by Sophie Meyer
“We should come back here each year and celebrate this moment,” Robyn said, her eyes filling with tears. “Anniversarys matter.”
“I’ve arranged for us to see three venues today,” Tamara broke in and took over. It was definitely good that she was there. They certainly needed someone to keep them on focus.
“First we’re going to be conducted through this venue,” Tamara went on. “The guide will be here in a moment or two. Then we go down to a fantastic wedding venue on the beach. The third place is a combination of the two, looking out over the ocean, but also more formal. It depends on the kind of wedding you want.”
All eyes turned to Ashley. She knew she definitely didn’t want something this formal. She wanted to be closer to nature, outdoor possibly, to feel the breeze on her face as she took her vows.
“And it depends what your groom wants too!” Tamara added laughingly. “
“Remember him?” Jessica quipped and all of them laughed.
“He’s totally flexible,” Ashley remarked to put an end to that discussion. It was much more comfortable to focus on the venues instead.
Tamara looked uncertain, “Really, totally flexible? I never heard of a guy like that before.”
“Whatever I want will make him happy,” Ashley promptly filled her in.
All the girls’ eyes opened wide.
“He doesn’t have an opinion of his own?” Jessica looked doubtful. “He’s a completely passive guy? What about his family? After all it’s their son’s wedding!”
Ashley couldn’t get out of this so fast. She wondered how to go on.
“Let’s look at it another way,” said Tamara, breaking in, “what about your families? Do they have a particular preference? Have they met each other, talked about it? Are both mothers involved in the planning?”
Ashley felt as though she were watching weeds grow uncontrollably in the garden, reach out and coil around her with every word Tamara said.
“I really have no idea how the families feel,” Ashley declared, “it’s My wedding!”
All the girls grew silent.
“It’s not just yours,” Jessica objected, “this is a day your families have dreamt about for years! What they feel matters, too. You can’t just rule everyone out!”
“Ashley’s family would definitely prefer more formal wedding,” Shane piped up. “I know them well and this place would be heaven to them.”
Ashley felt anger rising within her. Did it really matter what would be heaven to her family? Wasn’t this her wedding day? Was she just a cog in the wheel of her parent’s dreams?
“They had their turn,” Ashley objected, “now it’s mine!”
Shane looked alarmed. “But don’t you care about them?”
“Of course I do,” said Ashley, “but I can’t live my life to please the whole world.”
“I do,” Shane spoke quickly, “and it makes me happy. It makes them happy too, and the good feelings come back to me.”
“I’ve never seen this side of you, ever Ashley,” Jessica seemed offended.
“A wedding brings out the strangest things in people,” Heather chimed in. “I see it over and over in the dance studio when couples rehearse for their first dance. Sometimes the family insists upon coming and watching. Some couples allow it. Others don’t. Some families cling on, others can let go. There’s no truly no knowing until it’s wedding time!”
God, thought Ashley, this was way worse than being single, lonely on Sunday evenings and ordering in Chinese food. Thankfully, just then the guide from the hotel arrived, interrupting their heated conversation.
“This must be the Lane wedding?” the guide, a tall guy who looked like a mannequin, questioned them formally.
“It is,” said Tamara, taking charge.
“Please follow me,” said the guide, as he led them all to the back of the hotel, through a path surrounded by bushes, down a hill and up to a beautiful, spacious room on a hill where the wedding chapel waited for them to book it. This was the spot they would come to at the designated moment to say their precious vows.
“What a chapel,” breathed Shane, “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Ashley peeked in. She didn’t like it, it was too stone like, almost like being in a tomb.
The guide talked about all the famous people who had been married here as he led them on to see all other aspects of the venue and what it provided. The hotel would help with menus, flower arrangements, seating plans and wine tasting. Usually wedding plans included a rehearsal dinner the night before, a cocktail party before the ceremony, the ceremony and then the gala reception. It was also possible to arrange for the brunch the next day after the wedding, as well. The guide wanted to know their budget and the exact date they had in mind.
