Waiting to hear about the wedding green button
I hope well. looks like brides mother likes all the attention so wants to call attention to her disability sad
Many things happen now that I guess save the dates are good. Many people travel of work and leisure.
Many things are different now. why do I have to supply toiletries for guests in the bathroom? Why is it a wedding weekend? etc…
D is very stressed kind of cranky. I wonder who she is. I hope the former comes back after the wedding. LOL
BTW groom mother left because he did a special dance with brides mom. I don’t think groom and his mom have the best relationship. Mom and dad are divorced and she was mad dad was at the rehearsal. although neither paid. for it
I don’t understand why people feel the need to behave so poorly.
I’m here! I’m here! The last of the guests left this morning, so here I am to dish…deciding whether or not to bury the lede 
MOB did attend, she did behave – mostly. The morning of the wedding, as we gathered at the church, she completely ignored both her own guests (who came from overseas) and my attempts to relocate her, and camped in front of the women’s dressing room, demanding to see her daughter. The fabulosity of the bridesmaids cannot be overstated. They had locked the door, and about every 15 minutes, one would come out to debrief MOB. But they never let her in, and eventually MOB became so interested in the gathering guests that she was calmed down. (She eventually did see her daughter, to give her an enormous broach which she wanted the bride to wear – my son wore it on his lapel, instead) She did walk halfway down the aisle, her in the middle with her daughter (MY DIL!!!) and my son at each arm. It was fine.
At the reception, she kept wanting the mike to “give a blessing” but my oldest (who was the Best Man and MOC) just pretended he couldn’t hear her in the crowd. But enough about her.
It was beautiful. It was wonderful. It was SO them. When the MOH was readjusting DIL’s gown at the end, my oldest leans over casually and fluffs up the tails of the groom’s suit, to laughter. The soloist sang beautifully. The pastor’s message was short and lovely and personal. Photos were a challenge with 5 children under 5 – but the group was game and cooperative and it all got done on schedule (MOH was keeping track). Friends of ours arrived with a wheelchair for my DH, who swallowed his pride and let them help.
Hmm, what else. The food was great. The sound system cut out 15 seconds into their first dance, and we discovered the venue rep had left for the night. The waitstaff stepped up, and with my oldest’s help, got it back up. No biggie, they hadn’t really wanted to dance, and were giving tap lessons while they waited, which was hilarious. The bartender was supposed to stay to serve wine (a niece is a vintner, and made wine for the evening) but also left – I didn’t know, or I would have had words about that. But they had poured for the toast, and as we were cleaning up the groomsmen opened the last bottles for another single toast.
The oldest’s toast was kind and funny and sweet and loving and made everyone cry. My shoes didn’t hurt. My inlaws danced. My parents played with their great grandchildren from California and found out another one is on the way. The cake was gone in 10 minutes so I hear it was good They cut the cake with my parents’ knife (they’ve been married 64 years)
The favors were used books from a charity booksale and store; we wrapped them in plain paper and my goodness, this was quite a conversation piece. Each wrapped book had a bookmark with one of the readings from the ceremony.
Takeaways for planners: concentrate on the things you really care about, and relax about the rest. Don’t get stuck on the things no one will remember. The venue itself is the most important decision you will make. If it’s on paper, nobody is keeping it, so don’t stress. Make the weekend match the bride/groom personality. It’s like you are in a Best Buy, facing that big wall of TV’s and trying to watch them all. Concentrate on the ones you care about. Pay attention to what you are in the moment with. Breathe. Be happy. Let someone else take the photos.
After the brunch (people spilled out into our yard, it was so much fun) the bridesmaids were leaving and then came back to find me. They wanted a picture of all of “us girls” together before they left, at first I thought they were making fun of me, but my son told me that no, they really had fallen in love with me over the weekend (as I had with them). It was wonderful, more wonderful than we had hoped for, even with the MOB and minor glitches. I’ll have an adrenaline rush for weeks!
Oh, and my Simon Whathisface foundation garment? So expensive? Worth. every.penny. I will never go without, again. Super duper comfy and never rolled down, and I will admit that I looked like a million bucks!
