Redoing ‘I Do’

Second thoughts on first marriages reveal wishes for better hair, smaller hats, fewer guests, and cheaper champagne

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Even the most happily married among us might alter a few aspects of our wedding-day plans if given the chance to re-tie the (same) knot. These 10 couples, with nearly 200 years of marriage among them, offer a little nuptial hindsight.
 

Annie and George Frisch, Lake Angelus

/// Married 29 years

Their reception at the Detroit Athletic Club, which featured The Hal Janes Orchestra, “was a great party, or so we were told by everyone for weeks after,” Annie says. The problem? A huge reception line. “It took so long for us to greet some 300 guests that we weren’t able to dine or settle down for a long, long time. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend a more manageably sized affair. Ours was just a huge bash — wonderful, but insane.”





Nancy McCauley and John Branstetter, Highland Township

/// Married 28 years

Before the ceremony, John went to “chill out” with friends at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn. He left his family, in town from Missouri, at his home with instructions to meet him at the Fair Lane Estate nuptials. “I left my family with a map and directions to the wedding, but they got lost and were really late,” John says. “We freaked out anticipating what may have happened. [There were] no cell phones then. I should have stayed at the house to lead them to the wedding.”

Chris Morrisroe and Phil Treais, Waterford

/// Married nine years

After the at-home ceremony, Chris says, “We had a band playing around a [backyard] campfire at night, but I know my husband wishes that we had lit up the yard better so guests could play lawn games into the night.”

 Joella and John Jarchow, Troy

/// Married 41 years

“I should have remembered to ask all my attendants’ parents,” Joella says. “I missed asking a family.” 

Kim and Michael McInerney, Bloomfield Township

/// Married 27 years

“I wish our wedding would have been videotaped,” Kim says. “We couldn’t afford to do it at the time, and I also thought that it would be a distraction during the ceremony, but now I wish that I could show
it to the [three] kids.”

Peg and James Richard, Dearborn

/// Married 12 years

“I wish my hair would have been different. It was very short and I kind of looked like a bubblehead. I don’t like looking back in photos.”

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