A Wedding Affair (The Wedding Affair)

by Lacey, S. L. A.

  I am caught up in the moment as I glance over the audience; flashes go off in every direction as I can see this event is pretty heavily covered by the press. Events such as this, moments like this one is what I have worked for my whole life to see my art walk across that runway, what I create we live in it, we work in it and we play in it. I never get tired of fashion shows or clothing nor shopping the whole realm of it all, to me this is the brass ring, sure I could be in New York or Paris but when I get to do what I love in my own home town surrounded by my family and friends that to me is success.

  I glance over to Ian he is making comments to others and he looks so proud, he has always been my cheerleader, even when we were kids he always was in my corner, just to see him now champion me he makes me smile and he looks up at me and blows me a kiss and I reach out and catch it. He smiles and pats his heart. He is special, he is romantic and he loves me. I am pulled from my thoughts by Oliver who hands me a program for this event to see what all is being auctioned off by all the other stores and venders here this evening.

  Wow this is quite an impressive list of goodies up for grabs; I can see this is going to be a great evening.

  *****A SUMMER OF FASHION*****

  FASHIONS PROVIDED BY THE FOLLOWING

  Tiffany and Company

  Three carat cocktail ring

  One carat diamond earrings

  Tiffany handbag in Tiffany blue

  Tiffany Atlas Watch

  Twelve different Tiffany key rings and accessories

  Saks Fifth Avenue at Tower Centre

  Louie Vuitton handbag and matching Wallet

  Dresses by BCBG

  Dresses by Narcisco Rodriguez

  Dresses by Donna Karen

  Dresses By Ralph Lauren

  A day at the Spa at Saks Fifth Avenue for two

  A full set of Men’s golf clubs

  A complete makeover courtesy of Chanel cosmetics

  Tory Birch handbag and wallet

  Chanel

  Dress, jackets, handbags

  Leather accessories

  And more…

  Lord & Taylor

  Coach handbag and shoes

  Dresses by Dior

  Dresses By DVF

  Dresses by Calvin Kline

  A coach legacy briefcase

  A fox fur stole and leather gloves

  A French coffee press with coffee for one year from Gavalia

  Bloomingdales Department Store

  Michael Kors handbag and wallet

  Dresses by Oscar de la Renta

  Dresses by Betsy Johnson

  Accessories by Polo

  Men’s Gucci loafers and leather wallet

  Women’s cashmere sweater and gloves

  High tea at Bloomingdales Salon for four

  Business as Usual

  Men’s custom made shirts to order

  A full tuxedo from shoes to bow-tie

  Custom made ties

  Shirt and Tie for work

  Dress Shirt and Tie

  Banker’s Suit

  Three full wardrobes from weekend wear to tuxedo

  <^><^><^><><^><^>

  Catering provided by The Theatrical Grill

  Lobster Bisque Soup

  Sautéed calamari in a spicy cashew sauce

  Crab puffs

  Lobster –mashed potato’s

  Caesars salad with aged parmesan cheese

  Cedar planked salmon

  Desserts assorted

  Crème Brulee

  Chocolate black out cake

  Open bar provided by Chateau de Bach

  Award winning Ice wines

  Assorted red’s and whites

  Full bar

  ALL ITEMS SOLD

  IN THE SILENT AUCTION

  GO TO BENEFIT THE

  CHILDRENS CANCER RESEARCH HOSPITAL

  HERE IN GREATER CLEVELAND

  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

  ***************************************************

  THE SUMMER FASHION FLING

  Over the loud speaker a man’s voice introduces Mrs. Robin Swaboda and Mr. Jimmy Donovan, our illustrious due are greeted and lured on stage by a loud round of applause and cheers from the audience. They are the masters of ceremony for this evening’s festivities, with their witty banter and charming disposition it is sure to be a great night as they take center stage.

