Look, Grandma, I wrangled a wedding!

[netmouse]

"So," the father of the groom says to me, "I guess compared to the science fiction conventions, running a wedding is pretty much a piece of cake?"

"Pretty much," I said.


Seriously, there was much to do in my official role of "she who keeps the chaos away from the bride" but I did much of the same things I do running a convention, e.g. introducing myself to lots of people, figuring out who plays what role and letting them know what they need to know, occasionally saying "you look like you're not doing anything. Here's this thing that needs doing that you could do," plus general answering questions, hunting down answers I don't know, and trying to track dependencies so that things happen in working order. I took a toolkit with me and was glad of the scissors when I had to trim some candle wicks. Never had to fix anyone's dress or anything; generally it all went pretty smoothly.

Wedding and reception were both in the Pendleton room at the Michigan Union, and the banquet staff were all great as usual. It was a great joy and honor to help out with the wedding of my relatively new friends Alison and Jeef, and all the rest of the family and friends and wedding party were great to work and hang out with, too.

I even remembered to have everyone sign the marriage license before the officiator had to leave to go breastfeed her 7-week-old baby (1st time officiator). I kind of left without saying a formal goodbye to the bride and groom, but there was this bridesmaid to take home and my feet hurt...

I think I understand why my grandmother volunteered doing this for so many years. It feels really good. I wore one of her dresses tonight (which meant I had to wear high heels all day because she was taller than me. If I keep this dress I might get it hemmed shorter), and I had her in mind. I like to think maybe, somehow, she knows or knew I'm following in her footsteps. In any case, I bet she would approve of how things went today, and that makes me smile a little extra. :)

Comments

[knightlygoddess.livejournal.com]

You did a marvelous job! :)

[grimfaire.livejournal.com]

I'll second that...you did great... and the whole thing was just wonderful... and we're not always the easiest bunch of folks to wrangle about... I know.. I've tried for the last 3 years... :)

[talyxsmom.livejournal.com]

You were totally awesome! Thank you again (and again, and again...)

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

*smile*

You're very welcome.

[jenintheclouds.livejournal.com]

It was lovely to meet you! Thank you so much for the last minute directions, we would not have made it back without you.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

It was lovely to meet you too! I hope we can get together again sometime in the coming year.

And thank Brian for the accuracy of the directions - he has that Hill and Packard area of campus memorized better than I do and was standing in front of me giving the stoplight and stop sign details.

Thanks Again

[myrddred1.livejournal.com]

I can't begin to thank you enough for how smoothly things ran...and how much the general reaction of the attendees seemed to be that the wedding was unique and well received.

Graet job--FOG [Father of the Groom]

[childe.livejournal.com]

Yay you!

Still doing the chill-out gathering on New Years' Day?

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Yes-sir-ee-bob!

Still gonna see you there?

[childe.livejournal.com]

Yup yup. :)

[sqwook.livejournal.com]

Sorry we missed your chill-out-gathering. We had made ambitious plans for the day, for which the stars were not aligned, and then we decided we needed to chill out in our own seperate alone-ness. Which also involved naps.

Very glad you could come to our own new year's gathering... and please keep us on the invite list for future stuff! We are not always so flaky. Did I mention our normal bedtime is 10? :)

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Chilling and naps are all good.

thank you for the fun time on New Year's. :)

[saraikennedy.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the ride home. It was very nice to meet you, and I was impressed enough with how smoothly things ran that I've added "have a wedding wrangler" to my mental notes on Things To Do In The Unlikely Event I Get Married. Well done.