wedding #2

After setting up and going to a wedding on Fridayy, a rehersal for another wedding on Saturday, I was a little tired when Sunday rolled around and a promised day of surprise and hard work lay before us. As the marital counselors, decorators, bridal party and good friends of Adam and Sally, we had a lot invested in this big day. So, we began it, (my hoping I could make it though knowing my exhaustion meter would soon run out)

I wondered what it would be like to set up a wedding in a public park.. Well, it's an interesting process. First, find a plot of land and rent it for the day. And show up at 9 amand then begin to try and set up in the middle of tai chi practice. So, we just had to start setting up in the middle of things. Of course people wanted to help where they could (the man in the suit is just an onlooker)and watch where they could... when a crowd gathers... well, it gathers and gathers and gets bigger and bigger with no end.
And brides and grooms from all over flocked to see what was happening (and use our wedding decor for their photos). This is not the bride and groom, nor are they getting married this day. In China all the couples get their wedding pictures done months before (or after) their actual wedding day.

This is the real groom, and I think Dave is trying to reassure him that everything will be ok. He looks a little worried about the state of things (and honestly, so was I... How in the world were we going to keep people out of the wedding ceremony when there were hundreds of onlookers just at our set up? Some of them asked what time the wedding was and then promised they would come back for it! What can you do?)

So, we just proceeded, and got dressed for the event after a big morning of setting up. You can see behind us, behind the purple fabric we wrapped around the trees people beginning to gather)And it begins!!

And crowds they did gather, pressing in despite our best efforts of marking off the wedding spot.

Cute (very cute) flower girls. (Everyone standing behind the arch is just an onlooker-- this is what surrounded the entire wedding!!! The bride and groom were told that they were responsible if anyone got hurt in the outside crowds because of the attention they drew by having a wedding-- interesting logic) And down the isle Sally came-- a radiant bride!
Aren't they cute?
And these ones too?
And this particuar one? (I mean, the one moving up a storm on the inside! (Josie was excited to be a part of the ceremony and let me know !)
Will I ever have a waistline again?

Ahhhhh..... she made it though the ceremony-- still smiling!

And so did we. Our job wasn't finished until we snuck over and set up the bridal suite with candles and flowers and lovely things for a newlywed couple. So, it was a full full day. I woke up this morning hardly able to walk my feet were so sore. I will need an entire day to recover (or more) from this but we are certainly glad that everything went better than we expected-- it was a beautiful wedding and most importantly-- THEY ARE MARRIED!!! Yay!