There's a lot to be said for perfection. We managed to get it.
I went down on Thursday afternoon to see Dan when he tried on his tux. God, he looked so handsome. Black jacket and pants, silvery gray brocade vest with matching long tie. Sharp, sharp, sharp. Especially as his shoes hadn't come in yet and he had on white Nikes. LOL. Very sexy. He didn't have a clue how to work the studs, and cufflinks. The shirt already has buttons, he points out. So I put them on for him.
I got through that part with just a little mist.
He was waiting on his best man who was driving up from S.C., and they would drop by, pick up tux and all shoes. BW and I headed out, picked up his tux, Jason's tux, and their shoes. BW tries on--same deal with the studs. LOL. His tux is a three piece black, with the long tie. He looks great!
Then we go off in our regular clothes to the mansion for the rehearsal. It's hot, hot, hot. Tents are up in the rear. With sides. Arrgh. Must call tent place. Stacie and her mom are both obsessed about the sides. They will be taken down in the morning, and the poles wrapped. Not to worry.
Groom is very late for rehearsal--much joking here. Best man is stuck on 95 and requires stand in. We think Jason is among the missing, but it turns out he was sleeping in his car in the parking lot because he got there early. Groom arrives. Rehearsal is confused and hot and funny and rather sweet.
Get through that with just a little mist.
Head back here where the caterer is set up. Food looks amazing. Much fun and cheer. My azaleas have popped and look fabulous. People start to trickle in behind us. Dogs must be closed on the deck for a bit. Girls who are staying are hauling in their stuff and dumping it in various bedrooms. Champagne is popped and poured.
Everyone's so happy. Dogs are now released, and people wander onto the deck, down to the pool, around in the yard. Food is served. The food is fabulous, seriously lovely. There's no stiffness in anyone. Much chatter and cheer. Kids hit the pool. Stacie gives me and her mom a pretty candle, and a gift certificate for brunch at a Frederick restaurant--with the stipulation that we all use it together first chance we have. So sweet. Sandra gives me a lovely gift basket as a thanks for everything. We're all in love with each other. <g>
The evening cools down. Many of us sit on the deck, or on the lower deck outside the pool. The guys finally head off the Dan's--with warnings about cutting off the beer intake early. Guests depart and Stacie and four of the girls stay here.
We set up beds. They're hungry again. Get out the food the caterers have efficiently put away. They eat, they chatter. We put food away again and they all go downstairs while I go to bed.
I can hear them, cheerful, excited little birds through my window. I let it go for an hour, then nip down to remind them bride's shouldn't have dark eye circles. Stacie's sitting on the family room pull out grinning like an idiot. It takes them awhile longer, but all girls eventually end up in their respective beds.
I'm up early. Figured I'd get my shower before I have to compete with BW and five females. Fiddle here and there tidying up what we didn't get to the night before. Stacie's up shortly after, as is BW and two of the girls. Coffee and breakfast. Keep everyone calm and lazy for another hour or so. Time to take showers, and wake up the others.
Madness ensues. LOL. Girls are so different. Talk, talk, talk, hair, hair, hair, giggles, gossip. I'm fascinated by them, and delighted with them. They're so adorable, so happy and silly. Many calls to guys down below. Jason comes up for a care package of food and reports there are no hangovers.
Harold has requested all hair he's doing, save mine, be washed and dried. I'm to stay wet. The older flower girl is dropped off. I do Stacie's makeup. I must say, I did a hell of a job there. She looks like our girl, but with slightly dramatic eyes. Happy color. One of the other girls is so impressed by this, she asks if I can do her. I do. This leads to more. For some reason, I just notice all the girls are blondes. Every one. Slim, pretty blondes who aren't used to having a snappy makeup job. I keep them all very soft, very natural, and give the hopeful flower girl--age ten--some blush and lip gloss. She's so pleased by this.
