oh well, at least I [I]know that there are veg*ns in TX, even if my brother-in-law's family disagrees. Maybe I should slip you their address and you should pamphlet them or something.

Also, I am VERY thankful to hear about the other wedding fiascos--I'm not alone! Now, just three more siblings and myself to go...

The reason they seem to think that there are no veggies in Texas, is that we're so pale they see through us ;)

The reason they seem to think that there are no veggies in Texas, is that we're so pale they see through us ;)

Good one! :lol:

Come to austin sometime very veggie friendly! Texas isn't so bad sound like that guy would be a jerk no matter where he was from

Texas is a really big state. Tolerence will vary from city to city, person to person.

and 'we'll just eat the rabbit.' (he was at the wedding with us. he's the bunny!

is that your PET? god!! people are sick!

ETA: wait, i don't mean you're sick for having a pet bunny, I meant the people proposing to EAT it were sick! just to clarify.

is that your PET? god!! people are sick!

ETA: wait, i don't mean you're sick for having a pet bunny, I meant the people proposing to EAT it were sick! just to clarify.

Oh, whatever. You totally think it's sick to own a rabbit...

:p :D

:nigel: Cheers!

(Sorry for the O/T)

<--pale texas vegan

*starts making plans to travel to Texas to visit shagginabit* :think:

<--pale texas vegan

I'm the dark one of the family. :afro: