European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                National geographic 1988 cheerfully forgoing a conventional wedding reception Atlanta newlyweds have paraded with Well wishers on peach tree Street to the beat of Calypso  Usa uniting tradition with life today tying the knotty Barbara Mayer associated press after obtaining permission in writing from her parents Donald Waite proposed marriage to Susan Parsons on bended knee in an open hansom cab in the Middle of Manhattan to the cheers of a crowd of new York onlookers who spotted the ring and clustered around the cab. Since they had been living together for about five years Don was pretty sure that Susan would say yes. But he had her parents Blessing Handy just in Case when he popped the question on oct. 31,1988. To nobody a Surprise Susan did say yes. What followed was a year of intense planning by the couple for a wedding that would be personal to them yet involve their families and friends. The Story of How Susan Lynn Parsons 28, and Donald Merrill Waite 48, planned this most important event for both of them is a Good indicator of the new ways of marriage in the United states. Their wedding took something from the past and something from the present uniting tradition with life today. What was old was the sense of Joy and anticipation in melding two lives into one the desire to make vows in front of family and friends and the wish to have a wonderful party in a Beautiful place with All the trimmings of music delicious food photos to commemorate the occasion. What was current was their determination that the wedding reflect their unique history and tastes and that both would play equal roles in making the party happen. The care they put into arranging their wedding also reflects the couples determination to make a go of this the second marriage for Don and the first for Susan. And their Story May be increasingly typical these Days when two out of five marriages dissolve. The couple planned and paid for their wedding themselves sharing decisions equally. They held the wedding where they live a not in the Bride s Home town a selecting a country farmhouse owned by done a brother for the party and a nearby Church for the ceremony. The event took place on sunday afternoon but Many guests came for the weekend. The round of celebrations included a Friday evening Bachelor party a saturday afternoon decorating session at the farm a Buffet dinner saturday evening at a relative s Home and a Post wedding Brunch on monday morning for those who stayed on when the couple opened their wedding presents. Susan a dancer and Don met when she applied for a Between engagements Job As a waitress in his Manhattan restaurant. They had known each other for eight years when Don proposed marriage the night she returned from performances in the National tour company of the show dirty dancing. The couple took just under a year to plan their oct. 8, 1989, wedding throwing themselves into it with enthusiasm. Though Susan researched wedding form in etiquette books they Felt free to deviate from tradition. In virtually every aspect of the wedding a from selecting the Church and ceremony through menu planning attire music and photography a they continued on Page 14 saturday june 16, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13