So I was recently in Katie and Lucian's wedding with Lynsi. During our freshman year of college, Lynsi and I met Katie in the Honors program. Lucian was also in the Honors program, just not in our year (I think...I know he took Honors courses, but everyone sort of seemed kind of afraid and/or in awe of him, like he was this mysterious figure who no one really knew much about). Anyways, the two of them got engaged in New York City on New Year's Eve 2008, which is pretty sweet.
Originally, Katie had planned to go more traditional and have the girls all on one side and the boys on the other, and she chose Lynsi as her maid of honor, Jackie (a friend of hers and Lucian's) and Maegan (a girl from school in the Honor's program, though two years ahead of us) as bridesmaids. Lucian's side was his younger brother Paul as the best man and his friends Mark (who is Jackie's boyfriend of eight years) and Tony as groomsman. However, Maegan's nerves got the best of her, and she dropped out several months ago, more than enough time for Katie to find a replacement. Well, Katie struggled to find another girl with whom she was close enough to include in her wedding.
Prior to Maegan dropping out, I had told Katie (only half serious) that if someone dropped out, I could be in the wedding. We laughed, neither of us expecting that situation to come up. Anyways, when Maegan dropped out, I brought the subject up again, still not really expecting her to ask me. After a while, when Katie still didn't have a replacement in August, I brought the subject up to Lynsi, asking what the holdup was. I told her that that I could be in the wedding, still not really expecting anything to come of it. Lynsi, however, was all for the idea, so we conspired to make it happen. I told Katie, seriously this time, that I would be in the wedding if she wanted, but that she was under no pressure to choose me; I wouldn't be mad about it. Well, Katie never said anything else about it except that she was open to the idea and would ask Lucian.
When I still hadn't heard anything in September, I assumed that Lucian (who was actually the one who wanted the big wedding; Katie wanted a courthouse wedding) had vetoed the idea, or that Katie wanted something more traditional. However, just over a month before the wedding, Katie asked me if I would be in the wedding. Apparently, there was a big miscommunication between her and Lucian. After they discussed it originally, he assumed she was going to ask me, and she assumed that he would tell her if he was okay with it (and took his silence on the issue as a no). When he said talked about how I was going to be in the wedding, they realized what had happened.
Obviously I agreed, and so Lucian called Men's Wearhouse (where the tuxes were to be rented from) and put me on the list. Though the rental was quite pricy ($140, though that was half of what purchasing the coat alone would cost, so I guess I shouldn't complain), I was really happy that Lucian and Katie asked me to be in the wedding.
But when I really stopped to think about the wedding, I realized why Maegan was so nervous and dropped out. I was worried about a lot of things; since I was on the bride's side, who would my partner be? How would we walk down the aisle? Was Katie going to have me walk by myself? I freaked out, asking her how she was planning to do things, and she confirmed my worst fears: I was going to be walking down the aisle by myself. I suggested that maybe I could just walk side by side with the groomsman instead of having the two of us walk by ourselves, and she said that was fine too.
Still, that seemed a little weird to be, so I suggested that we try something else. I said that maybe we could walk from the sides of the church (i.e. Lucian, Paul, Mark, and Tony could walk from the right side, and I could walk from the right side), and the girls could just walk up the aisle. My other suggestion was maybe Tony and I, who I assumed was the third groomsman, could just walk up the aisle pulling the runner (I think that's what that carpet thing that everyone walks on is called). Katie liked both ideas, combining them: she planned on having Tony and I pull the runner, with Lucian, Paul, and Mark coming in the side door and Jackie, Lynsi, and she and her dad walking up the aisle. That idea suited me just fine.
As a pre-wedding gift, I gave Katie a CD of songs I thought she could maybe play at the wedding if she liked them enough. I was excited for the wedding, but as it got closer, I got sort of afraid. Mostly, I was afraid of the rehearsal dinner because the only ones I would know would be Katie, Lynsi, and Lucian, who kind of scared me a little. I also knew Katie's dad because he failed me at my driving test the first time in Lisbon, but I doubted he would remember me (and I didn't really want him to remember that experience anyways). I sent Katie a nervous message, and she talked me down, and then I felt better when I learned that Lynsi didn't know anyone else either. We rode to the rehearsal and dinner together, and we met everyone. Tony wasn't at the rehearsal because he was working, but everyone else seemed nice enough.
Everything was going fine, and my nerves were going away, but then we rehearsed. Because the runner had to be pulled from the end of the aisle, the plan to have Tony and I pull the runner was scrapped. Instead, Lucian, Paul, Mark, and Tony would come in the side door, and then Jackie, Lynsi, and I would walk up the aisle by ourselves. What was worse was that I was going to be first. Yeah, that freaked me out. I had some issues with the execution of this plan as well. For one thing, the organist was supposed to see me and start playing, and then I would wait until Lucian and co filed in and took their places, and then I would start walking. However, I forgot this part, and started with the music, Lucian and the groomsmen arriving at the end of aisle at the same time that I did. Also, I had an issue with walking too fast. I just naturally walk fast, and so it felt like I was barely moving my legs when I tried to walk slow enough. Additionally, my arms felt awkward, and I wasn't sure what to do with them as I walked.
