When you're a true meathead, you let nothing get in the way of letting your meathead colors show. Not even getting married.
Here is the Anto's guide to having a meathead wedding.
1. Meet a meathead at an eliteFTS event.
If you've never been to a seminar, summit, LTT or any of the other functions eliteFTS hosts, then you're missing out. Not just on hours upon hours of information from the best lifters and coaches in this industry, but the potential opportunity to meet a fellow attendee who also shares the same meathead passions as you.
Networking in powerlifting is so easy now compared to the early 2000's when all we had was waiting for the latest issue of Powerlifting USA to show up, or to drive hours to Westside (or closest strong gym) to meet other lifters.
Now, don't get me wrong, when attending these events, your focus should be on learning, and listening, and lifting... just keep your eyes open too as you never know who may ask to sit with you.
2. Ask your meathead friends to help when it's time to pop the question
Since you're both meatheads, you'll want to get engaged at some type of lifting function - enter another seminar (LTTX was perfect for us), or even a meet (our friend staged a deadlift "injury" and as his girlfriend walked up to help, he busted out a ring!) This will require you to ask your meathead friends to somehow play a part to pull it off perfectly.
Don't worry about being sweaty or having chalk-filled hands... that's what makes you a meathead! Just be sure your friends and training partners can keep a secret.
3. Keep the wedding planning stress-free
After all, you'll still be training hard during your wedding planning season, and possibly even prepping for a meet. Keep it simple. You don't need extravagant centerpieces or fancy lighting. If you can find an all-in-one vendor who provides food, drinks, and decor, do it. The time saved is priceless. After all, you'll be training hard and heavy... the last thing you want to do is spend hours picking out table cloth colors that no one will even notice.
4. Hire those meathead friends to do things at the wedding
Your gym family is worth more than just loading plates and spotting. I guarantee you'll find someone who does photography on the side or who's grandma bakes amazing cakes or a training partner who loves playing the harp. Our photographer happened to be one of our meathead friend's girlfriend who did a more than amazing job on our photos.
Not only does it feel good to give friends business, but it's folks you can trust, who know you, your likes and dislikes, and who you see daily to make sure the timeline leading to the big day is on track.
5. Do a first-look before the ceremony
While it's probably pretty awesome to see your gorgeous woman/man in those first moments on the aisle, you're a meathead... and let's face it, no one wants to see you cry.
Find a secluded area that your photographer can capture a moment seeing each other for the first time. You have more time to bask in his handsome-ness and plenty of time to dry your eyes before the big moment. (And maybe have a drink too.)
6. Make it YOU
From the attire you choose (full on tux? Or casual jeans?) to the food and dessert. This day is about you and what makes you YOU. On a crisp, November day with some snow still on the ground, I couldn't have been happier to be wearing pink Chuck Taylor's instead of open-toed dress shoes.
Bypass the traditional cake for donuts and wear your Chucks to dance all night. Wear your mohawk high. Write your own vows to include "driving your car just as you'd want me to." And it certainly wouldn't be complete without your siblings giving a toast/speech in which they act out Christian's "motivation/yelling" when we train together.
It's your day to have fun with.
7. Skip the honeymoon and go right back to training
Who needs a break from the hustle? After all, it was a pretty low stress plan, right? Get right back to the gym and SFW!
All kidding aside, we had the most amazing day. Never in a million years would I have enjoyed getting married in November so much. It was chilly but not awful. The light snow made for amazing pictures. Every detail that was "us" was exactly what we wanted - great food, delicious donuts, take home pics of friends who celebrated with us.
Family from near and far and some of his family I had never met before. And some of mine he had never met. Mutual friends from our current IPA gym and many who made the trip up from Memphis as well. We are so incredibly thankful to all of them for making the trip.
We took the weekend to get away (locally) to a small cabin where we woke up to a half frozen lake and some snow. (Nothing an in-the-floor hot tub can't fix.) It really was a fairly stress-free 3 months of planning, but we pulled it off amazingly. We are pumped to officially join this family together and with God's guidance be vessel's for Him through our lifting, coaching and life.
Head over to Christian's log to read his thoughts about our big day!
