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wedding wrap-up: the big week
02 June 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.
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you have an tito boy! what filipino family would be complete without a tito boy? and a very belated congratulations kristina | October 15, 2006 09:54 PM |
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aww. congratulations! best wishes for you both. ;) zoe | June 29, 2006 04:03 PM |
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congrats again. i think you were calm because you knew what really mattered. it's about a marriage, not a wedding :) stef | June 22, 2006 02:52 PM |
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Congratulations on the wedding! I got married in December, so welcome to the club of the newly married. :) Stephanie | June 21, 2006 08:22 PM |
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i feel so silly saying this but i have been a fan of your site for years, and am so happy for you! congrats! laura | June 17, 2006 07:56 PM |
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thank you for sharing the details to us! wish you all the best :) ricababes | June 13, 2006 06:10 PM |
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I love reading about your wedding and all the DELICIOUS details!! Swirly | June 6, 2006 06:50 PM |
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you ARe such a great storyteller!! more! and a another carrot cupcake pls? :D muck | June 5, 2006 01:47 PM |
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Everything sounded and looked exquisite! Congratulations! Christine | June 4, 2006 06:28 PM |
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awwww, this is all so pretty and perfect :) Vivianne | June 3, 2006 09:11 AM |
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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. Caroline | June 3, 2006 04:02 AM |
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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. ^_^ Devlyn | June 2, 2006 12:00 PM |
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i have never been so diligently chaperoned. if marybeth wasn't such a lovable warden, i would've staged a prison break. rama | June 2, 2006 11:51 AM |