  The Masters of Ceremonies Cleveland’s very own Mr. Jimmy Donovan he is outfitted head to toe in our very own Tristan Tuxedo, yes we have been dressing Jimmy for years now he always looks fabulous from calling the Browns games to doing the news, I have to say he always makes our clothes look great.

  Mrs. Robin Swoboda, is in fire engine red a beautiful satin ball gown she looks amazing, well she always does, they are Cleveland’s news personalities, very cute and charismatic, they keep the crowd going and egg them on. Take a listen…

  “Ladies and gentlemen I’m Jimmy Donovan and to my left is my fair witted friend and confidant Robin Swoboda, we want to welcome you all to the Fifth Annual Summer Fashion Fling to benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Hospital here in greater Cleveland, all proceeded from tonight’s auction, food and festivities go to aid and benefit the research that is done at the Children’s Cancer Research Hospital, your generous contributions and donations provide help and quality care to needy children and families in the area” a loud roar of applause is heard by everyone.

  “Jimmy that is right, you see if you are the one of the lucky ones down in the first three rows of this fashion show you all were summoned here because we need your hard earned cash for these kids!

  “We need you to spend, we need you to bid on the silent auction and we need you all to give till it hurts! Or till we hurt ya!” The crowd laughs at her joke.

  “This is a cause that needs your immediate attention so get out your wallets cause I’m coming to collect”

  The crowd goes wild with applause she is so cute and bubbly and everyone just loves Robin Swaboda, there are only three rows of guest as they circle the huge indoor fountain that surrounds the stage so it is cute how she made them all seem like they were handpicked and summoned, she certainly knows how to work the crowd. I remember her from years ago doing the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon, she still has it.

  “Ok Robin thank you, for tonight’s festivities first of all there is a number under every ones chair I am going to ask you all to reach and pull it loose and Robin I want you to pull out a number from the fish bowl and that person gets a grab bag from our corporate sponsors. The ushers are walking around though the aisles”

  “Ok Jimmy let’s see who we get”

  “Go ahead Robin make some ones night!” The crowd goes wild with laughter as Robin acts like she got her hand caught in the fish bowl. How cute.

  “That was a close one, now Jimmy let’s get back to business, like our good friends at BUSINESS AS USUAL” the spot light finds me and Oliver on the balcony by the stairs we wave to the crowd, oh shit didn’t need all this attention on me, I’m flustered enough.

  Robin unfolds the paper as a drum roll starts.

  Tah Dah…

  “Number 112, number 112 do we have a 112 out there?”

  A lady dressed in emerald green with very red hair stands up in the audience yells out

  “Right here” the ushers walk over to her and hand her one of the huge grab bag which is filled with products and things from all the shops here at Tower Centre.

  “Congratulations to the lady in green, Ok keep your numbers we will be doing this all evening people” Jimmy says as they coerce some of the heavy hitters in the front rows to spend some of their money tonight.

  It is so nice to see all of Cleveland come out and support the Children’s Cancer Research Hospital there is easily 250 people here and all dressed to the nines.

  Oliver leaves my side as he lines up the models to take the stage. The twenty looks we put together, fly down the runway, I get a glance at them they all look great, the clo
thes humble me as I made them with my own two hands. A lot of the looks from the other stores have been mixed with the handbags, the jewelry items so it is interesting to all the bidders in the silent auction.

  The people at Chanel are known for their theatrical shows, so when they take the stage the Ooh’s and Awes are abound, they definitely brought out the big guns, this is fantasy, almost a huge purse that is made out of a hula-hoop, yes if you can imagine that, gosh Google it, you all haven’t to see it. The makeup is very Emily Autumn I love what Chanel does, it is art, it is fashion and it is always head turning. The people at Saks did a whole “Fun with Dick and Jane” theme they set the scene of summer antics, it is just amazing try to catch a Fashion show it is a wonderful display of art, poetry and fashion.

  I have to admit I am a slave for fashion, I love to see it, hear about it and I have to say I do enjoy the shows. All the preparing and headache and heartache is all worth it when you see the end result, gosh don’t you wish all things turned out like that in the end?

