Never again will I wonder why it takes so long to plan a wedding reception. I totally get long engagements now! I am convinced, however, that the longer the engagement, the more money one spends. Because how can you pass up those runners, paper lanterns and ribbons that are just the right color green? And wouldn't it be so cute to have lanterns hanging from shepherd hook garden poles, M&M candies that say the names of the bride and groom (could we get those in wedding colors please?), and homemade pillows on the outdoor sofas that match the bride's color scheme? And could we have color coordinated mints in pretty little baskets that the two (yes, two) flower girls give to guests throughout the night (we have lovely thoughts of these two little girls gliding gracefully from guest to guest, politely offering butter mints... it's a nice thought anyway...)? Engagement photos, bridal photos, pre-wedding couple photos, invitations, inserts, registering, centerpieces (borrowed...yay!), candles, picture frames, printing pictures, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, mother's dress, shoes, wedding dress, temple clothing, guest signing book, addressing invites, stamps and more stamps, cake, flowers, bows on chairs or no bows on chairs, caterer, ice cream parlor, tablecloths, carnival tent, paper plates or china, lighting, sparklers, thank-yous, music, etc.
And all these things take time because they require thought followed by a preliminary decision and then a final decision after which one actually goes to work to make it happen, which takes the most time. And did we talk about the never-ending pile of money that is required to make it all work? Let's not talk about that.
My biggest job, even more important than making sure all the above gets decided upon and implemented, is to
WORRY.
WORRY.
Yes, that is my biggest job. And I do it wonderfully: What if we run out of food or are we ordering too much? How many people will come? Will anyone come? What do we do if it rains? Do we need a tent or not? Will we need lighting or not? Will we need table toppers or will a simple centerpiece on a cream colored tablecloth be sufficient? Where can I buy lanterns for a good price? How do we make sure the cake table is level on the grass? What do we do if there are lots of bees? Or a skunk, heaven forbid? Will guests trip on the step on the garden path out? How will guests know where to enter the back yard? Where will guests park? And the lists goes on and on...
But then I think about Haley and Nate and how happy I am that they found each other and want to be together forever...
...and it makes it all worth it. Every minute. Every penny.
