Divide and conquer was the plan once we arrived at the venue! The guys were in charge of the lanterns. The girls were tasked with setting up the welcome table and, more importantly, being ready on time.
Stringing the lights together. Turning on the LEDs.
Spacing out the lanterns according to my totally-not-to-scale sketches (below).
Bunches of lanterns up and lit!
The boys finished their lantern installation in under an hour. What they did the remainder of the morning eludes me…although there is photographic evidence of some test shots in the photobooth.
Best Man M with Groomsman J; Mr. PaC & J
Even my sister got in on the photobooth fun.
I was happy to distract myself with a project. Being idle didn’t feel right. And it would haven given an opportunity for those anxious nerves to reappear. Not that I was one bit nervous about getting married. More like the scope of the event was so huge and built up for 19 months…and it was finally here! The pieces were all coming together without one bit of stress.
My plan for the welcome table, right down to the exact color for each bunting flag.
Some brides prefer to hire a day-of coordinator to ensure details like our lanterns and welcome table were executed according to plan. I never could have done that. I am far more hands on (doesn’t that sound like a euphemism for perfectionism?) and couldn’t imagine handing my projects over to someone else. It’s a feeling akin to practicing for a recital and then letting someone else perform for you. The scope of our projects wasn’t so impossible to accomplish by noon given the number of helping hands available. There wasn’t much thought given to what we were supposed to be doing, just what needed to be done. Having only been in one wedding as an adult, I had no expectations and just did what made sense.
10:30 am: “Art directing” and cool as a cucumber
I was so deep in concentration and giving directions that I’m afraid didn’t recognize or give much of a greeting to our makeup artist, Emily from Cheekadee, when she rolled into the foyer with her rolling kit full of makeup. Natalie, our hair stylist, appeared shortly thereafter in a slightly harried state after getting lost. (Later, I found my phone with several missed calls from her. Oh well! I didn’t have it on me for a reason.) We pointed her in the direction of the bridal suite and resumed our assembly line. Looking back, our lack of concern might have bordered on lackadaisical. The mood of the morning was sooooo incredibly relaxed.
Darn escort cards! One would get bumped and half the row would domino over.
Lots of activity in the above photo. I’m assembling the “Better Together” bunting project created just a few days prior. Cousin J is adjusting the frames just so. BM R is alphabetizing 80+ escort cards. My sister, without a project and not sure what else needed to be done (not much), waits for her turn upstairs.
Mr. PaC swung by to check on our progress, noted things were under control, and stole me away for an impromptu dance practice. We’d taken private dance lessons (as so many of you suggested) so I felt confident. The only issue was the man in charge of our timing and direction wasn’t quite as confident or practiced. In our dance lessons, I may have led when he forgot the steps or nudged him in the right direction. I could not do this in front of our guests. We queued up the music and were mid-step when we were spotted! First by our venue coordinator as she backpedaled back into the doorway and then by Mr. PaC’s brother as he appeared with a tasty surprise—a box of gourmet chocolates—headed for the bridal suite. Our last run through of our dance was flavored with melting sea salt caramel truffles.
(all personal photos)
Catch up on our PaC recaps!
Days Before
Wedding Morning
I understand the being hands on. Everyone keeps telling me I won’t be able to be in charge of things the day of the wedding, but I can’t imagine letting some one else do it with no direction.
I totally hear you with the hands on thing – I definitely still took the reigns on decorating and coordinating both the night before and morning of the wedding. I *love* your idea of a diagram from everything, too.. so wish I thought of that!!
@Miss Toadstool: Right! What else would I have been doing with that time? Getting anxious, that’s what.
@Mrs. Fox: Diagrams are helpful if you need to delegate but don’t have time to explain every detail. I wasn’t sure how the morning would go so I enjoyed the quiet time sketching them out earlier in the week.
I kind of gave up on being in charge. There were a few things that I tried to do but we had such an army of people in a frenzy to set up that I gave in and let it happen. But it all worked out (almost) the way I wanted, and some of it turned out even better… and I was free to get my nails done instead!
I’m so glad you had a relaxing morning after all the other stress leading up to the wedding!
@Mrs. Dragon: Getting a relaxing treatment sounds like a nice way to spend the morning.
@Mrs. Pony: Oh yes, from here on out — no stress! 
Oh man, I’d totally blocked out memories of my own setup. I had plenty of drawings for everyone as well!
I love the detailed drawings! I am the exact same way. In order to know something is done right, I need to do it myself.
Oh my gosh, you guys were so busy!! I left it all up to our venue coordinators and (thankfully) they did a great job.
Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DE Age and Occupation: 29, Realtor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Realtor Engagement Date: November 21, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2011 Venue: Greenville Country Club About Me: An ENFJ with an artistic streak who loves backgammon, sailing, graphic design, and sleeping in. Travel (near or far), good wine, and tasty food makes my heart sing. I'm a compulsive list-maker who lives to plan and organize. Mr. P and I have lived together for 4 years, all the while renovating our city townhome bit by bit. We're planning a whimsical, Anthropologie-inspired garden wedding in June 2011.
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