Nope, you didn't. I just haven't posted. I took exactly one picture, I was too busy otherwise.

It was interesting, that's for sure. Friday night Elery and I drove to Holland (Michigan) for the rehearsal dinner, held at a cafe downtown on Washington Street. Of course, we had no directions so we eventually stopped and bought a map of the city. Turns out that Holland has THREE (yup, three) Washington Streets and none of them connect with another. It was the third one we tried, of course.

I had an extremely forgettable chopped salad except that it had blue cheese which I dislike. The balsamic dressing was passable. Elery had a pulled pork sandwich, equally forgettable, then we drove back home, a 2 hour drive.

Mother was waiting at the house so she could ride down the next day, so she and Elery had a glass of wine and we all went to bed. Up early Saturday morning and all the frozen quiches, wontons, meatballs, Reubens, habanero cheesecakes and lemon blueberry bread went into coolers. Breakfast was at a McDonald's drive through. We got back to Holland about 10 am and started warming up everything that needed it, slicing bread, pouring salsa and chips into bowls. Oh, we first had to have tables set up and covered, and we made 20 gallons of punch and lemonade. At 3:30 Mother and I went back to the motel to clean up, Elery had gone and was back, but the place was so hot that he was sweating before the function even started.

The "hall" was the foyer of the church attended by the bride. They had invited 600, no way would the foyer hold 200 even. Guests were expected to "wander" outside, but the parking lot was too darned hot, it was 85F. So everyone packed into the foyer and drank a lot of punch. There were 200 people or less, I think and we put lots of everything back into the coolers. We had one stove which was about 400 yards down the hall and one refrigerator which was already full, so the facilities weren't ideal. In fact, they were terrible, but we managed anyway. Mother plugged right along with me, heating, serving, washing roasters.

Appetizers started at 4, we cleared everyone out at 5:30. Elery had forgotten the key to the church so had to go back to the motel to get it and his son was calling asking where we were, the ceremony was about to start. In another location, of course, so we had to drive. Good thing I bought that map!

We arrived with 2 minutes to spare and that's when I was told that I would be expected to be in the pictures. I was passable but I would have dressed up more than a blue skirt and matching top if I'd have known. The church was beautiful, but not air conditioned. There were less than 100, I think, who stayed for the ceremony and I felt sorry for the poor guys in their tuxes. There was cake on the lawn of the church afterward and Elery and I went back to the hall to see if we could put some stuff away.

We had been there about 5 minutes when we got the phone call that we were supposed to be at the "adults only reception" and that was in a fourth location. Pull out the map, get there, find a place to park. Eat canned green beans, commercially prepared pasta salad, turkey roll and some red potatoes in a sauce I couldn't explain.

During that dinner the bride came and asked if we had seen the groom's computer, it apparently had all their music on it, including the first dance. Nope, hadn't seen it.

We didn't stay for dessert, we went back to the hall, where the church janitor was already cleaning up. We gave all the leftover food to the church, they have a shelter of some type, and the punch was designated for the kids after Sunday school. The groom's laptop was located in the room where the groomsmen dressed, about 11 pm, so way too late, but we did call him so he'd know it had been found.

Wash everything, pack it into our two vehicles and to the motel about midnight. Mother was still going strong, and she and Elery finished off a bottle of wine while I drank a Diet Coke and mother and I ate M&Ms from the reception.

Sunday morning we had breakfast at Bob Evans with Elery's two sons and their wives, his daughter, and five grandchildren. It was my 55th birthday and I wanted to celebrate by ordering off the 55 and older menu, but they didn't have one. (grin) Mother and I started home.

We stopped in Grand Haven at a Greek market for a cold drink and the guy running the place was flirting like crazy with Mother. He asked me how old she was and I told him 75, he said he thought she was maybe in her fifties and she was SOOOOO CUTE! He gave her a small bottle of Absolut raspberry vodka "for longevity" and told her she should go on television with Willard Scott and tell everyone how beautiful a woman could be at 75. He was a charmer and I teased Mother all day about how I couldn't take her anywhere.

When we got home and unloaded, Mother and I went to the family cemetary to put lilies of the valley on Dad's grave, on Grandpa's, Uncle Marty, Uncle Chuck, Uncle Paul, Aunt Yoshiko, Aunt Anna. As seems fitting for Memorial Day I counted the veterans. 20 graves, 11 veterans, including one who died on D-Day and one who was killed in the Spanish American War.

