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SALT LAKE CITY — This coming weekend, my younger brother, Coy, will be getting married. Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, I won't be there to witness it.
This is the brother who was born when I was 16-years-old and had the responsibility of driving my mom to the hospital for that to happen.
This is the brother who wore his red "Towboy" hat to my wedding to steal my thunder.
This is the brother who I tended while my parents took another brother of mine (I have seven) to a baseball tournament in New York. It was during that time when I attempted my first little boy haircut with kitchen scissors (yes, it was as awesome as it sounds).
This is the brother who ran to the top of Lake Mountain with me in the middle of the summer with no shade.
And this is the brother who is marrying his sweetheart whom he has known since the sixth grade. The two will wed in a small, civil ceremony limited to 10 people — me not being one of them.
But guess what? I’m not mad. In fact, I'm slightly jealous.
The weddings of the pandemic are the weddings of awesome.
There's no worry over what the wedding party will be wearing for pictures.
There's no fuss over refreshments for the reception or who is invited to the luncheon.
There are no masses of people staring at you, no steady stream of people in a reception line, no trying to please people you don’t need to.
There are no sore face muscles from maintaining an awkward smile all day long. No headache.
No much ado about nothing.
These weddings of the pandemic are preparing couples for a life of simplicity — a life where wonderful memories are made when nobody is watching.
The nothing I am referring to is the wedding, and the everything I want to draw attention to is the marriage.
The way I see it, traditional weddings pre-COVID-19 were a little much. Sure, I understand celebrating a wonderful day and union of wonderful people, but guess what? When the party's over and everyone goes home, it is the couple who is left to live a life together that is a far cry from all the wedding hoopla.
These weddings of the pandemic are preparing couples for a life of simplicity — a life where wonderful memories are made when nobody is watching. Entering a new stage of life without all the fanfare is setting a stage for great and even greater things to come, and I have no doubt these unions will be stronger for it.
In a matter of days, my little brother will be married. That statement alone is pretty darn awesome. I have no doubt that the small ceremony will be a memory worthy of passing down for generations to come, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it may even become a new tradition — at least I hope it will.
Have you or a loved one had a pandemic wedding? Let us know how it went in the comments.
More from Arianne Brown:
Arianne Brown: 'Dumb and Dumber' re-creation shows what social distancing can do to people
There comes a time in a person's self-isloating life when she gives in to the social pressures of social distancing. Friday was that day.