Harold arrives. He does me first so I can get dressed. What a guy. My hair is great. He does the two from the bridal party next, and the little girl. I'm dressed now--many ooohs over my outfit. Girls are great for this. He does their hair in complex updos, adding little pearl pins. Gorgeous. Then he tackles Stacie. Her nerves are peaking, so I give her a glass of champagne. They've already discussed her hair style. Many curls for her, all swept up off her neck, piled up so they'll fall behind the headpiece which he pins on so it wouldn't move if she hit a tornado. It's just gorgeous. Even in her old pink shirt and cut-offs she looks beautiful. I get misty again.
Limo arrives. More insanity. Did you get this? Can I leave that? Where is my this, have you seen my that. Towels are everywhere. More girls have come by--had their hair done elsewhere. We are eleven or twelve in the limo.
One of the girls gets car sick on the way. Move her to a window seat, ice on the back of her neck. Talk, talk, talk, with Stacie grinning, grinning, grinning. Her eyes are looking a little wild by now.
We arrive, and she's worried Dan will come before she can get upstairs. We post a lookout so she can scurry in. Up to the bride's room where they've set cold drinks and snacks out in the hall. I settle them in and run down to check out the tent and flower situation.
The sides of the tent have been removed, the poles wrapped. Some of the flowers are in place. The video crew is still setting up. Looks like a movie set. God. The cake's there, and it's perfect. The topper gets me teared up again. Run around keeping busy. Guys have arrived. Check on them. None can figure the studs. I play Mom for everyone. Guys are more my style, I guess. I just love boys. I have fun with them, stud Jason up--which also gets me misty. The groomsman are in the same tux as BW, but with bow ties. Best man with the silvery gray vest and bow tie.
Back to the girls. Do another attendant's make-up. Oooh over two-year old flower girl who looks like a little princess. Give her blush and lip gloss when she comes up to me with her little lips pursed.
The attendants are in long periwinkle sheaths, jeweled spaghetti straps and a long airy scarf. They're beautiful. But Stacie comes out in her gown, and is phenomenal. Her mother and I both tear up again. I remind everyone to breathe, breathe, breathe, as I've been coaxing Stacie all day. Sandra's wearing a long two piece suit in soft rosy pink. Very pretty on her.
We run down again, and the flowers are set. I've never seen the like. Spectacular. Deep, deep blue delphiums, peach roses, white lilies. Huge baskets of them on pedestals on the pergola. More in medium baskets on the steps. More still on the patio and around the reflecting pool. All the rails are wrapped in white tulle. Flower wreaths of peach roses on the door. Mantels are dressed in the same theme. Bathrooms have little arrangements, too.
It is, sincerely, the most beautiful job I've ever seen, and exactly what I'd wanted. Sandra and I tear up yet again, and decide we just can't talk about it now.
Photog does portraits of Stacie in one of the lower rooms in front of the tall windows. She's nervous now, needs coaching, but does really well. And looks absolutely gorgeous. More pictures with attendants. And with flower girls. I'm getting calls from the groom's room. Up and down stairs. This is good, kept me occupied. Fix this, fiddle with that. More makeup in bride's room.
One more glass of champagne for Stacie.
Groom's pix. Oh God, I've never seen such handsome young men.
We do poses with Dan, BW and me, me and Dan, me and Jason and Dan and BW. Photog is quick and clever.
My mom arrives. She looks so pretty. We have a corsage for her. Sandy and I agree to carry ours--white roses and jasmine--rather than pin. There's such happiness in the house. You can almost see it in little pink waves.
I go up one last time, fuss with the guys. Give Dan a big hug. He asks me if he should be nervous. He's just not. Too happy. I get misty again, and go back to the girls. One look at Stacie and my throat closes.
Guys are headed out. We're herded down to line up. I hear the trio playing. Lovely classical music. I see KO from Toronto arrive, and Amy and Jodi from NY. Isabel and Steven. Gosh, we're really doing this. I see Kathy Onorato. Grab a hug. Everyone's seated, and they start. Grandmother of the groom--escorted by Jason. Grandmother of the bride, by one of her grandsons. Jason comes back for me. I'm pretty misty here, have to remind myself to breathe.