Ashley felt like passing out right in the middle of the magnificent ballroom they were standing in. Thankfully, Tamara noticed it, came over and put her arm around her.
“Thank you, thank you,” Tamara interjected herself between the guide and Ashley. “We’ll definitely fill in those details for you, and get back to you as soon as possible.”
“The sooner the better,” the guide instructed, “our dates fill up at least a year in advance.” He smiled nicely and left.
“Well, that leaves out of this venue,” Ashley breathed more easily when he was gone. “A year is way out of the question. We’ve got to book our place right now!”
Tamara was startled, “When exactly? I thought he was flexible.”
“He hasn’t given me an exact date, but I do have a definite time frame,” Ashley quickly filled in.
“What is it?” All eyes turned to Ashley expectantly.
Ray’s voice came to Ashley intensely then. Do it now! Time is of the essence! The more you delay, the harder it gets!
“This wedding has to happen with the next couple of months.”
“What?” Everyone screamed.
“Why?” Jessica started repeating.
“Time is of the essence,” Ashley responded again.
“But why? Why?” Jessica was heated.
“It’s okay, we can do it,” Tamara was calming everyone down. “Nothing is impossible. It can even be better if we have less time!”
Ashley liked her immensely right then.
“But then we need a definite date immediately,” Tamara was insistent.
No problem” Ashley assured her. “I can set any date I like.”
All of them looked stone faced for a moment.
“I’ll set a date and he’ll say let’s go.”
“So, why rush it?” Jessica was a bundle of nerves. “He sounds extremely unusual, to put it mildly. The situation is peculiar. Why not give it time?”
Ashley tried to be lighthearted about everything, “He wants to get it over with as soon as possible!”
“Get it over with?” Those words had the exact opposite effect of what Ashley intended. Not only Jessica, but everyone was horrified.
Tamara stepped back and looked smitten.
“He wants to get it over with?” Tamara asked.
“It’s just that he wants us to be together forever. He can’t stand waiting and waiting.”
“That’s different, that’s beautiful,” said Shane, suddenly sad. “Doug wanted to wait and wait forever. I kept trying to push him to set a date. He wouldn’t do it, until I got his mother involved.”
“When exactly did you meet Gideon?” now Heather was on the alert. “Exactly how long has he been waiting for? And, if he can’t stand to be apart from you, where is he now? Something really feels funny here, Ashley. I start to get dizzy when you talk about him.”
Ashley felt herself grow pale.
“Don’t spoil Ashley’s wonderful day,” Shane said to Heather.
“God knows I don’t want to spoil anything,” Heather said, “I just want to be the best bridesmaid possible. A good bridesmaid gives all the support she can. If something feels funny, she tells the bride about it. She says storm warnin
g ahead!”
“There’s no storm ahead,” Ashley managed.
Once again Ashley realized that this could have been the perfect moment to get out of it. But things had gone too far, she needed to see what else would happen. Somewhere inside, she had begun to believe that it was possible that a wedding would actually take place, the groom would come, and it would be a perfect day, the start of a whole new life. Ashley also realized how odd it all seemed and that she’d have to her friends more about the groom.
“It’s just that Gideon can’t stand making arrangements,” Ashley looked around at the imposing ballroom room. “He likes things direct and simple, wants them to happen one, two, three.”
Tamara arched her eyebrows. “All weddings require arrangements. It’s not realistic to think they don’t. You want to give your guests a time they’ll never forget! You want to set your marriage off on a wonderful note. Remember, it’s not just two people who are marrying, two worlds are colliding. Some fit together, some don’t. Careful arrangements for the wedding and all the parties surrounding it can help it be smooth. For example, are you both the same religion?”
“We’re both spiritual,” Ashley answered.
