I Do?

My facebook friend and fellow blogger, Amanda Eliasch recently posed an interesting query on her t5m.com blog. “Do you say happy anniversary to your husband after you are divorced?” I can’t answer that for others…Nick and I have successfully avoided the issue up until now, but I can’t help being a little nostalgic today…

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Rhodes

Twenty-five years ago today I married the keyboard player of Duran Duran. BTW, my poor father may still be paying that wedding off, but you have to admit…it is pretty cool to have your wedding considered one of the 10 most notable nuptials in a quarter century along with JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and a Rolling Stone! Not bad company. Although, come to think of it (due to an assassination, a tragic car accident, and 3 divorces), none of us stayed married to each other. Hmmmmm….food for thought before the next marriage… ELOPE like dad suggested. At least it will save him the cost of live pink flamingos, flowing pink champagne, and dinner at the Savoy Hotel for 219 of our nearest and dearest.

US magazine 1985

Festivities leading up to the big event began with a bridal shower in Henley Upon Thames, an apres theatre dessert and coffee party at the Cafe Royal, and a brilliant hen night in which my 80 year old spinster Auntie Vera gave me edible panties…that image alone forces a smile across my face whenever I think back on it. The hen night also left me with a ghastly hangover for the prenuptial dinner my parents threw for the 75 American guests aboard a private boat cruising the river Thames. I was turning every shade of green with each swell, and was enormously relieved when a rope twisted around the rudder, and we all had to disembark early.

Just married

We nearly missed our own wedding the next morning when our make-up artist turned up late (I barely had any make-up on, but we did have matching Yves St. Laurent #32 pink lipstick). A 1931 Cadillac ferried us to Marylebone registry office where we met our families, and royal photographer Norman Parkinson began snapping photos for LIFE magazine that would continue through the wee hours of the next day.

Julie Anne Rhodes, Norman Parkinson, & Nick Rhodes

Luckily Mr. Parkinson found a comfortable place to rest his weary head (and seemed to enjoy it immensely judging by the smile on his face).

Nick greeting his fans at the Savoy

After nervously arriving at the Savoy where police barricades tenuously held back 400 screaming fans, and an army of press outside…inside, the flamingos Nick had insisted on (he also wanted black panthers, but we managed to talk him out of that detail) kept pecking at the diamond bracelet he’d given me as a wedding present. Then their heads bobbed up and down to the jazz quartet as they drank from the fountain and relieved themselves to the orchestra that came on after the cabaret show. The sheer volume of the music literally scared the… out of them!

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Rhodes in LIFE magazine

Months of planning and anticipation, and then the evening sped by so quickly it’s mostly all a blur. I know my jaw ached from smiling through greeting each of the 219 guests the Master of Ceremonies announced in the reception line, I remember dancing in that dress was like dancing with a rope tied around my ankles while Nick hopped around the tulle at the bottom, and that I fell in love with Nick all over again when he danced with my Auntie Vera (Nick does not like dancing to put it mildly), after cutting the cake with me.

With Duran Duran

Then Mr. & Mrs. Rhodes started their honeymoon in….where else…RHODES! I did have my modern day fairytale wedding. As for the “happily ever after” bit…

Julie Anne Rhodes

…the marriage eventually ended on a sour note, but we do enjoy a civil friendship today. I have no idea what the correct protocol is to Amanda’s question, but happy anniversary anyway Nick. It does make me happy to remember the good times we had together.

I unfortunately, do not have a copy of my own wedding menu. People magazine reported that we “dined on salmon and stuffed lamb” which sounds about right. I did recently cater a wedding for 75 people in the Hollywood Hills.

Hollywood Wedding Menu

Marinated Tomato & Mozzarella Skewers

Crostini with Spicy Shrimp

Dill Blinis with Lemon Crème Fraiche & Smoked Salmon

Poppy Seed Tartlets with Rare Roast Beef & Grainy Mustard

Mixed Greens with Gorgonzola, Pears, & Candied Pecans with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Rack of Lamb

Chutney or Mint Sauce

Tomatoes Stuffed with Curried Couscous

Mama’s Artichoke Lasagna

Broccoli, Red Pepper, & Roasted Garlic Salad

Balsamic Marinated Cauliflower & Carrots

Roasted Asparagus

Wedding Cake Alla Mode

Mama’s Artichoke Lasagna

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

● 1 1/2 cans artichoke heart, drained and halved

● 1/2 stick butter

● salt and pepper, to taste

● 1 cup milk

● 1 1/2 tablespoons flour

● 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

● 1 package shredded mozzarella cheese

● 3/4 package no-cook lasagna

 

Directions:

1). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2).Make béchamel sauce by melting butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour and cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly to keep any clumps from forming. Stir in the seasonings, and continue stirring until the sauce thickens and coats the spoon, about 10-15 minutes.

