A Day in the Life ... Part 2

So yesterday, I started telling you about Part 1 of what last Saturday was like. Here is the continuing saga ....

When we left the story yesterday, it is 4:50pm and Bus #1 has curiously not shown up at the church yet ...

4:50pm -- Juanice, who is on Bus #1, left me a voicemail 5 minutes earlier saying that her bus is running late (slightly lost) but should be there within 10 minutes. Let Reverend and bridal party know we are running a few minutes behind.

4:55pm - Bus #1 has finally arrived!

5:00pm - Line everybody up.

5:05pm - The processional begins! 5 minutes off. I'll take that. I leave Juanice in charge of the church and I am off to the reception. Call to see how setup is going at reception with Christina. She's almost done. Caterer wants to talk to me to confer on cake flowers placement. Will have to wait until I arrive.

5:35pm - Juanice calls to say the ceremony is over and Bus #1 is on its way! Wow that was fast! I park quickly, say hello to the valet guys, hop in the slow elevator, inform the caterer of the impending guest arrival. Let's check out the cake situation. The room looks awesome! I say hi to DJ Matt and told him I'll confer with him in a few minutes.


5:45pm - Juanice calls to say Bus #2 has departed and the bridal party is done with pictures. I take 5 minutes go through my setup check list. Everything is in order.

6:10pm - both buses have arrived. get on bus and make sure nothing is left behind. tip bus drivers and send them off. Juanice calls to say bride and groom photos are done and everyone is departing the church.

6:40pm - Juanice arrives at ToTT. Photographer wants to do some night shots with the DC skyline in the background. Bride wants to change shoes, get bustled and take off veil first. Oh and eat 2 bites and a drink.

7:00pm - DJ asks everyone to take their seats and let's get the introductions rolling! We are right on schedule. First dance. Awww, bride and groom are so cute and happy!

7:10pm -- dinner starts. I tidy up the escort card and gift tables. Move gifts to facility manager's office for safe keeping. Get dinner for photographers and DJ. Got asked for the 3rd time how a Penn engineering grad become a wedding planner!

8:00pm -- time for father/daughter and mother/son dance. Warn father of the bride and mother of the groom. Give bride and groom heads up. They want to visit 2 more tables. The guests are getting antsy but no problem. Confer with DJ. DJ suggested maybe we should do the dances, cake cutting and toast all back to back. Let's play it by ear and see how it works out.

8:20pm -- bride and groom are finally at their last table. Confer with DJ. Let's do as he suggested. Tell caterer to pass champagne and inform the captain of the change of plans. Inform best man of the change of plans. Finally, we do the cake cutting, best man toast, and parents dances. Let the dancing begin (2o minutes late but that's OK)!

8:30pm -- put out the Tastee Cake favors on the gift table. Finally, I get to eat dinner and drink another Coke. After a short break, start packing up the gifts, tidy up the bride's belongings.

9:15pm -- check to make sure the shuttle bus has arrived. Inform DJ to make announcement.

9:30pm -- time for bouquet toss. Confer w/ DJ. He's got a good crowd going on the dance floor. Let's play another song. Perfect. Bride and groom wants 5 minutes to themselves anyway.

9:40pm -- bouquet toss and last song is coming up.

9:50pm -- Thank you and good night! Get bride and groom into getaway car with leftover food.

10:30pm -- the last guests finally leave and I release the valet. Break down starts. Took 3 trips to take all the decor and presents down to my car in between the rental company picking up the rented chairs. After a two-hour, slow and tedious break down (ToTT has only one small and very slow elevator used by all vendors) in blustery (40mph winds) and cold weather, I finally got home about 12:45am. My car was packed to the gills. I bring in the leftover cake, perishable items and jam them into my fridge. Also bring in other valuables. I can't feel my feet. Caught the last few minutes of Saturday Night Live. I'm out like a light.

Next day ...

I slept in until 10am. Make breakfast for me and hubby. Take long and hot shower. My feet still hurt.

Ugh. Got to unpack, clean, and store all the candles from last night (photo is box 1 of 3). Go through my emergency bag and see what is missing (something is always missing/lost/given to someone earlier in the day).

5pm .... Time to drive to bride's parents home to unload all the gifts and decor out of my trunk - not to mention 3 trays of leftover cake.

That's all folks! I'm tired from just typing about my day! Phew! Hope you enjoyed it!