Anyways, with the rehearsal done, we set up the reception hall. I was partnered with Paul as we set up tables, and we talked a little. He was really nice, though quiet, but I appreciated the effort he made. Also, I talked a little with Jackie and Katie's parents, which helped me feel more comfortable. However, Katie's parents kept setting the tables and chair up differently and telling me, Paul, and Kay (Katie's dad's girlfriend) to do different things. Finally, we left for the rehearsal dinner at Ezio's in Alliance. Lucian and Katie were paying for everything, and we also received a gift for being in the wedding party. The girls received a heart-shaped necklace with their first initial on it, and the guys received a small wallet and a money clip with our names and title on it (for instance, mine said Cory Byers-Bridesman...yes, that's what I was called).
The way they arranged the seating though was weird. There was a long table in the shape of a T. At the top of the T were four seats, the middle two for Lucian and Katie and the outer two for Lynsi and Paul, so I got stuck sitting with the people I barely knew. Lynsi's boyfriend Will came, and he sat closet to the T and Lynsi. I sat next to him, and Tony, who was done with work, sat next to me; Jackie and Mark sat across from me. It was all very awkward at first because Tony showed no interest in talking to me at all, and Will was to absorbed with Lynsi. Also, it was so loud in there that it was hard for Katie and Lynsi to hear me from my seat.
Lynsi and I went to the bar and got something to drink (cranberry and vodka for her, Bud Light for me), and I talked a little with Mark and Jackie while Lynsi and I waited FOREVER to pay. Seriously, it took a ridiculously long time to pay for some reason, and Lucian was getting mad at the bartenders. He told us to just leave our money and come back to the table, so we did. I hadn't eaten all day, and I drank my beer really quickly, so by the time I was done with it, I was a little tipsy. I found it easier for me to interact with everyone afterwards, so I decided to get another drink. Lynsi, Lucian, and I went to get a drink, and we talked some more. Lucian told me he and Katie were both really glad that I was in the wedding, and the whole night made me less afraid of him.
Anyways, then we started eating. First there was salad, then there were these little mini pizzas, then there was lasagna (which I obviously could not eat), and then there was tiramisu, which was effing amazing. Seriously, it was so freaking delicious. I could eat it for the rest of my life. By that time, Mark, Jackie, Lucian, and I were all a little drunk, so everyone was in a really good mood, and we all found it easier to talk to each other (at least it seemed that way). After dessert, Lucian brought out some champagne he got on the night he and Katie got engaged, and we all had a champagne toast. It was actually really good: it tasted sort of like apples, though I was drunk, so who knows if it actually tasted like apples or not? Finally, after two-and-a-half hours, we left, Lynsi driving me home (she had to go to Alliance anyways, so Will just followed her to my house in her car).
The next day was the wedding. Lucian, Mark, Tony, and Jackie had gone back to Lucian and Katie's for a "nightcap," which turned into Lucian getting drunk after drank two entire bottles of wine. He was a little hungover the next day, and Jackie also looked a little hungover at the beginning of the day as well. For some reason though, everyone thought I was the one hungover (I wasn't). Anyways, I met Lynsi at her house, and then we went to pick Katie up. By this point, I was freaking out, so Lucian gave me a Xanax. I took it, but it didn't really help at first. We got to the church, but then we discovered that there was a flower fiasco. Katie had originally wanted a small bouquet for herself and ribbons on the boutonnieres for the guys, with mine having a different color ribbon since I was on her side. However, Katie's bouquet was as big as the Lynsi's and Jackie's, and the bouts did NOT have ribbon on them at all. We called the florist, and she rushed over, Katie's bouquet and Lucian's bout, but at this point there was no time to fix mine, Paul's, Mark's, and Tony's. Everyone got dressed; Lynsi was wearing a blue dress, the groomsmen, best man, and I were wearing tuxes with a blue patterned vest and blue tie, and Jackie was wearing a brown dress. I'm not really sure on why she was wearing a different color; there's some sort of backstory involving some sort of evolving Katie had a mild freak out, but then we were ready to go.