3).Grease an 8″x8″ lasagna pan bottom and sides with butter. Place a single layer of lasagna noodles on the bottom, spread with half the artichokes, sprinkle with 1/3 of both cheeses, and cover with 1/3 of the béchamel sauce. Repeat with another layer. Repeat, ending with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. The pan should be about ¾ full.

4).Bake the lasagna until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to turn golden brown around the edges, about 30 minutes.

Serving Suggestions: Mixed green salad and garlic bread.

21 Comments

1. 

   Posted 08/18/2009 by Anonymous

   Awwww Happy Anniversary. Sean & I were married twice and we still tell each other that on both days. Renee

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2. 

   Posted 08/18/2009 by Anonymous

   Well, Jewels, that was FUN to read!!! I esp. like the photo of Mr. Parkinson with his head resting on your chest–love the wedding menu that you just catered too.take care, Sara Myron

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3. 

   Posted 08/18/2009 by Laura H

   Your menu looks like something we could put together today for someone's wedding! I wished Dave a happy anniversary on our 25th (two years ago) and asked him where my 72 Malibu Convertible was that he promised me. He said we'd still have to be married for that. Being that I was married on Valentines day the first go around, and Allen's wife served him papers on Valentines day, we have made that day our own, and we even eloped like your blog suggested. Great pics of you and Nick. Hope you are well, and I think I have had that artichoke lasagna, haven't I?

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4. 

   Posted 08/18/2009 by Anonymous

   Wow! What a wonderful memory to have! So much fun to read! Thanks for sharing!!!The menu sounds absolutely heavenly!Alison

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5. 

   Posted 08/20/2009 by Pamela

   Dear Julie Anne,I came across your blog accidentally, but was quite a surprise to read this mixture of memories, nostalgic words, but also full of hope…Keep writing, please, it will be a delight for me to keep on reading.Regards!PamelaChile – South America

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6. 

   Posted 08/21/2009 by Julie Anne Rhodes

   Glad you found the blog Pamela, and all the way from Chile too! Did you wish each other happy anniversary in between marriages Renee? I'll bet you want the car Laura…I want the one from my wedding! Can you imagine having that as my chef mobile?!Thanks for passing on the link Sara and Alison…fun memories they are! Laura actually helped me with that wedding in the Hollywood Hills. We had a lot of fun that night too!

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7. 

   Posted 08/21/2009 by NickyNu_Nu

   I was in middle school when you married Nick Rhodes. Yes, I'm a Duranie! I remember thinking how tall and glam you were. Beautiful photos! Wasn't Nick the first member of Duran Duran to get married?

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8. 

   Posted 08/21/2009 by Julie Anne Rhodes

   Oh what a lovely way to start my day reading your comment Nicky. Thank you.Andy and Tracey married in 1982, and Roger and Giavanna married 3 weeks before we did, so Nick was the 3rd.Have a great day everyone!

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9. 

   Posted 08/21/2009 by Anonymous

   Enjoyed this week's blog Jewels! Your memory lane has the best scenic view! XO Jodi

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10. 

    Posted 08/21/2009 by Anonymous

    I love reading your blog. What an exciting life you have.

    Reply
11. 

    Posted 08/22/2009 by Debra-Ann from Long Island

    I was so hoping that you would do a bit about your nuptials. I remember reading that People magazine article about your wedding (I was 17 years old at the time), and I was completely fascinated by the fairytale aspect of it all, similar to the way I was fascinated by Charles and Diana's fairytale wedding. In the mid 90's when I was in my twenties, I visited London and went out of my way to visit the Savoy Hotel so I could check out the venue. When I asked an employee at the hotel if she remembered your wedding, her response was "oh yes, everything was pink". I thought you would get a chuckle out of that! Anyway, I am enjoying your blog. I love the recipes and the family photos/stories. I am looking forward to the holidays for some more great recipes. Keep it up!

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12. 

    Posted 08/23/2009 by michelle ward

    Julie Anne – you are as gorgeous as I remember from the 80s.I was just talking to a friend about her recent trip to London and I was telling her of a trip I had been on in 1984. I was taking courses at the University of Birmingham and in August we headed down to London. That was the weekend you married Nick. It was in the papers and we were down the road so we had to pop over to the Savoy to take a look (a day or so later). Your wedding was such a divine affair and I was curious to see if there were any photos online which is how I found my way to your blog. How fun to find this anniversary post and to hear even more about that day.As I said, you still look so beautiful and it's terrific you have a new venture and are happy and successful. It feels kind of strange poking in and seeing what's happening in your life, but it also feels like finding and old acquaintance or high school friend as I was so aware of you in the 80s. Loved finding you in magazines and tracking your glamorous life, and seeing you again is a pleasure. (I still have the clippings from Interview and Vanity Fair).As Duran fans my friends and I took great interest in YOU too. As soon as you appeared on the scene we were impressed with your elegant presence, and the fact that you were a girl from Iowa. (I grew up in MN). While in Birmingham I met the man I eventually married, a brummie too! Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say it was fun to stumble across you through your blog.

