Dotting our i's and crossing our t's
The texts back and forth with Mal for wedding planning were delightful and fun. I knew I'd miss it and I do. Mallerie genuinely loved planning her wedding. Good thing, because I was all the way over here unable to tour venues, vet caterers, and decide on decor. She was very organized and detail-oriented, which was fun to see. She had a live doc with all the things on their wish list. I had to laugh when I read "mechanical bull."
I texted back and forth for Mal to help me decide on my dress. It was all coming together! I was in charge of the flowers. I spent many an afternoon after the temple or plasma in Jo-Ann, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby looking at silk flowers. I had to insist we use silk. There was no way to babysit a fresh bouquet on the island with the humidity. The silk flowers today are gorgeous and so realistic. The gals I spoke with at each of the shops agreed that silk was the way to go. They had used silk for their weddings and still had the bouquets.
I went back into Hobby Lobby one day to decide on boutonnieres and all of a sudden, just like that, I was done looking at flowers. I headed to the exit and never looked back. I'd figure out the boutonnieres on the island.
I spy with my little eye a pinecone in the bouquet representing her mountain home.
It turned out so beautiful, I could cry.
Announcing MR. and MRS.
The announcements were texted back and forth to my keen eye, "add the year, add the name of the venue..." little things like that. The two of them adjusted fonts and got them just so. I was happy they included my QR code suggestion because I think people will enjoy reading about their story and seeing cute pics. When Mal sent me the total I gasped. "I spend more than that on my Christmas cards. Send me the link." I noticed it was to be printed on flyer paper. However, after the painstaking efforts they had gone to, they decided to order them anyway. They were cute!
I also said, "If you train your eye to look at them differently, it is really cool how when you hold them up you can see your picture transposed."
I kept a copy in my kitchen window for that reason.
A cuter couple you will not find.
We're off!
With the plans all wrapped up on our end, I loaded an extra suitcase with wedding supplies (including the dress!) on Friday, March 12, 2022. The first stop was to pick up Grandma in Orem. Halfway down the canyon, Graham realized he had forgotten his bag. He really needed his bag so back up the canyon we went. (Good thing he wasn't in charge of the dress!). The kids would be off for spring break the next week so it worked out perfectly. When I say "kids" that includes Katrina. What are the odds that our breaks would line up? Meant to be. I, however, had worked hard to get ahead on what schooling I could, gotten some extensions from my teachers for other assignments, and then loaded up my laptop (remember? fifteen credits).
We had given ourselves plenty of time to pick up Grandma and get to the airport that morning. Still, we called Grandma Donna to let her know we were heading back to Heebs so we'd be picking her up later than we originally said. I thought to myself, "I would need every possible second to get out the door, I bet she is relieved." I asked her about this when we got to the house. She said, "No, I've just been watching Chicago Fire." I could learn a thing or two from her.
We were on different flights once again because Delta is much more expensive. However, they have posh pods for Grandma to travel in. So Matt and Donna flew Delta, and the rest of us flew Southwest. They flew directly, we had a layover in San Diego.
Sure, direct is probably better but we enjoyed our time at the San Diego airport. Look, the air slits around the construction zone are smiley faces. We are easily amused.
Graham had just set up Apple Pay for himself. He thought it was so fun to use. He'd say, "I'm going to buy my own stuff with Apple Pay.
I would agree, "That sounds like a great idea!"
Because Matt and Grandma flew directly, he had already dropped her off at the house, checked us in at Turtle Bay and even grocery shopped! All before coming back into town to get us.
Turtle Bay is delightful! I've never explored it, always just driven past. Gavin wasn't in town yet so we got Mal to ourselves for a bit. I will always have seared in my mind the quiet time at the condo where we went over the last details, I showed her the bouquet, and she tried on her veil in our room. Sacred.
The Wassons and Grandma came over for Saturday and Sunday brunch. The view from the restaurant is Wowza.
Sunday, Laurie pretty much made a full Thanksgiving meal to bring to the pool. I didn't even know we had a pool. However, to the islanders, swimming in a pool is a real treat since there are so few on the island.
Some quiet time on the back deck gave me an opportunity to get my wedding speech together. That week for my Humanities class, I had to write a poem. I chose to do that for my speech. The words just flowed. I didn't trust myself to get through it though, so I bit my cheek and recorded my voice reading it to play during the celebration dinner.