We filed outside the sanctuary in this little hallway, getting ready to start. Katie was freaking a little, and all of a sudden her face when white and her eyes got wide: "I forgot the guestbook," she said. I actually laughed a little because it was sort of funny; she went from freaking out to this moment of a sudden, startling realization, and her face changed instantly. However, we told her it was too late to worry about it, and then I walked into the back hallway, waiting for the organist to start the music. She looked at me, I looked at her, and still there was no music. We looked at each other some more, me nodding, and finally she started playing. However, in my effort to get her to do her one job, I forgot to wait for Lucian and co. to take their places. Everyone stood up for me for some reason (I don't really know why), and then I walked down the aisle. Because I was walking slower, Lucian and his groomsmen did get into their places before I arrived, and then Jackie, Lynsi, and Katie and her dad walked down the aisle. The ceremony itself was actually quite short, maybe ten minutes. It was a good thing, too because I was sweating like mad. The ceremony was nice, and I was really glad when it was over.
Afterwards, we ate food, some of which was good and some of which was disgusting (celery soup is just as gross as it sounds...unfortunately, I was sitting at the front of the room, and whoever saw me eating the soup could see me, so I had to eat it all...vomit). The reception itself was short; Lynsi didn't give a speech, so that left the best man speech, the bride-groom first dance, and the cutting of the cake. Then Katie, Lynsi, and I retreated to the library and witnessed a car accident right outside. After sitting around back there and taking pictures with Jesus and of the car accident, we changed back into regular clothes (well, Katie left her dress on since it was probably the only day she'll ever wear it).
In the end, I was glad to be in the wedding, though it was pretty stressful.
Anyways, then we started eating. First there was salad, then there were these little mini pizzas, then there was lasagna (which I obviously could not eat), and then there was tiramisu, which was effing amazing. Seriously, it was so freaking delicious. I could eat it for the rest of my life. By that time, Mark, Jackie, Lucian, and I were all a little drunk, so everyone was in a really good mood, and we all found it easier to talk to each other (at least it seemed that way). After dessert, Lucian brought out some champagne he got on the night he and Katie got engaged, and we all had a champagne toast. It was actually really good: it tasted sort of like apples, though I was drunk, so who knows if it actually tasted like apples or not? Finally, after two-and-a-half hours, we left, Lynsi driving me home (she had to go to Alliance anyways, so Will just followed her to my house in her car).
The next day was the wedding. Lucian, Mark, Tony, and Jackie had gone back to Lucian and Katie's for a "nightcap," which turned into Lucian getting drunk after drank two entire bottles of wine. He was a little hungover the next day, and Jackie also looked a little hungover at the beginning of the day as well. For some reason though, everyone thought I was the one hungover (I wasn't). Anyways, I met Lynsi at her house, and then we went to pick Katie up. By this point, I was freaking out, so Lucian gave me a Xanax. I took it, but it didn't really help at first. We got to the church, but then we discovered that there was a flower fiasco. Katie had originally wanted a small bouquet for herself and ribbons on the boutonnieres for the guys, with mine having a different color ribbon since I was on her side. However, Katie's bouquet was as big as the Lynsi's and Jackie's, and the bouts did NOT have ribbon on them at all. We called the florist, and she rushed over, Katie's bouquet and Lucian's bout, but at this point there was no time to fix mine, Paul's, Mark's, and Tony's. Everyone got dressed; Lynsi was wearing a blue dress, the groomsmen, best man, and I were wearing tuxes with a blue patterned vest and blue tie, and Jackie was wearing a brown dress. I'm not really sure on why she was wearing a different color; there's some sort of backstory involving some sort of evolving Katie had a mild freak out, but then we were ready to go.
We filed outside the sanctuary in this little hallway, getting ready to start. Katie was freaking a little, and all of a sudden her face when white and her eyes got wide: "I forgot the guestbook," she said. I actually laughed a little because it was sort of funny; she went from freaking out to this moment of a sudden, startling realization, and her face changed instantly. However, we told her it was too late to worry about it, and then I walked into the back hallway, waiting for the organist to start the music. She looked at me, I looked at her, and still there was no music. We looked at each other some more, me nodding, and finally she started playing. However, in my effort to get her to do her one job, I forgot to wait for Lucian and co. to take their places. Everyone stood up for me for some reason (I don't really know why), and then I walked down the aisle. Because I was walking slower, Lucian and his groomsmen did get into their places before I arrived, and then Jackie, Lynsi, and Katie and her dad walked down the aisle. The ceremony itself was actually quite short, maybe ten minutes. It was a good thing, too because I was sweating like mad. The ceremony was nice, and I was really glad when it was over.
Afterwards, we ate food, some of which was good and some of which was disgusting (celery soup is just as gross as it sounds...unfortunately, I was sitting at the front of the room, and whoever saw me eating the soup could see me, so I had to eat it all...vomit). The reception itself was short; Lynsi didn't give a speech, so that left the best man speech, the bride-groom first dance, and the cutting of the cake. Then Katie, Lynsi, and I retreated to the library and witnessed a car accident right outside. After sitting around back there and taking pictures with Jesus and of the car accident, we changed back into regular clothes (well, Katie left her dress on since it was probably the only day she'll ever wear it).
In the end, I was glad to be in the wedding, though it was pretty stressful.
