The Disaster

My partner had already left to pick up his parents at the hotel where they were staying, while I would wait for mine directly at the atelier to pick up my wedding dress. I arrived at the parking lot at 11 o’clock… and then came the lightning! My face turned pale, and the anxiety that had only peeked out in the morning, mixed with the excitement of that memorable day, began to creep into my stomach, as the atelier was only 10 minutes away from the wedding venue, and the distance didn’t give much hope. When my parents arrived, who now knew my expressions well, they tried to calm me down immediately with phrases like “It’s better that it rains now than later, right? So, let it pass, and you’ll see the sun will shine as the forecast says!” I hoped for it, but I didn’t believe it much! I rushed into the car, but not before putting my dress in my parents’ car because it would be much more convenient and less wrinkled, and then it started pouring! Just in time, but as I got closer to the venue, the rain increased! It was noon, and the floral arrangements in the garden were about to start.

Desperation

I couldn’t get out of the car; so much water was falling. But I gathered courage and ran into the reception area with the dress still in the car, in just half a minute, to avoid getting my hair wet and dirty, as the hairstylist would have to style it shortly. And then, the temperature… 19 degrees! Wind, cold, the chairs that were already set up in the garden for the preparations, completely soaked, with puddles along the aisle. I was supposed to walk, the one I had been eagerly awaiting and dreaming of for months, practiced at home with the shoes I would wear, and also on the grass where the guests were supposed to sit in their heels and elegant clothes. Panic! At that moment, I felt like I should be swimming instead of walking! And it didn’t stop… it didn’t show any signs of slowing down! I sat down on the reception couches in tears, frustrated, disappointed, but not before calling both the location manager and the floral designer, confident and never doubting that the sun would soon break through the thick cloud cover. However, I couldn’t risk a failure after months of preparation, so I asked the venue to set up the backup plan, at least for the ceremony and possibly the cocktail hour. It wouldn’t be the same for the floral arrangement, but the most vulnerable part would be saved, hoping that the weather would allow us to proceed with the cake cutting at the Swan Lake as planned, since dinner was already scheduled in the wonderful Zar hall to avoid the heat. Can you believe I was so desperate that I found it wonderful to have mosquitoes and heat? To avoid seeing that rain continue, the location manager had me settle in the suite (I had managed to get my suitcase and dress down during a brief lull in the rain) and delivered a bottle of wine and a fruit basket to ease the tension and help me relax a bit! He and the floral designer would take care of the rest, confident that the sun would soon warm and dry the entire outdoor area on time, much to my skepticism. And then, I had to prepare the room because photographers, videographers, makeup artists, and hairstylists would soon be arriving. How would it all turn out? I wondered constantly…

The Miracle

Arianna, the makeup artist, burst into the room with all the energy she had shown me in the previous months during makeup and hair trials, along with her colleague and what seemed like countless bags and suitcases in hand, ready for the challenge! I asked her somewhat hesitantly, “What’s the weather like outside?” And she, with a calm and carefree air, pointed out, “The rain has stopped…!” Those words gave me a glimmer of hope, and about half an hour later, my phone rang. My father was going for a swim in the pool, which meant there was sunshine! He said, “Perfect warmth, sun, while I wait, tata (that’s what he’s called me forever), I’ll take a swim and then get ready!” I had to celebrate that long-awaited moment, the one where the sun had returned to shine and was drying up all the mess (together with the villa’s waitstaff, of course). Together with the only people I had in the room, we raised our glasses of prosecco to the beautiful day that lay ahead. And after about 3 hours of preparation, I will never forget the moment when, wearing my dress, shoes, and jewelry, all the emotions came rushing to my heart. In a few minutes, I would descend in all my splendor, like a princess.

The Most Emotional Moment of My Life

When you finally walk down the aisle, everything seems to stop, and thousands of sensations and questions flood in. The image of my dad, looking at me lost, happy to experience that exact moment, will stay with me forever (I love you!), the bouquet that intoxicates you with its scent (those beautiful roses and peonies!), the guests ready with their cellphones (are they all here?), and the photographers with their cameras in position (if I stumble now, it’s all over!), the waitstaff in orderly formation, and the location manager giving me a knowing and proud look (I was right, wasn’t I?), the chosen music accompanying me step by step (I want to reach the altar before the chorus starts; I’ve been thinking about it for months!), the concentration not to stumble on the tulle (again, if I stumble, what a sight!), that beautiful sun, as if it had never rained (what luck I had, who would have thought!), all the decorations that I had studied and planned for months, all there, in their place (my first wedding as a wedding planner, a success!) and Plan A was being executed. I was left breathless, incredulous, dazzled by that landscape with the beautiful architrave in pink, pastel yellow, and white shades, and I was ready. I caught my breath and walked the last few steps toward my groom, who stood there with eyes full of emotion and love, ready to begin our long journey together, starting with our vows.