12:30am-Go to bed after a good day of decorating, a successful rehearsal at the outdoor location (Lakeside Rose Gardens), and a delicious dinner at Flat Top Grill.
9:00am-Wake up to discover that it's raining. Say a quick but earnest prayer that it goes away. Let the dog out, eat breakfast.
9:30am-Get dressed, straighten hair, drink some coffee.
10:10am-Bride and two other bridesmaids arrive. Go to nail salon. M.o.H., Bride's mom, and Aunt Kim are there. Sing songs from "Glee."
11:20am-Leave nail salon with hands lookin' good. Sing songs from "Glee." The rain has stopped.
11:30am-Arrive at Bagel Station for some food. Mom (mine) meets us there.
12:30pm-Leave Bagel Station, take Bride and M.o.H. home to get ready for their hair appointment, go to JoAnn Fabrics for cake knife and server. The sun has begun to shine.
1:15pm-Quick run to Target for some hair clips and heat protection spray (for hair).
1:30pm-Back home, get everything together.
2:00pm-Leave for Arts United Center to get ready.
2:15pm-Arrive at Arts United Center, greet photographer and two other bridesmaids.
2:20pm-Finish decorating.
2:30pm-Start styling hair. This will continue until 5:00pm.
3:00pm-Bride and M.o.H. arrive from the hair dresser with their mom. All are looking pretty snazzy.
3:18pm-Bride gets a phone call from the string quartet, advising her to move the wedding to the indoor location (at the Arts United Center). Bride talks to Groom. The decision is made to have an indoor wedding. Phone calls are made to family, friends, and the chair rental company.
3:30pm-Start applying makeup.
4:30pm-Indoor rehearsal. Yes, Bride and Groom saw each other before the ceremony.
5:00pm-Back to the dressing rooms to get dressed.
5:15pm-Walk out of dressing room to see Groom (Brother) and parents. Big hugs, pictures, tears.
5:40pm-Bridesmaids and Bride photos in the dressing room. Leave dressing room.
5:45pm-Bride and Groom, now both fully dressed, talk privately (with the photographer) about what to do about the limo and pictures.
6:05pm-Walk to the ceremony location.
6:10pm-String quartet gives the cue, walk down the stairs, take Alex's arm, and walk down the aisle.
6:12pm-Canon in D. Bride and her dad walk down the stairs. Outside the sun is shining, but the rain is pouring down. Thunder. Lots of tears.
Ceremony: Trading in one sibling for two. Life together takes on a different meaning. Dad (officiant) "With the power vested in me..." Groom "This is it!"
"Mr. and Mrs. Andrew and Allie Swanson."
Tears, smiles, take Alex's arm again and walk back down the aisle. Huddle with the wedding party. Hop in the limo for a quick spin around town.
Back to the AUC, pictures with grandparents, up the stairs to the reception. Not much of an entrance. Best Man announces Bride and Groom.
Find a table, get food, talk to family and friends. Best Man speech, M.o.H. speech, Bride and Groom speech, Alex speech. Finish eating, cake, more chatting with family and friends. Pictures, awkwardness.
Head outside with the bridal party and the parents for more pictures. Mosquitoes and fireflies.
The license gets signed, we all head out. Home, change, over to Marklands'. Awkward eye contact with an old friend.
12:30-Home. Sleep.
And that was my day as a bridesmaid.
No comments:
Post a Comment