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13. 

    Posted 08/23/2009 by Julie Anne Rhodes

    I love that both Debra-Ann and Michelle went by the Savoy Hotel. I should hope someone there remembered us…we not only had our wedding there…we lived there (when in London) for 6 months. In fact we liked it so much we bought bits of the art deco hotel (they were renovating) for our own house.Anyway I hope you will all keep coming back here, and check out my other blog on t5m.com/julie-anne-rhodes/ too.

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14. 

    Posted 09/09/2009 by colleen

    Thanks so much for this blog! I also came upon this by accident and yes I remember your wedding day(I was 15 and totally devastated!) I must say that you both looked beautiful and of course in matching lipstick! I loved seeing the two of you in magazines (you looked so glamorous!) Keep up the great work!!Cant wait to read some more!Love from Australia

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15. 

    Posted 09/12/2009 by Katherine Wildman

    Dear Julie Anne,I had the Smash Hits edition that featured your stunning wedding day and have been an avid Duran Duran since I bought the 7" single of 'New Moon on Monday" … I just wanted to say that its' so brilliant to read your side of the story and to see that you are carving a really special niche for yourself. I wish you all the very best .. and am now going to the shop to buy goat's cheese! : )Katherine in the UK

    Reply
16. 

    Posted 10/25/2009 by Charlotte

    Julie Anne,Whatever happened to your wedding dress?

    Reply
17. 

    Posted 10/28/2009 by Anonymous

    hey julie anne i red you live in los angeles wiyh tatyana she is 23 years old she works now roger too is divorced?because i red his wife called gisella and giovanna?he had a son with her or no?kisses to you and tatyana

    Reply
18. 

    Posted 11/14/2009 by Pauline Kelly-Ward

    HIwhat is that previous post about??

    Reply
19. 

    Posted 05/13/2010 by mysteriousways1

    I'm taking a study break and reading previous posts here. Wow! I remember seeing one of the Time photos in this quarky fan magazine called Star Hits. To think it was the work of a legend in that goofy little mag! :cDMy brother has been divorced, I think the question of a happy anniversery greeting after divorce depends on the two people. My brother's ex only wanted signed divorce papers for their second anniversery. They, fortuneately had no children and he has not seen her since. o.O My in-laws divorced a few years before my husband and I met. They knew it was coming long before it did but decided it was best to keep things going until the youngest kid (my husband) was off to college. My father-in-law often went back to the house to do laundry at mom-in-laws invitation. A little later things were less congenial, but all that changed when my husband and I married. Looking back I see that in the midst of our wedding his family quietly did a lot of healling. When father-in-laws mom died a few months later, mom-in-law's new husband (they married four days after we did) was a pallbearer. Things continued to improve from there, with them coming together for happy family celebrations. Mil liked Fil's new lady friend and Fil thought Mil's husband was a great guy. About three years after we were married Fil joined us at Mil's house for Christmas, the first of their new granddaughter. We were all so tickled with how well everyone got on. It was Fil's last Christmas, he passed away six days later.MaryEllen and John loved each other but I can easily see how they could not stay married. And since John died relatively too soon, I am glad MaryEllen had the love and support of her second husband when she lost her first.I always hope that when two people feel they must divorce that a time will come when they are like my in-laws. Maybe not wishing one another happy anniversery after divorce but able to truly enjoy one another's company when coming together to celebrate as a family.Kelly

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20. 

    Posted 11/21/2010 by Anonymous

    Thank you for sharing the things you do in your blog. Yes, I was one of "those girls" who cried when you and Nick married! I found the blog unexpectedly by complete chance and I must say, it is wonderful getting a glimpse into the many roles you have, especially as mother and friend. The love you have and express for your daughter is very touching. When I read entries, I always come away thinking the same thought: She is so delightful!! Many, many blessings to your, dear, in love and in life!!

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21. 

    Posted 11/27/2011 by Erika Fiore

    “the flamingos Nick had insisted on (he also wanted black panthers, but we managed to talk him out of that detail)”

    ahahahahaha guess I’ll be laughing for the rest of the week…

    That’s a lovely post, Julie Anne…I love weddings, and your way of writing about yours lead us to visualize every detail as if we were there…lovely.

    Reply