A bridal party miscount has some serious implications. Last week my faux pas came to my attention during the rehearsal dinner when my daughter gave the bridesmaids their gifts and there was one short. The groomsmen were fine — the groom handled their gifts, but I was the only one local. As the wedding planner, my miscount snowballed.
The Head Table
The head table set up would be 2 short, however, with the long head table, that was an easy fix. On the morning of the wedding, after I returned from my trip home to make the maid of honor’s jewelry set, we started to decorate the tables in the Music Room. I told the gentleman in charge about the miscount, and he added one more place setting on each side. It was a little cozier at the head table, but among family and friends, cozy’s good, right?
The Flowers
Traditionally, the bride handles the flowers at the church, reception, and for the bridesmaids. The groom handles the bridal bouquet, boutonnieres for the groomsmen, fathers, and grandfathers, and corsages for the two mothers and grandmothers. It was Advent, so the church was easy. For the reception, the only thing I had to worry about was the table decorations because the Music Room was already decorated for Christmas. However, even though the groom’s parents were covering the cost for the groom’s flowers, as the only one present, I found the florist and ordered them. Oops… .
Courtesy of Laura Grace Photography
The Florist
The florist was last on my list for vendors because I thought I had the bridal party bouquets taken care of with silk bouquets made by those lovely ladies who came to my rescue. Fortunately, my daughter had her heart set on fresh flowers — simple Christmas bouquets, or the miscount would have been more serious. Those silk bouquets did not go to waste — they were incorporated into the head table decorations (always the original intention, as designed by Carlene), but I was quite late looking for a florist; by now, the wedding was only 2 weeks away.
I had the same problem locating an Estes Park florist as I did the baker — expensive and a limited selection. Since it was easier bringing the flowers to Estes Park rather than the cake, I searched my town and got estimates. The timing made the florists shutter. The only saving grace was the fact we wanted something simple — red and white roses with Christmas greenery. I was again saved by the local grocery store who had a phenomenal floral department. Their prices were reasonable, and they did beautiful work.
Fortunately, when I called after the rehearsal dinner, the grocery store was open even though the floral department was not. I spoke to the store manager about my problem — I needed a bouquet for the Maid of Honor and a boutonniere for the Best Man. He wrote a note for the florist who was due to arrive at 8 a.m., and she called. The florist who did the original design and work was out sick, and I did not have a picture to send. It was boxed up so nicely, I didn’t want to disrupt it and the manager at the Stanley was kind enough to put the large box in their wine room which I did not have access to. I described it — even if it’s a little different (which it was), the Maid of Honor and Best Man could have something a little different. My close friend and neighbor picked it up on her way to the ceremony and no one knew the difference. That was a close call… .
What close call did you have?
(c) 2018, Karen Van Den Heuvel