Only a Couple of Days to Prep
Mallerie knew what each of us should be doing when we had downtime. We all went to Sam's, Costco, and Walmart to get the food. While we were shopping, she answered Gavin's call on her watch, "Hi, I am Costco with my family, you are on speaker." We all laughed that it was the first thing she felt she had to say to her fiancé, "you are on speaker."
The baker was just frosting the cakes as we walked by to pick up a round for her wedding cake. We decided to request one without the crumb sides. We specified excitedly, "It's for a wedding cake." The guy acted honored and then proceeded to frost it just as hastily as he had the others…he just left off the crumbs.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we began on the hoop. I had to chuckle at these pictures because it makes it look like I didn't have anything to do with it when in actuality after Mal got us started, she had to leave so after I finished my cake hoops, I finished the ring ceremony hoop. It totally doesn't matter though, I totally don't care. Really, it doesn't matter at all. I mean, who cares? Nobody. Cause it really doesn't matter;)
Katrina arrived (Gav was a gem to pick her up from the airport while in town). Super exciting!
Mallerie had found a gal on Facebook who rents out decorations for fifty bucks. It doesn't matter how many you take, it's fifty bucks. I knew I'd be returning them without Mal since she would be honeymooning so I made sure I knew where to go. However, as we picked up loads of decor in various Tupperware and bags I felt overwhelmed with the thought of making sure it was all returned just so. No matter what was held up, "Don't you think we should take this?" I just nodded slowly. The decorations filled the whole car and trunk, so the kids had to stay at the beach across the street till Jansen brought the truck over so that they could get a ride to the ranch. I was instructed to go get some finger foods for that night. Katrina later told me, "Mom, I saw the second you tuned out."
I found myself alone and staring in a foreign grocery store that literally looked foreign. I could see why mothers are typically not the ones to throw the bridal shower. I wasn't technically, Loana was. Mal just asked me to bring some extra nibbles. So, I took a deep breath and got. it. done.
I reminded myself that I have thrown a gazillion parties and got this! I did my best to put together a foreign rendition of a charcuterie platter.
Gavin and the boys went golfing. Matt appreciated that Gavin chose to ride in the golf cart with his future father-in-law, himself!
L to R: Sione, Gavin, Dart, Grandpa, Matt, and Ryan. I am guessing that Sione and Grandpa shared a cart.
They met us back at the ranch along with the Wassons and Grandma. Everyone was ready to chew their arm off with hunger by that point. Loana provided an enchilada supper.
Back to wedding prep…
The dizzy checking-out feeling came back when I realized that every bulb had to be screwed in individually because that meant that they also had to be unscrewed individually.
These kids (and grandma!) did them all!
I am surprised to see that I am in these photos because I do not recall being involved with the tent setup. It just happened. A ten-man job!
I'm not gonna lie, I had some FOMO later that night as I was back up at the house putting together the bridal bouquets and boutonnieres (maybe I should have figured those out on the mainland...)
I could hear the barn's wedding rehearsal was in full swing with music and laughing. When I expressed to Mal that I felt like I missed out, she said, "But that way it will be a surprise for you tomorrow!" Mal;)
Matt got the chicken marinating. WHYYYYYY did we think we could eat all of this chicken????
I. don't. know.
I. don't. know.
K- the other thing that was paralyzing me with fear was all the chopping and food prep required for Hawaiian haystacks. Mal's bridesmaids came through! I did not make the food. Any of it. Seriously. They didn't stand around timidly wondering, they went to work and woooooooooooow. So thankful.
Bridal Shower
I was so happy to have my charcuterie on hand because it ended up being the only food in sight! I worried that I would be left with tons of leftovers since sometimes girls don't eat. But eat they did. I refilled the platter as the night went on. In hindsight, I would have insisted that the party be at our original location, which was by the pool at Turtle Bay. This location did not end up working out well. Among other issues, Kat was so tired. It is tough adjusting to the time change that first night. Brutal actually.
But it was so fun to see Mal giggle with her besties. They are GEMS. She opened the wedding quilt I brought and the engraved cake servers, "Oh, it has a little saying on it."
I said, "Mal, that is your and Gavin's song."
She giggled, "Oh, right!" Everything about Mal is so endearing.
As I was tidying up, Matt and Graham were in the car, very anxious to get out of there. I kept texting Callie to come. I forgot that she had to still gather the gel nail equipment she had borrowed from a friend. Oops.
We all needed a good night's rest for the next day.
THE WEDDING DAY.
Eeeeek!