“Okay, I’ll get an extremely spiritual Interfaith Minister. I have done this for hundreds of couples and I can do it for you, too!” Tamara wet her lips, fluffed up her hair and smiled as if she were starring in a commercial on how to plan the perfect wedding.
“How about you, Tamara?” Ashley asked then, “Have you been through this yourself?”
“Married twice,” said Tamara, “and available again right now. I’m totally ready to plunge in for the third time. Love is bliss and the right marriage gives it grounding, makes it deeper. Marriage is what we’re here for. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.”
Ashley smiled. It was a strange relief that Tamara had failed at two marriages and spent her life making weddings for everyone else. Ashley liked having someone like her on board. She didn’t feel she had to be so perfect, could make as many mistakes as she liked.
“I’m sure you’ll find husband number three very soon,” Ashley remarked warmly.
“I am too,” said Tamara, “and thanks for the heads up. Now let’s concentrate on your guy. Does he at least realize that weddings take lots of planning?”
“Of he realizes it, that’s why he’s leaving it all to me.”
“Uch,” Jessica shuddered, “he sounds repulsive. Don’t you want a man who cares?”
“I’m sure he cares,” Robyn chimed in, looking troubled. “Ashley would never be with a man who didn’t care.”
“Oh, he cares,” Ashley defended him instantly. She didn’t like Jessica’s insinuations.
Tamara supported Ashley instantly. “I can see in your eyes that you definitely have someone who cares. And it’s a gift, a blessing, remember that!”
Ashley could see that Tamara was definitely on her team.
But Jessica wasn’t finished. “Don’t you want a guy who will take charge? Do you really want someone who’s going to leave everything to you to handle your whole life long?”
“I love him just as he is,” Ashley insisted loudly. Jessica could be overwhelming at times. Was Winn a take charge kind of guy? It never seemed so to Ashley. She’d never say that to Jessica though, would never shake her confidence in the relationship.
Thankfully, Tamara’s strong energy then ruled the day. “Come on, let’s get going now,” she said, “our next appointment is in twenty minutes.”
Then she sheparded all of them out of this venue and onto the next.
“We just have enough time to get there. And you’ll love the place, it’s right on the water, elegant and informal at the same time. Exactly what Ashley’s been describing. I’ll bet she takes it on the spot.”
They all piled into a taxi that was outdoors, waiting, and arrived at the next venue in ten minutes.
Tamara was right it was incredibly beautiful. They walked through white pillars with gardenias winding around them, out through a walkway that led to a site that looked over the ocean.
Ashley breathed the sweet salt air and felt tremendously at home here, just as she’d felt the moment she’d found her wedding dress. She immediately wanted Ray to be here to see it, and give his support.
Ashley excused herself for a moment, went to the ladies room, took out her phone and left Ray a quick message. She knew he was in the neighborhood then, only a few blocks away, and asked him to come if he possibly could. Then she went back and joined both the women and lovely representative from the hotel. The representative had just arrived to take them through the venue and answer any questions they might have.
The woman introduced herself to Ashley immediately.
“I’m Iris Middlerun, in charge of wedding arrangements.”
“So pleased to meet you,” Ashley extended her hand.
“Our weddings are weddings to remember for a lifetime,” Iris went on. Obviously this was a speech she gave over and over, but Ashley had to admit, she was good at it, made everything seem easy and natural, in keeping with the mood of the place. “There is nothing we leave out on your special day. You give us the budget and the theme of the wedding, and we follow your every wish to the last possible detail. Tamara can tell you how many wedding days we’ve turned into lifelong dreams.”
“I certainly can,” said Tamara. Obviously the two of them had worked together before and liked each other. They shot each other a quick smile.
Tamara turned to Ashley then, “ask any questions you have, don’t be shy,” she urged. “Iris has every possible answer.”
Ashley couldn’t think of one question. The place was flowing and beautiful. She loved being here, being so close to the ocean. She loved the idea of having the soft breezes wash over her during the ceremony.
“The menus, for instance?” Tamara prodded her.
