All Done!

This weekend was my sister-in-law, Melissa's wedding.  They chose to have an evening wedding on Friday, May 28 the anniversary of their first date.  So Chris, Ian and I traveled to his parents house after I got out of work on Wednesday.

Thursday was rehearsal day and decorating the reception hall.  In the morning the bride and bridesmaids traveled to the reception site and got to work decorating.  We put out potted plant centerpieces, M&M favors, and decorated the bar and dance floor with tulle and lights.  It was really coming together.  Unfortunately Ian had to come with us, and he was less than impressed with the lack of attention he was getting.  I have to give it to him though, he was amazingly well behaved for a hungry, tired and overheated little kid.  After a lot of crying, a few runaway attempts, and climbing two rungs up a latter while my back was turned I decided to head back to the house with him for a little nap.

After a very brief nap, Ian was up and at it again in time for the rehearsal.  Oh man, if we had to guess by the rehearsal how the wedding would go I think most everyone would have runaway in tears.  It was steaming hot in the chapel, everyone was tired, hungry and cranky.  I think we all felt a lot like Ian during the one and half hours we were there practicing our timing walking up the aisle.  Ian was completely out of it, screaming and crying from the heat.  His little cheeks were on fire and were all red from his skin condition (keratosis pilaris) and I felt so horrible that I couldn't do anything to make him or any of us more comfortable.  We are so blessed that a family friend, Teresa, stepped up to watch Ian in the basement of the chapel where it was a lot cooler and Ian had room to play.

At the rehearsal dinner Ian was feeling a lot better and ate some food, but he was so tired and we headed out just after the meal to get him in bed.  I asked Chris' mom if my parents, who where coming to the wedding, could watch Ian in the basement during the wedding the next day so he would be more comfortable.  She said that would be fine, and then the reverend piped up and said to me "I really like that idea."  From her tone and the various nasty looks I got from her during the rehearsal it was pretty clear to me that she didn't want a chance of having a crying kid at the ceremony.  My feelings were very hurt because I really wanted Ian to be able to be there but I wanted Melissa to have a wonderful wedding so I bit my tongue and I called my parents to asked them to come soon than planned to help out with Ian.

The next day for the wedding, the girls all got their hair done and we did our makeup.  Then Melissa treated us to lunch before the wedding.  As we were getting dressed for the wedding it become pretty obvious to me that I missed something after we left the rehearsal dinner.  Melissa give us all gifts of pink flip flops, a necklace, and some lotions.  All the other girls were putting on their necklaces and I knew that I missed learning that we were suppose to wear the necklace to the wedding.  I was pretty much ready to cry at this point because the necklace was more than a half hour drive away.  As luck would have it Teresa came to the rescue again by getting the necklace from Chris' parents house and bringing it with her.

Just before the ceremony was to begin, my parents set Ian up with a portable DVD player they brought with them and I knew he would be happy and cool throughout the ceremony.  So we headed upstairs and got Melissa down the aisle and everything went just wonderfully.  It was even a lot cooler in the chapel, which was great because we didn't need anyone passing out from the heat.

After a fast side trip to get gas, because having the van run so long with Ian sleeping inside it had us just about out of gas, we went on to have some fun pictures taken.  Then onto the reception which went well and for the late hour Ian was very well behaved.  Ian ate too many M&M's from the favors, and I ate too much food that my dress got very tight.  I had to skip having cake for fear my dress might burst.  Lucky for me I was staying where the leftovers were heading so I knew I would get to try the cake eventually.

The highlight of my evening was getting to slow dance with my son.  He was a great dance partner and seemed to soak up the moment as much as I did.  We got to dance to most of two songs before he leaned over and said to me "All done."

I am so happy that it is all over.

And to anyone who might think about asking me to stand up in another wedding, please don't.  I would hate to make you feel bad when I tell you hell no.  I am retired from the bridesmaid business for good.  All done, indeed.