Weddingbee Blog

WHERE WE HAD LEFT OFF:

• The wedding schedule is thrown off by late makeup appointments
• I come home to find that all of our bouquets are dead, after our florist put them into the freezer instead of the fridge!
• Bridal portraits begin, I begin to doubt my choice in photographer
• Bridal party portraits begin, the photographer embarrasses my family and friends
• Mr. Shortcake and his groomsmen get ready with the help of a ping-pong table

NOTE: As usual, my recap photos are from a variety of sources. All post-processing has been done by me with each individual’s consent and permission.

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High heels on, hair in place, and umbrellas in hand, it was time to leave for the church. Our photographer had gone on ahead of us, so we had a moment to breathe.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Once that single moment was over, all hell broke loose as people scrambled to find their belongings and rides to the little chapel. My bridesmaids and I, of course, were traveling together in a stretch S.U.V. limo. Not so very vintage, but my hoop skirts necessitated something that could accommodate my dress without squashing it a la Princess Diana in her wedding day carriage. So, a S.U.V. it was, and it had been lovingly decorated by my mother for the occasion. Unfortunately, we all clambered into the vehicle so quickly that no one noticed the decorations, and no one thought to take any pictures of it. Whoops! Sorry, mom!

Meanwhile, Mr. Shortcake and his motley crew had arrived at St. George’s Parish, and were nervously awaiting our arrival.

Isn’t he handsome?

Because it was a historic church, we weren’t allowed to bring in many decorations. That was okay, though, because the church was so tiny that any pew decorations would have been knocked over by anyone walking down the aisle - let alone a bride in a rather wide gown! We did have some simple, classic, white lily arrangements put by the altar, and had an ivory damask table overlay for the registry table.

Our two hundred year old chapel didn’t need much, anyway. Check out the gorgeous stained glass windows!

The guests began to trickle in, and our groomsmen did a lovely job of helping them to find their seats.

The organist had arrived and had begun playing soft classical music. Our videographer/fraternity brother was also on hand to capture the arrival of our guests:

The limo pulled up to the church, and parked outside of its picket white fence. The sky was darkening by the minute, and the misty drizzle of the last hour had turned into steady rain. Blech.

Inside the limo, my bridesmaids and I were trying to keep it together. Nerves had overtaken all of us, and my knees were audibly knocking together.

I asked my Maid of Honour how she was feeling.

“I’m so excited, I feel like I’m going to die.”

Ni-ice. I passed around a powder compact and we all dabbed at our faces. Lipsticks were pulled out of clutches, and as we reapplied it on our lips we couldn’t help but notice the sloshing rain pouring down the sides of the vehicle. Somebody suggested that we sing to calm down, so we launched into a high school choir-riffic rendition of “Potato Salad”. Anybody else know that song?

This was the second time Youngest Sister Shortcake had sung today - she had practiced earlier in preparation for her solo in the ceremony.

The singing seemed to help. So did screaming randomly at the top of our lungs!

The limo driver knocked on the window. It was time. One by one, my bridesmaids inched their way down the leather seats, grabbing their matching pink umbrellas as they neared the door and gingerly stepped out into the downpour. It was my turn.

Wish me luck!