  The feeling I get when I know I nailed it, I can’t put my finger on it, I can’t explain what it is, you just have to experience a show for yourself, it is a stage performance like no other. There is rarely any commentary it’s all visual and the music sets the mood. The music tonight is bold a lot of in your face like Pink and Maroon 5.

  I just love it all from the music, to the beautiful people strutting their stuff down the runway to the people behind the scenes, it’s indeed a creation and merging of the minds, one of my favorite ways to spend an evening is always at a fashion show. Let’s not forget the party afterwards where the drinks are flowing and the money is flying.

  I return back stage as the auction gets heady, so many of our clients are here as guest so they wanted the covenant tuxes and shirts of course. As the night plays out, all of our items have been bided on, fought over and sold to the highest bidder. Not too bad, as a matter a fact some asked to purchase extra shirts. I mean where else can you get a custom made tuxedo with cufflinks and shoes, it’s one stop shopping, and hey it’s for a good cause. I was happy to see that our custom made shirts were popular and a big seller and they all come with free custom handmade ties.

  -------<>-------

  After two hours of models, attitudes, auctions and paperwork I need a drink! I walk down the marble staircase as I make my way over to Ian, he seems ok, handling his own in the world of the fashionable. I see he and Christopher are talking, the girls Erika and Sabrina eye me cautiously as I make my decent down the stairs. Ian is holding two champagne glasses, he meets me at the bottom of the stairs, yes I kind of feel like Audrey Hepburn in ‘Funny Face’ walking down these steps to a waiting Fred Astaire.

  “Aria, there you are” Ian hands me a glass of the bubbly and kisses my cheek sweetly.

  “Hello, sorry It is chaos back there so many things going on at once, I think we have it all under control, Oliver is managing the receipts he should be down in a few.”

  Ian puts his arm around me and his smile is one of pride I think.

  “Cheers”

  “Aria you look beautiful tonight” he kisses me on the cheek as I touch his tie, jeez I didn’t tie this one for him either, I tie practically every man’s tie in town except the one I am engaged to. Boy oh boy am I a bad fiancée.

  “You look amazing in this suit my dear Professor”

  “This is quite an under taking, I am so proud of you”

  “Thank you, lets mingle there are some people I would like you to meet” I take his arm and lead him away from our friends.

  I introduce him to the manager of Tiffany’s Mr. Mark Pinter, and his friend Reese who is the manager of Sakes here in Tower Centre, they will both be attending our wedding next week. Mark has graciously agreed to let me borrow diamond earrings for the big day.

  Mark and I go way back to our big business days in mergers and acquisitions, he too knows Tristan from their partying days together, ya know strip clubs, bimbo’s and booze filled evenings, it is nice to see he has grown up as well and he and Reese look very happy.

  “So nice to finally meet you Ian” Mark shakes Ian’s hand, Mark is pretty impressive tall and very slender sandy blond hair blue eyes he looks ever the bit like Prince William and we always called him Wills because if there was a will he was the way to getting things done, he was our profiler at the office way back then, he had the goods on everyone, he could have worked for the FBI but never wanted that and now he is the diamond man at Tiffany’s.

  “Nice to meet you, Aria has mentioned you fondly” Ian holds me close to him and I smile at him.

  Reese and I use to be good friends, back when we all worked together she was my Personal Assistant, sadly she had an affair with Tristan and she got fired because of it. She is happy with Mark now and called it a bad time of her life. Tristan has never been into blonds and Reese is a natural blond she was just a conquest, there was nothing there, it was a one night stand. Her and Mark look good together I am happy for them. I hope we can all be good friends again, and then guess who shows up at my side.

  “Hello there Miss Macy”

  “Mr. Waterford” perfect timing he can meet my fiancé and that should stop his attempts.

  “Well Miss Macy, don’t you look beautiful I can’t take my eyes off of you” oh wow he is bold.

  “Yes I think so, hello there” wow Ian with the quick banter, must be the tux.

