Kiwi's wedding! (Part 2)

Saturday morning came, and I was way tired. Susan & I went to meet up with Kari & the other bridesmaids for breakfast at the Afro Waffle or something like that. We had Belgian waffles with strawberries and some super rich milk and took pictures with the wooden Afro man cut-out. Kari then had to drop off her sisters and head out for her hair appointment.

Susan and I went & met up with one of my friends from high school there and tried to see my old cat Boots. Unfortunately, we were able to see all of their other cats; but Boots was in hiding. After an hour or so, we gave up and headed back to the Garvers'. We then proceeded to gather all of our stuff we would need for the wedding, and headed to the church for a BBQ. The idea was then that Kari would call us once her hair was done and we would go over to her apartment (right next to the church). As with all hair appointments, it took longer than planned and Susan & I ended up bumming around Target for awhile.

Finally, we get a call from Kari and head back to her apartment. All of the bridesmaids and Kari are there. In comes the photographer and Amanda and her husband for Amanda to do Kari's makeup. In total there are about 10 people in this tiny apartment with no AC trying to get ready with the photographer snapping pictures of us. Needless to say, it was a hot, sticky adventure. Well someone smart was watching the clock and warned us that we needed to go to get Kari to the venue so we all rush out the door like the place is on fire. I hop in the car with Kari and her little sister Helen. No AC again, and we can't even roll down the window or it will ruin our hair.

(Kiwi getting ready)

We're not a mile away when we get a call from the photographer that we have to go back because one of his bags is locked in her apartment. Kari flips a wild u-turn and speeds back. When she gets out of the car to hand him her keys, she finds a smushed bee on her seat. She had been sitting on a bee, and she's allergic. We get on the road again and get there right on time. I run in the house and leave Helen with Kari, to make sure that John is nowhere to be seen.

After securing the location, we took Kari upstairs to get ready. I swear it's about 120 in that room so we get Kari into her basics and we all hover around this little fan and fan Kari with random things. Then came the jewelry drama. I look at Kari and ask her "Kiwi, where's your jewelry?" She gets this panicked look on her face and sends her future step-mother-in-law to ask her grandma. The jewelry is at her grandma's house about 20 minutes away. They send someone to get it. We think it's Kari's dad but it was her aunt. Luckily, all was fine and we got the jewelry in time. Then came the tie drama. Kari & John had had matching ties for all the father figures to wear and one of them was missing. Kari was not happy to say the least. While that was being sorted out, the photographer comes in and begins taking pictures again. In the meantime, I'm fixing Kari's hair and spraying it down as much as possible and spritzing her with body mist so she doesn't smell like sweat on her wedding day (I myself put on deodorant like 3x that day). Somewhere in all of this, the flowers were brought upstairs for the bridesmaids and Kari.

Five minutes before the ceremony starts, we get Kari into her dress. There were lots of tears and excited emotions involved. Then we all make sure John is still out of sight, and we all line up at the top of the stairs. Kari's nephew Sylvan (the ring-bearer) was looking very dapper in his little tux, but he kept messing with his boutonniere. Eventually his mother (the maid of honor) just chucked it somewhere. The music starts and we hear our que and we all walk down the stairs slowly, in staggered groups. Once we're by the alter, the music for Kari starts. And for some reason, it seems to be taking her forever to get down the stairs. We then see that Sylvan is rather confused as to what he's supposed to be doing and ended up running to his grandma. The flower girl (John's niece), is laying her petals slowly, one at a time. Eventually Kari and her dad make it up to alter and the ceremony can begin. For time & space purposes, I will spare you the details of the ceremony. Suffice it to say, that it was INCREDIBLY hot and everyone but Kari looked like they were melting. They were pronounced man & wife, and we all walked back up the aisle and out the door for some fresh air and liquid!

Kari & John

The guests and the wedding party all hang out and drink some water & punch while we wait for the bride & groom to come out (Kari was having her dress bustled). Once they come out, it was time for everyone's favorite part of a wedding - pictures. Kari & John actually had a pretty good system in place so it didn't take years like it normally does. I did however get annoyed with the photographer asking that no one else take pictures. Pshaw! The best part of pictures came when we were taking the big group shot and Sylvan didn't want to cooperate because he wanted to eat his bagel. We managed to get a couple of good pictures of him, but then realized that Kari's mom wasn't in the pictures so we had to retake them. Sylvan refused to look at the photographer. Everyone tried everything, even the photographer told Sylvan that he had a bagel for him. No good. As a result, Sylvan is standing sideways, looking away in the group picture. Oh well.

While pictures were being taken I got Kari some water so she wouldn't die and we just socialized and ate food. Probably an hour later, John's step-mom comes out and asks for one of Kari's sisters to switch shoes with her. Luckily, I wear the same size shoe as Kari and I was wearing flats. So I ended up wearing her black going-away shoes for the rest of the reception. A little bit later, Courtney reminded me to get Kari food, so I went and commandeered some food for her. As soon as she sat down to eat, a line formed. Of course. A few minutes after that it was time to cut the cake and do the toasts. While cutting the cake, everyone kept screaming different things at them. "Don't cut the top layer, you want to save that for your anniversary!" "Cut the top layer, it's easiest!" "It's your wedding, do whatever you want!" That's what they ended up doing.
Then it was time for toasting. Kari's grandpa, John's dad, John's best man, myself, and the bride & groom went up to the cake table. Sadly, there was only one bottle opener so only those of us giving toasts got to drink martinellis while we were toasting. Kari's grandpa & John's dad gave short, sweet, and spiritual toasts. Then it was my turn. I had written mine and printed it out. It was a little less than a page, but still much longer than anyone else's. Pretty much as soon as I started to give it, I started to cry. By the end of it, Kari & I were both in tears. Oh well. Then John's best man gave his toast and we were released.

(Oh the crying)

Kari & John went upstairs to change & we served the cake and had Raspberry sorbet. I had to run Kari's going away shoes up to her (somewhat awkward) and realized that my change of clothes was in her apartment where they were going that night! I told her to just put my stuff out on the porch and I would pick it up later.

As we're going to see Kari & John off, this random (I think crazy) guy comes up and asks if he can take pictures of the wedding with his disposable camera and send them to the bride & groom. We let him, and watched Kari & John drive off into the dusk.

The get-away car

Then it was clean up time. We spent the next 45 minutes or so clearing tables, grabbing linens, and carrying things into the kitchen. Then it was time to go. Susan and I ran by Kari's and I stealthily picked up my stuff and we went back to Garvers' and, after talking to Devin on the phone, collapsed in bed.