“We offer an array of extraordinary gourmet menus,” Iris continued as if on cue. “Our flower arrangements are exquisite as well, depending upon your colors. Have you chosen your colors, dear?” She turned her cloudy eyes to Ashley.
“Mauve and pink,” said Ashley, “and the theme is butterflies.” The words just came out. Ashley hadn’t realized that she loved butterflies so much. Probably their exquisite colors and delicacy and the wonder of their transforming from a creature who lived in the dust to one who could fly. “I love the way they fly,” Ashley said softly.
“And go from flower to flower,” Shane chimed in. “I thought about butterflies for my wedding theme too, but Doug wouldn’t have it.”
All eyes turned to Shane then.
“And what did you chose, dear?” Iris asked, politely.
“We chose to go to the isle of Capri to inject magic and romance into the relationship. The entire theme is the isle of Capri.” Shane seemed proud of it.
But rather than excitement a strange sadness arose as Shane spoke. Once again Ashley felt concerned for her. Why did she and Doug need something to inject romance into their relationship? Shouldn’t it be there already right now? Especially while planning for a wedding. Shane had heard that often people knew something was wrong, even while planning for the wedding. They just couldn’t get off the wheel once it started turning and all the arrangements were being set.
“The isle of Capri! How absolutely lovely,” said Iris. “And we can also inject magic and romance into the day right here into Sana Monica. There are countless flowers and designs we can use. We can have butterflies on every table, make your cake like a butterfly, if you like.” Her attention turned back to Ashley.
“Lovely,” said Ashley, impressed.
“And if you like we can coordinate everything else for you too, supply the photographer, clergy, band.”
That sounded like a huge relief.
“Have you two chosen your first dance?” Iris went on, sparkly.
“Not yet, not yet, a male voice interrupted. They all looked up stunned and there was Ray, walking down the walkway,
joining them. He looked carefree and suntanned, as if he’d just returned from a wonderful vacation.
“And who is this?” Iris looked surprised and excited, “the Groom?”
“Not really,” said Ray, laughing and Ashley tried to join in.
“Not really?” Jessica was definitely dismayed.
“I’m the closest thing to a Groom,” Ray went on, “I’m Ashley’s best friend. Her yoga teacher.”
“Fantastic,” breathed Tamara, “I adore yoga, and I’m Tamara, the wedding planner!” She obviously liked Ray from the second she saw him.
“How are you, Tamara?” Ray greeted her warmly as well, “you adore yoga and I adore wedding planners.”
Everyone laughed, but Robyn. Ray had met Jessica already, but not Robyn or Ashley’s other friends. Robyn was cautious and quiet by nature. At the sight of him, she seemed jarred.
Ashley took a moment to introduce Ray to everybody before they proceeded, but Robyn hung back.
“I’ve seen you somewhere before,” Robyn said to Ray.
Ray looked at her closely. “I don’t think so,” he said.
Robyn wouldn’t be dissuaded. “You’re so familiar, I just can’t place your face.”
A tiny pall hung over the moment.
“Okay, let’s go forward,” Tamara broke in, let’s stay focused on what we’re here for. “A thousand distractions come when we plan for a wedding. People you haven’t seen for years suddenly turn up, or you begin to imagine you know someone you’ve never met before.”
“I’ve never seen you before,” Ray looked at Robyn more closely.
“It’s fine, it doesn’t matter,” said Tamara, flashing him a dazzling smile. “You came at the perfect moment. Iris was just telling us what was available at this venue.”
“I’d say take it on the spot. Who needs details? It looks incredible to me,” Ray exclaimed. “You can feel the vibes the minute you walk in! They’re great vibes, wonderful.”
Tamara lit up. “Why thank you, Ray. “I’m that way too, I go for the vibes! They speak to me.”
“I always say if you like something jump in,” Ray felt right at home. “Don’t hesitate! Hesitation is death! It stops everything cold.”