wedding wrap-up: the big week
June 2, 2006
Most of my memories about the week before the wedding involve laughing—which I suppose is a lot better than crying or stressing or having a total breakdown.
At the end of April, I moved my belongings out of my home of 5 years and into Rama’s apartment. Then, I packed a suitcase and went to my parents’ house for one last family hurrah. My brothers Tom and Ricky, their girlfriends Darcy and Brooke and my cousin Marybeth and Uncle Boy came from Holland, Seattle and the Philippines, respectively. Together, we had one big week-long party. Good food + good laughs = good times.
Where was Rama this whole time? The poor dear had to work up until the day before the wedding, so he was at home living the vida solo. The big joke (that some took more seriously than others) was that Rama and I weren’t allowed to be alone together before the wedding. “In the Philippines,” my mom would say, “the bride wasn’t allowed to see the groom at the week before the wedding.” But, I kept laughing to myself, that was in the Philppines. In the ’60s. Before I was even born.
Nevertheless, Marybeth was named our official chaperone, accompanying me and Rama on all our little errands and helping us with those last-minute tasks. This involved a lot of driving to and from LA, which made time for a lot of tsis-mis and kwento.
By Wednesday, I’d gotten most of the last-minute tasks done. By Thursday, I was checking into the hotel. By Friday, my biggest concern was looking pretty for Saturday.
Throughout the week, everyone kept remarking how calm I was. Am I really calm, I’d wonder, or am I just pretending to be?
I really was calm, though. I found some strength and wisdom inside myself that I wish I always had handy. It was the acceptance that I had done everything I could. It was time to let go of my grand plans and let it all unfold. If I tripped down the aisle or I forgot my vows, if a heat wave or Storm Watch 2006 suddenly hit, if the flowers wilted and the cupcake tower tumbled to the floor, it would still be okay. At least it would make a good story. And at the end of the day, Rama and I would still be married.
I'm Christine, and this is a slice of my life—a sweet, rich, wildly indulgent slice that would taste really good with a scoop of Breyers vanilla bean ice cream. Read more >>
I run a darling, friendly, little graphic design studio.
I look on the bright side.
I take photos. Lots of photos.
I wish on stars and on websites.
I built my first web site 7 years ago and got 15 seconds of fame. (It changed my life.)
I launched, then relaunched, an online magazine.
I admitted to several embarrassing crushes.
I consumed more bacon than any human should and lived to tell the tales.
i have never been so diligently chaperoned.
if marybeth wasn’t such a lovable warden, i would’ve staged a prison break.
That’s awesome that you stayed so calm. From what I remember of my wedding last summer, I was pretty calm up until the night before (when all heck broke loose)… I’m still just so happy for you guys. ^_^
Too lovely for words! Your previous post is adorable–you definitely added heart and spunk to Martha’s lessons, and the result looks fantastic.
Good for you and Rama. Congratulations and all happiness to you both.
awwww, this is all so pretty and perfect :)
Everything sounded and looked exquisite! Congratulations!
you ARe such a great storyteller!! more!
more!
more!
and a another carrot cupcake pls? :D
I love reading about your wedding and all the DELICIOUS details!!
thank you for sharing the details to us! wish you all the best :)
i feel so silly saying this but i have been a fan of your site for years, and am so happy for you!
congrats!
Congratulations on the wedding!
I got married in December, so welcome to the club of the newly married. :)
congrats again. i think you were calm because you knew what really mattered. it’s about a marriage, not a wedding :)
aww. congratulations! best wishes for you both. ;)