  “Mr. Waterford, this is my fiancé Ian Bollinger, Ian I would like you to meet Mr. Waterford he is the gaming commission for our casino”

  “Nice to meet you Mr. Waterford” Ian says very sternly, wow I’m impressed go Ian.

  “I met Miss Macy this morning, she is quite a gal”

  “Yes I think so, that is why we are getting married next Saturday” oh shit look at Ian bringing out the big guns. Jeez can this day get any more crazier? Ian tightens his arm around my waist as he kisses my temple, I smile graciously and I think this shall do the trick.

  “Well Aria, um Miss Macy never mentioned that she was engaged” I look at Ian and then at Mr. Waterford. Ian takes my left hand and makes damn sure he sees the fucking ring he bought and kisses my hand. Nice move Ian I am impressed.

  Ian draws me close to him and tucks me under his arm; I think Ian is a life saver I nuzzle close to him.

  “Mr. Waterford have a good evening” Ian and I walk away, I have to say I am so loving Ian right now.

  “Thanks you Ian he was very nerve wracking today”

  “Never realized men’s clothing is as bad as any other business with sexual tension”

  “You have no idea, come lets mingle” I take his arm and cling to him for various reasons I don’t need Ian going ape-shit-bananas on anyone here and gosh Ian and Tristan are in the same room together I don’t know who is charging me up more the fact that I am on Ian’s arm or the fact that Tristan has me fined tuned to his presents.

  I play coy, I am not going to make a scene I just want the two men to stay at bay, I mean they have never even met before, I am the common thread that binds and it’s wearing quickly.

  We walk around and check out the food, Ian was quick to notice the food was provided by The Theatrical Grill, their calamari is amazing he loves it too, if he only knew who made it.

  We walk around and meet a lot of the heavy hitters that are my elite clients.

  Such as the Cleveland Indians financial department representatives, not to mention The Head of the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Owner of the Cavs Dan Gilbert. He and his son are very good customers they are like two kids in a candy store when it comes to bow-ties, just adorable; we gotta have a winning season soon.

  Ian was impressed at who I know and what I know. For as long as we have known one another Ian and I really know next to nothing about each-others work or career. Ian teacher’s history, Ethics, and I think he is a member of the art association here in Cleveland as well as he sits on the board of the art council for ‘Art in Urban Areas’, he loves to inspire the youth. />
  We mingle and make the rounds so we are both scene and photographed for the event.

  Ian stays by my side, we mix and mingle and he sees some of his colleagues from CWU, I have a feeling the ladies were quite impressed with the way I dressed Ian, he did not look like the wayward college professor, he looked hot like a model. I even told him not to shave and it gave him this ruggedly handsome look that is very hot on him but I am still not wet for the man, I gotta do something about that.

  I see the girls as we make our way around and they all have this look on their face like we need to talk and now. Suddenly music fills the air, ‘What now my love’, the band started and the male singer Gerry sings it proud.

  “Aria dance with me?” Ian takes my hand and kisses it as he leads me to the dance floor, I nod yes and shrug to the girls, the pursing of their lips is not a good sign but what can I do I am my own worst enemy.

  “Aria you are amazing” Ian holds me close, he is a good dancer, he is tall over six feel so I am always in heels next to him just to see his face for goodness sakes.

  “Why thank you” compliments from him are special, that I impress him, I guess I always look for his approval, he is so much smarter than I am and it make me feel inferior to him at times, so when he is impressed it is a rather colorful feather in my cap.

  “It’s wonderful what you have done for yourself” yes in two years look how we have grown both personally and professionally.

  “I couldn’t do any of this without Oliver” that is the truth

  “You are too humble, this is all you, I remember in school you taking sewing classes you have always been in pins and needles, you really have turned your passion into a career.”

  “Well I can say the same about you Mr. history professor, you were forever the history buff, dragging me to exhibits and museums and watching independent films, you made me read the newspaper because you said this is history in the making, and look at you now”