The beautiful woman I Babysit for asked me if I'd like to start working for her business. She has the best business of all...WEDDING PLANNING!! She does the most beautiful weddings. She was even rated one of the top wedding planners of NYC in The Knot! HUGE DEAL!!!
My first wedding...off on my own~ GO! All on my own i was to go to the groomsman's hotel room and deliver their boutonnieres and check in on how they're doing. They were from London so of course had the cutest accents I ever did hear. I was going back and forth between the brides and the grooms room ( in two different hotels) on the upper west side with last minute "needs". I had never been to this hotel or met the wedding party and yet my boss just trusted me to go out and make it happen! I'm honored she noticed my dependability.
I had to call the photographer and the drivers and make sure everyone was on their way and doing their part. That's what a wedding planner does on the day of the wedding...takes care of the wedding party and makes sure everyone else is doing the job we've hired them to do! I was still waiting for one more of the groomsmen. Finally there's a knock on the door. "coming!"
I open the door...we both are just staring at each other not saying anything as he walks in and I open the door for him...after a 15 second silence I put out my hand and we both decide to speak at the exact same time...
"Hi, are you A?"/" You're really beautiful..."
....blushing.....
"Oh I mean, yes I'm A"( in a British accent....)
I go to check on the cars and the grooms men continue to take their pictures with the photographer, then we are off in a black SUV to the beautiful church. Since it was a British wedding, all the guest arrived in glorious hats and crazy colorful dresses. It was like i was at a mini version of the royal ball! The groom calls me to his back room. " I forgot the table name cards!"
He begins freaking out.
"It's okay man- we can totally figure that out after the ceremony we have a few hours in between"
"NO IT'S NOT OKAY!"
...clearly getting a little nervous and taking it out on silly table name cards...I tried to calm him down as much as I could but...I had to go meet up with my boss and the bride in front of the chapel~ so i re assured him all would be well once more then headed towards the front of the church.
The bride looked gorgeous. Her bouquet was Red roses with purple orchids~ beautiful!! And had a classic white satin dress that buttoned all the way down the back. I held the train of her dress as we waited for her cue...then the music started and she was off down the aisle. PHEW!!!! most important part done. We got them both to the wedding and down the aisle. That's what we came here for right?
I was now with my boss...remember i was doing all this stuff on my own before...and we can reconnect about the rest of the day.
After the ceremony, an old fashioned taxi cab that looked like it jumped right out of "who framed roger rabbit" pulled up to the front of the church to escort the newly weds to central park for their photos. Then two huge NYC tour buses came to pick up the guests and give them a free tour before the reception since many of them were form London and hadn't seen NYC. (Such a good idea!!)
D and I then went to the Burden Mansions to prepare the cocktail hour and reception. It was radiating!!! I felt like i was in an English palace. who knew NYC had this much glamor?! The stone stair cases spiraling out into a courtyard and a balcony where the guest can enjoy gourmet hors d'oeuvres and drinks.
As this was going on A and i would continue to make eyes at each other. He would smile and say something cheeky then attend back to his guests....flirt flirt....
D and I were going back and forth between the two mansions. The second mansion is where the reception would be held..and even MORE beautiful than the first. Three flights of red velvet stairs spiraling up towards a cherubim painted ceiling with tea lights on every other step and huge stone walls. At the top there were tall glass mirror doors leading into a banquet room, a dance room, and a drink area.
Each table was a different NYC theme "Tribecca table, 42nd street table, etc...The band accompanied the dinner. They were brilliant. During dinner they played classical jazz and during the dance party they did all the top hits and i swear it sounded like the blackeyed peas were right there in the room! My favorite part was when they were announcing the bridal party into the ballroom. they played the instrumental of empire state of mine. Then when they called " The bridesmaids" she would do a riff and sing "New york"....the father-riff again"New Yorooork" and so on until finally he called....
mr and mrs "x"... piano pounds bump bump bump bump bump( singer wails )
" In new york, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothin' you can't do, now you're in new york these streets will make you feel brand new the lights will inspire you..." as the guests stood up and cheered!!! It was so powerful.... and beautiful...so fun!
A famous french chef, catered the dinner. every meal was perfect...and I got to actually meet him!!! There was a shrimp pesto salad followed by fillet Mignon and vegetables, a cheese and bread plate, then a chocolate mouse desert with a triangle of chocolate protruding out as decor. They had a wedding cake that was chocolate, vanilla and coffee mouse with cream puffs that were crystallized in sugar. the best dessert I've ever had! Plus a Mariachi band comes during dessert as a little surprise and everyone LOVED it!! it made the very high money ordeal light hearted and fun!
I overhear a telephone conversation A has " Bye Hun" he hangs up quickly as he sees me...I learn he has two kids.... my cue to walk away.....
The rest of the evening goes beautifully! Running up and down the stairs to get tasks done. Calling cars for people who need a ride. Eating amazing food. Getting to take home a huge block of cheese that's lasted forever and flowers as well.
At the end of it all D and I pop into a cab, and luckily we had a real NYC taxi driver...
"how fast can you get me to east 40th street?" (we were on the upper west side of course)
"i need to catch a train in 7 minutes" D says....Now this was the best cab driver I've ever had!!! he's twisting whirling jumping over cars, it was like we were in a movie, and gets her to her Hampton's bound bus with minutes to spare! We say our good byes and I continue in my cab in my little black dress through the New York City lights back to my apartment.
I meet my friends on my roof and tell them all about my enchanted evening....
Only God could have picked my perfect career, and she's booked me for 3 more weddings already- I think I'm in love with my new job....
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