Mother finally caved in and went home, she kept right up with me the whole time. Elery and his kids were impressed that she didn't wear down, so now you know where I get my energy level.

Anyway, I was too busy to take pictures of anything, I was running around all day trying to make things work under terrible conditions. It did work and we got lots of compliments on the appetizers, but I think the bride may have been a bit disappointed with the turnout. She even gave everyone a "schedule" of what everyone was supposed to be doing and what time they were to do it and where, from hair and makeup to a "girl's breakfast" to pictures on the beach. She way overscheduled, one glitch and everything was thrown off.

And that's the story of the wedding, and I'm thankful it's over!

Annie

Gee...you get to have all the fun...

Whose wedding was it? I guess I missed a crucial detail along the way. Sounds like a lot of driving around and eating mediocre food, smiling all the while.

Dedtired, it was Elery's youngest son, Ben. He's 30, Elery says it was worth every minute and every penny, just to get him to move out of Elery's house, LOL.

Katie, you coulda come to help. Hey, you can still help, Amanda wants a couple hundred of those little 4 oz. jars of salsa and jam for wedding favors for her wedding in October. Come visit. I dare you. (grin)

Now, I can take a deep breath and start planning Amanda's wedding. Hers will be a lot easier...and all in one place. Well, two places, the church and then a hall, and the hall is less than a mile from my house, a perfect location in my opinion.

Annie

I so hope Alice elopes... Daniel, too. ;)

I'm worn out from reading about your day, never mind everything that came before the big day. You have a huge heart and, apparently, boundless energy. Your loved ones are very lucky. I hope they appreciate you.

Thud! I can't say anything else, I'm exhausted reading about it! The bride's dream wedding was a nightmare and you 3 are angels!

Holy Carp Annie, I'm exhausted! I'm rethinking being upset at my oldest son's elopement!!!!! You, your mom and Elery are saints for all you have done! I wish I could have been there to help! You always have such class and grace wherever and whatever you are asked to do! I hope they know how lucky they are to have you!!!!!

You were such troupers, that's a lot of work !! why were 600 invited and only 200 showed up ?

Wait, what happened to the orange hunting vest?

Relax and enjoy the summer! It's over!

Thud.

Oh.My.Goodness~ Annie? Gotta say girl, you are a real trooper to actually sit down and re-live that by typing it all out. Man oh Man.

You better hope you dont get requests to cater more wedding receptions from those 200 that did show up !!! hahahaha!!! Wouldnt that be awful?

You guys did GOOD. And kudos to your mom.

My youngest niece's wedding was a riot. The groom does not dance, so he decided there would be no dancing at the wedding. They did have a three piece jazz group. Of course everyone thought you were supposed to dance so watching people try to gyrate to the jazz was hysterical. They both love fly-fishing and had a fishing theme -- ahem. The wedding cake had a fish on top that looked like it was dead -- seriously, a dead trout lying on top of the cake. There was a groom's cake and I never did decide what that shape was. The centerpieces were bowls of goldfish. Cute -- but what do you do with 100 goldfish after the wedding?

In the end, a good time was had by all but there was a lot of eye-rolling and tongue biting.

Yes -- kudos for you for pulling this one off. It will make a good family story for years. I wish the couple much happiness and a home of their own!

I'm exhausted, too. 600? I don't even think I know 600 people. Did she invite the people at every check out in town?

Question.....what did you do in your SPARE time? LOL

Oh my gosh, Annie, you are definitely a trouper. Sounds like it went about like you predicted. I know you are relieved it's all over and I wonder if the bride's family has any idea just how much work it was for you all.

I'd say all the work you have to do at home will be a cakewalk compared to what you've just been through. It's always easier if you're doing something you love.

Proud of you, girl!

hude

What Jessy said.

I'm sure your efforts were appreciated!

thud is right. I can't imagine the effort it took.

Jo

Isn't this the reception where they originally thought they would invite 30 or a 100 people??!!

Wow, Annie, you three are so great.

Wow. That sounds like work.

Seriously, I am glad it all turned out well, and equally glad it is over! You all done good!

Linda

Wow!

Yes, Kathleen, the number started at 100, went to 200, then 400, then 600. It's crazy, I don't think I even KNOW 600 people, but he invited everyone from the church where he's a music director and she invited everyone from the Christian School where she teaches music, plus all the family on both sides and apparently, everyone else in town!

It was interesting, and Amanda's will be a walk in the park after that...

Annie