The Wedding Bouquet

The bride was freaking out.  I have seen a lot of brides freak out on their wedding day over the littlest things. I hear all day
         “The band hasn’t shown up.”
         “The tables aren’t ready.”
         “Where’s my dress?” 
         The one about the dress is my favorite, but none of them have to worry about me. I am always were I need to be when the time comes. I don’t like to miss any of the action of the big day. So you never hear “where’s my bouquet?”
         Now I know that I’m not the center of attention at the event, but I do get to be closer than anyone else to the center of attention. Witch in my mind is the best it gets. I may one of the last things on the brides mind on the big day. But I am one of the first thing s she gets--next to the dress of course. 
         I love the whole process, the bride looking at my picture in the catalog and saying “that the one.” To me getting ready to be picked up, the bride putting me in the fridge to stay fresh-- I love chatting with the Milk, it’s always got a great sense of humor we laugh all night long. Then when the big day comes around I get let out and put into the church fridge-the wine for communion is always talking my ear off about God. About an hour or so before the wedding starts, I get to see the world so to speak. The church is all made to look like a fairytale.  I can smell the roses and Calla lilies fill the air. The piano is playing softly as the guests make their way to their seats.  I get a peak at the sanctuary as my handler and I walk to the bridal chambers. It’s beautiful, the rented white runway wrinkle free from being put down just hours ago. The candles gave the room that romantic feel. The cross just beyond the deep red curtains at the altar, and the high ceiling made the room complete. Like always I had a hard time believing that is the setting for a fairy tale's happy ending.
         Finally I make it to the bridal chamber. As my handler knocks on the door and all the girls start whispering.
         “I hope that not the groom.” One says sounding shocked that someone even was at the door.
“It should be my flowers.” The Bride says with every bit of enthusiasm as she had when she got the ring on her finger.
         As I get in the room I can tell the girls have been working on getting ready for the past few hours. Their make-up is all over the long table near the mirrors, along with their hair styling tools.  The girls’ clothes were in a pile on the floor next to a hanger with everyone’s name it.
         “Wow! Their beautiful!” the bride said as she picked me up from my handler. “What do you think girls?” Soon there was a min wave of five or six bridesmaids coming to get a closer look at me.
         “They are so gorgeous!” One of them said. She had a slightly different dress the n the others. I detected her as the maid of honor.
         “They go great with that dress.” Another one said.
         “I can’t wait to see the grooms face when he sees you.” One of the girls had said. I soon realized it was the bride’s mother. “You are so beautiful honey.” The mother said with a shaky voice, I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I could tell she was trying to hide the tears in her eyes.
         “Mom please don’t cry you’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup.”  The bride was trying to hide the tears in her eyes as well. They both hugged it out. I was moved to the side to avoid any mishaps. If anything when wrong with me the bride would be even madder than she was earlier.
         “Okay you two I just got the okay form the wedding planner.” The maid of honor said “We need to get this show on the road. We have a wedding going to start soon.”
Soon after that the mother and bride separated.  As the bride moved me from hand to hand wiping the tears from her face, I felt her take a deep breath. “Okay girls it’s show time.”
As we walked to the sanctuary I could feel the bride’s heart pounding so fast it could have grown wings and flown down the isle at any moment. She had brought me up to her chest, and had been holding on for dear life when we left the chambers.  I could feel her sweaty palms against my tightly wrapped stems. Behind us I could hear the maid of honor whispering words of encouragement but couldn’t make them out. We reached the sanctuary not a minute to late.  All the guest were in their seats and the pianist was playing The Carnival of Venice by Niccolò Paganini. Not a song I have seen many brides’ pick for the  bridal party entrance. But the romantic era did have some of the better classical music by far in my opinion.  I watched as the girls made it swiftly and gracefully down the aisle, I was so overcome by the girls beauty I  couldn’t even notice when the bride had loosened her hold on me, and let one hand slip off the hold she had, in doing so I could hear her heart  slowing down to a steadier rhythm. I noticed then when she lowered me down to about waist level that the  reason she had loosen her hold and steadied her heart was because her dad had just shown up to walk her done the aisle. The big moment was here, this bride would soon get her fairytale ending.
Before we could start walking, I could see the bride give the pianist make  a quick nod to the maid of honor. Making that the symbol for him to start playing the bridal march.  When the music started I hadn’t recognized the song. It wasn’t until we started walking and I  saw the look on the bridesmaids’ face’s that I found out what the song was. Bella’s Lullaby  by Carter Burwell. Good God, I thought if she was going to pick a modern day song for her march then have it be my immortal by evanescence. Not this twilight garbage. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad book, yes I admit it I have read them-but I’m not proud of it. But this song for a wedding, no. This franchise is going too far when it comes to the fact a bride will use one of its songs to walk down the aisle to. This is my territory, and I will not be upstaged by some sparking vampire. 
