The wedding excitement of September 7th has subsided. We enjoyed a loving and entertaining weekend, and my daughter Jalena was the most beautiful bride in the world. Euphoric, I rode a hot air balloon of happiness over a sunny, Rockwellian world where all the men were handsomely dressed. The women were beautiful, their hair perfect, their fashions stylish, all colorful gems shining amid the splendor of the Colorado Rockies.
For the writer in me, it highlighted the art of establishing setting. 
Small details woo the reader into the world you’ve created. Does your fictional world need details that bespeak elegance? Events that lift an ordinary day to one of significance to your characters?
I keep a journal of my experiences, mainly when traveling. It comes in handy when writing. If it’s not the precise scene setting I need, it inspires me and reminds me of the details we notice at special times in our lives.
We could write “The tables were lavishly dressed,” but that’s telling. How do we show it? Here are some of the journal notes I wrote following my daughter’s wedding.
Glasses of sparkling champagne rested on a server’s tray as she navigated the crowd. At 12,000 feet, the sun’s rays danced over the delicate planes of the etched crystal. It was the Lismore design, she noted, Waterford’s best.
More trays followed, some laden with stuffed shiitake mushrooms and others with tiny carrots, still sporting their leafed tops and tightly wrapped in crisp, mouthwatering strips of maple bacon.
The stark contrast of a white linen shirt against a black bow tie, and the glint in a man’s eye when wearing one.
Boutonnieres, tasteful statements with exotic flowers, graced their lapels.
French-tipped toenails peeked out from strappy, high-heeled shoes bright with bling.
White-on-white napkins fanned from bands of engraved silver. Two-pronged oyster forks rested to the left of Royal Chintz fine bone china. The head table, a massive affair bridging the width of the great hall, was a study in Renaissance majesty.
She spied her name among the many place cards. Written in hand-crafted calligraphy, it rested in a gold card holder engraved with the duke’s initials.
It’s been an evening of soft candlelight, but now I see the lights being turned up and the music has stopped, both subtle signals that this blog has ended.
Wishing you many satisfying hours on your keyboard!
Happy for you and your family!
Thank you for the ideas and reminding us when we experience a euphoric time, our writing is nearly our best. Here’s to staying happy so happy energy can prompt our writing.
You’re welcome, Rainey. I’ve also found that, although I’m less likely to write following a traumatic time, that writing has proven to be a rich source for my current novels-in-progress. My characters may be suffering from something quite different from my experience, but memories of the distressing period serve as a launching pad to describing my characters’ feelings. While I much prefer the euphoric moments, the grim moments add to my writing arsenal. Still, I’m wishing you a happy day! 🙂