The guys are lined up on their side of the pergola. Dan looks over at me, huge smile. It's sunny, just a little breezy. They strike up Here Comes The Bride. Attendants start down, pass the reflecting pond, to their side of the pergola. Blonde after blonde, as pretty as it gets. Then the fanfare. And I'm already crying. She looks like a dream, and I can see Dan glow as he watches her. I'm gripping BW's hand. It helps.
Lovely ceremony, and I manage to mop myself up before Sandra and I light the Unity candles. Mine goes out. LOL. Stacie gets wide-eyed. I laugh and relight. Then they step forward to light their candle from ours. Takes awhile--you almost want to help them out. LOL.
Then Sandra and I take our seats again, and we do the vows. Both make their promises in clear, steady voices. I cry again. After, one of the groomsman told me, he was afraid to look at me, because I made him tear up. LOL.
My boy kisses his girl, and they announce Mr. and Mrs. Aufdem-Brinke to much applause.
I'm so misted up I don't actually see where anyone sitting. Up we go, back to the bride's room where they've set out fruit and cheese and have more champagne. Many hugs, more tears, much chatter. Touch up makeup for pictures.
Side note: She-laq is a modern miracle.
We do group and parents shots outside in the front while guests have food and drink inside. Many guests wander out. I talk to pals, my mom and so on. Everyone's commenting on the flowers, the bridal party, the mansion. It's a huge hit.
We're lined up again for the announcement. Join the guests who are now seated at the tables on the back terrace, more applause for Mr. and Mrs. Aufdem-Brinke. I'm fine now, talking to friends.
We eat like kings, do the table rounds. Everyone looks terrific. Dan and Stacie are flitting around the tables. You won't see a better-looking couple. It's a perfect evening, cooled off just enough to be comfortable, fragrant with the flowers.
DJ announces first dance. And they dance on the terrace, looking like a story-book.
Inside for father/daughter dance. A very sweet moment to Forever Young. Then it's the mother/daughter, to My Life. We both cry. Just hang on to each other, hold tight. No blubbering, just steady tears for me. I'm so happy for my baby.
After, I'm told by nearly everyone I speak to, that the dance made them cry. BW said he and Harold, who were standing next to each other finally had to look away. LOL. Another pal told me she made it through the entire ceremony with a tear, then nearly sobbed watching us dance.
As soon as we're done--big kiss, big hug, my oldest brother grabs me for the first non-formal dance. I'd forgotten how he can boogie. Used to dance with me when I was a little girl and he was a teenager. We do a lot of dipping, then it's into a jitter-bug. People are up and dancing. Time for fun.
We're running behind schedule, but nobody cares. My mother stays till after ten. A record for her. They call the apron dance. I slip the maid of honor twenty, and dance with Dan again. No tears this time.
Cake cutting. Now I cry again. LOL. More dancing. Inside and out. More chatting, more compliments on the flowers, more comments on how stunning the bride and groom look. Lots of laughs over the parade of blondes.
Dan cuts loose. He's a dancing fool. I arrange to have the bar open yet another hour. We're down to about fifty diehards by midnight. Go out for their last dance, on the pergola, and we're armed with the pretty little tulle-wrapped bubbles. Jeez, it was pretty. That beautiful couple on the wisteria-decked arbor, flanked by flowers, moonlight, with bubbles floating around them. A perfect end.
Then it's back up the the bride's room to grab stuff. We give away flowers right and left. My mother left with the centerpiece from our table. Stacie's dad--who doesn't say much in the sentimental vein, corners me just for a minute to thank me for making this all so special. It was like a movie, he says, and something none of us will ever forget. I'm really touched by this.
Dan and Stacie pile in one limo that's loaded with gifts. We pile into other that's ditto. Arrange to have Jason and his girl pick us up at Dan's place so we can unload.
This takes some time, and their little dog is wild to see them. It's two in the morning, but Stacie's still revved. We get her out of her head piece, kiss them goodbye.
I have another little cry when I get home.
It was perfect.
Nora
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