As we walked on I glanced around to see the faces of those who came to watch this magical moment. I have been around this business long enough to pick out family of the bride or groom. One girl was crying near the center aisle. Bride’s side definitely, maybe a aunt of a long dissent cousin.  As we passed her I could just barely hear her whisper to the person next to her “Isn’t she beautiful.” 
What really made me smile was the look on the grooms face as we came closer to the stage . His overwhelming joy couldn’t be held back any longer as he looked into his brides face  his smile kept growing more and more. I swear by the time we finally got up  to him his smile was so big it could jump of his face, give the bride a big kiss, then jump back onto the grooms face.  The ceremony was beautiful-like most weeding ceremonies are. It went off without a  hitch. I watched from the hold of the maid of honor as the rings slid on their fingers with the best grace either of them could mange. Looking out at the people siting with amazement as the happy ending unfolded before them, I could see happiness, sadness and most of all Joy. Joy being my favorite out of all of them.  I had the best view in the house, right up front. From up there I could see the mother of the bride trying so desperately-and failing to- hold back her tears for her daughter. The bride's family always looked more happy then the groom's, I never really know why. Maybe because the wedding is such a big deal to the girls more then the guys. Before I knew it it was time for the kiss. If you didn't know what to look for you would have missed it, but I didn't. I saw a slight pause between the bride and groom. It always happened, it was the look that told you “you're married now.” I loved that look, sure it only lasted a second, but in that one second two people's lives have changed forever. Soon everyone was cheering, and the newlyweds turned to the crowed room with smiles on their faces as big as the pacific ocean. They got their happy ending, now it's time to party.
The reception hall was just a few blocks away form the church. The best part of this job was the ride to the reception hall. I mean each bride is different some go for a classic car or a convertible a ride on top like they're in a parade. Others go the more traditional route with a white or black limo. I love the limo personally, it's more romantic. The feeling of  riding in a limo on your way to a big party just for you and your new husband.  The ride was filled with giggles and happy comments form both the bride and groom. As I sat there perched right in between both of them, I got the warm felling I had at the church all over again. There was so much love in that one place, you could have given it to the whole world twice, and there would still be some felt over. I loved being apart of it.
When we finally made it to the reaction hall, the party was in full swing. As I waited with the bride, and groom to get formally introduce as husband and wife, I was able to catch glimpses of the party inside. The guest looked like they were having a great time talking to each other, and enjoying their drinks. Outside the hall I could feel the tension radiating between the newlyweds. This was normal, all the newlyweds got a little nervous by this time of the night. They wanted to go and have fun with their friends and family. But they had to wait until everyone was in the hall and the DJ would introduce them. It only took about a few minutes, but those few minutes could feel like they were dragging on for hours.
“Welcome into the room for the first time ever Mr. and Mrs....” I could never here the full introduction because before the DJ could finish the introduction everyone was cheering, and screaming. The newlyweds entered the room with the biggest smiles on their faces. I couldn't see them because I was in the bride's hand by now, but I knew they were there.
The party went by like a blear in your vision. I can't remember everything, but I do remember the big things. The maid of honor's speech. She always gave the best speech that would end with the whole room in tears. The best man's speech, which always left the whole room in tears, but not because it was profound, the tears were caused by their laughter. Resting on the table while looking out at the first dance, you could always catch a glimpse of  both the mother of the bide and groom in a corner watching with tears in their eyes. It's also the same look both get on the father-daughter dance, and the son-mother dance. I loved to see the looks on all the girls faces daydreaming about when they'll be up there.
My favorite part of the whole night is the bouquet toss. It's not the fact that I'm the center of attention at this point, or the fact at every girl in the room try's to reach for me in the hope that they will get married next. No, it's the look on their faces as I go up in the air, and come crashing down like a rocket to them. Their faces change form happy, to pure determination. That look of determination is one of the best looks the human can make. It shows power and strength. But it also tells everyone around them that “I'm going to take you down.” When one of the girls grab me, I get the feeling of overwhelming joy, and a sense of belonging. With the new hands curing around me, I could feel her frantic heart rate come slowly down to a normal rhythm.
I found the rest of the night to go by fast. As soon as I was handed back to the bride after the toss. I did see the newlyweds share a few kisses here and there. As the night was winding down, I got a glimpse of the clock 10:30 pm. I newlyweds were leave soon for their honeymoon, but the guest's would be partying well into the late night hours. I never liked staying for the party anyway. By the end of it all the guest would be really tried and going to their rooms at the hotel or driving home.
When the newlyweds felt for the honeymoon, I was filled with happiness for the day to be over, but also a mix of sadness because the day was over. This happened every time after a wedding. It was the mix feelings about the day that just happened and the future to come. As the limo drove away, I got to see the guest wave goodbye, and wish them all the best luck in the world. I don't know what part of the day I loved more, but this moment was defiantly in the top ten.