The Return of Wedding Season

For the last year and a half, we have been condemned to our houses, like the millions and millions of others due to COVID-19. As much as we may have hated it, we had to respect it.

Being an immune-compromised adult, I had to be extra careful about going outside and interacting with others. I am so glad that I am vaccinated and our world is moving in the right direction. Oh right, but what does this have to do with weddings?

Well, it's that time of year again. Wedding season has started back up.

Bathrooms are important to us IBD guests

I really do enjoy weddings, as it is a great time for all. I have noticed over the years, however, the attention to detail for the restrooms has seemed to go down.

I guess because I spend most of my day in the bathroom, this is of particular interest to me. I want to be able to use a bathroom that is nice and clean. If I am going to host an event for 150-200 people, I would make sure that the venue had enough clean bathrooms for my guests. It certainly makes life for a Crohn’s or colitis patient easier.

I remember for my Bar Mitzvah, my mother made sure that the bathrooms were not just clean, but fully stocked with any products you might need for the evening. This ranged from extra toilet paper to cologne to feminine products. Now, I didn’t have Crohn’s back when I was 13, but you understand what I'm saying.

The bathroom situation is key to ensuring guests have a comfortable night.

Getting the lowdown on the wedding venue

This past weekend, I went to a very large wedding in New Jersey. I knew that it was going to be a beautiful affair, and I was excited for it.

My wife was in the wedding party, and I had to make sure she was tended to. I made sure she was at the venue at 7:00 in the morning. Once I dropped her off, I wanted to check out the bathroom situation for later. But then I thought it would be weird to be the only guy at the venue, snooping around for the restrooms. So I decided I would check it out later.

Once the cocktail hour started, I did a quick check. There was a handicap-accessible bathroom that was private, which is always a plus. Plus the men’s room was rather clean. So I started to relax a little.

IBD anxiety before weddings

My stomach was jumpy all day because of the unknown and I was truly afraid to eat, let alone drink alcohol.

I thought my Crohn’s held up pretty well, and as always I probably worked myself up too much. Why is that?

For starters, I was in an unknown place. Crohn’s and UC patients get into a routine. They know their surroundings, which makes it “safe." Our disease is unpredictable, so we try to control what we can.

And secondly, I didn’t know many people. I had no idea who the other guests were. I didn’t want them to know my personal business. I could see them wondering why this guy was getting up every few minutes to use the bathroom.

I guess I have been out of the wedding game for some time. It will take some getting used to! But cheers to the start of another wedding season.