@greenbutton congratulations! It sounds like a wonderful wedding weekend!! Perfect for the bride and groom in every way. And it sounds like you had a great time too!!
@greenbutton - your description has put a smile on my face. It sounds like an amazing time. Couldn’t agree more about taking moments to absorb it all as it unfolds. It moves so fast! Congratulations to your family. You earned your super hero cape and a lot of respect. Now, time for a break.
@greenbutton your wedding weekend sounds amazing! Congratulations.
Oh, we’re getting closer. We were almost ready to mail the invitations today…I found a typo yesterday! Ugh. To their amazing credit, Shine is reprinting the envelopes for us.
The post office released new postage stamps last week and we are using the Winterberry series. There are four stamps in the series (and the colors are red, pink, yellow, and blue). I’m planning that each person will get 3 of the same stamps, two on the outer envelope and one on the RSVP.
The bride’s and bridemaids’ dresses have arrived and it is time for alterations. I have dressy sandals for my dress, but also want a pair of block heels for photos on brick sidewalks. I’m still looking for those. As soon as I get them, I will get my dress hemmed. DH needs to get measured soon for his tux.
We have the venue, florist, photographer, officiant, friend/coordinator… by the end of October, we should have a better idea on the menu. Marriage prep is underway and the couple says they are enjoying the sessions.
I’m going to start place cards soon. I can always toss out those who decline their invitation.
I wonder what I am missing, that I could be doing now!?
I’m feeling like a doofus. I gave away 13 bags of clothes and shoes, including the mate of a shoe I planned to wear for rehearsal dinner. So I bought another pair, and when I got home, it was the wrong model.
And I’m second guessing my wedding outfit. The bride is wearing a short dress, as well as the bridesmaids. The MOB is supposedly wearing black pants and a nice top. Venue is a brewery. I had a tunic made of dark blue silk and slightly darker lace, 2 layers, lace sleeves, blue Swarovski crystals on front lace, and straight silk pants. All my office mates think I should have added a layer and gone with a dress. They wish I would get a plain silk skirt to wear under tunic at this point.
Love it, greenbutton and then love it more.
My good news is, thanks to posters here, we had made the decision for a wedding planner. Despite an early snafu with the first, this second is a gem.
She convinced D1 to go with assigned seating, enough chairs during the cocktail part, and the idea her centerpieces can be simplified, if the budget demands, and repurposed, if so (eg, she may not need separate, elaborate flowers for the cocktail tables.)
What’s also changed, between D1 and me, is that I don’t need to offer counterpoint (before, she kept saying, “Well, my friends did it this way,” though she wanted her own spin. I thought I’d have to put my foot down about the extra cocktail seating, etc.) Now, she’s got a good pro offering input.
Your outfit sounds lovely, @bookworm. I think pants are just fine, especially since the MOB is wearing pants as well.
@greenbutton Congrats to you and your family. I love the idea with the books.
Green button so glad it all went well. I love it when boundries are placed on difficult people . they sound like a lovely couple.
I think the dress/tunic is fine. I keep questioning my decision to wear a shorter dress (below the knee) its a beautiful dress. too late now lol
I went to a wedding this weekend too, it mirrored what the couple wanted love this.
So glad everything went so well, @greenbutton !!
Quick Q- What is a MOC?
At DS#2’s wedding, his bride’s brother and some other relatives were primed to “watch” her dad, and intervene if he misbehaved or approached his ex wife (MOB) in any way. He behaved. Is that what a MOC is?
I agree @bookworm your outfit sounds pretty, comfortable and FINE!
@greenbutton, I love the wrapped books/bookmark idea!
Master/Mistress of Ceremonies
@greenbutton Congratulations, sounds like such a warm and loving event!
That’s why I hired a college counselor for D2, so I wouldn’t always be the one to tell her what to do. The trick is find one who thinks like you do. 
I hire consultants at work, not because they know more than me, but it(any message I want to share) just sounds better coming from them. I paid for D1’s wedding planner. Best money spent.
Yes, @oldfort, I almost mentioned the same, re: admissions!
MOC = Master of Ceremonies, sorry. He did the announcements and served as our dj, introduced the wedding party, etc.