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Lucy grabbed a glass of wine from the waiter walking by as the guests filled up the wedding area.
The groom, Randy, walked down the aisle with his brother as soft music played. So far, so good.
Then the bridesmaids started in and the music changed to some dance-hall sort of heavy-beat song. It seemed so inappropriate but Lucy shrugged her shoulders as she watched from the sidelines.
Six bridesmaids with knee-length dresses glided down the aisle calmly at first then they broke out into a gymnastic-like dance. Lucy’s eyes widened. One of the older guests started fanning herself looking as if she would pass out at any moment.
But then it all went downhill.
The bridesmaid, in tune with the heavy beats, started doing this phenomenon known as “twerking” and Lucy almost choked on her drink and spurted out the wine that was in her mouth, coughing so hard that a waiter had to come by and attend to her.
She saw another older guest cover the eyes of a young attendee. The older woman who was fanning herself fainted while the elder gentleman beside her put on his glasses and started dancing too. He, at least, seemed to be enjoying the show.
A commotion soon broke out as the bride in question came dancing down the aisle, but then she tripped over one of the twerking bridesmaids.
I’m dead.
I’m so dead.
Maxine is dead.
She is so dead.
It was a PR disaster, but since it was modern times dominated by social media, disasters could turn out to be a good thing. The next day, the video captured on the cellphone of a guest garnered 50,000 views and 3,000 thumbs-up, 400 thumbs-down.
“Well, at least we got the publicity we needed.” Maxine boasted the next day.
“We don’t need that kind of publicity, Maxine. Not like that.” Was Lucy a fool to leave the agency to Maxine? But who else was enthusiastic about continuing her aunt's dream?
“Okay, you can plan the next one,” Maxine chimed in. “It’s Mr. and future Mrs. Smithson. And they want a simple garden wedding. Nothing fancy. Just beautiful. Paradisiacal.”
“Okay, good. When are they getting married?” Lucy took her notepad and grabbed her pen as they sat in her office.
“This one’s a rush job. Two weeks time.”
“Fine. I’ll be in charge. No one else.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Thank God this will be the last wedding I will have to plan, Lucy thought.
She was all too grateful for this day to come. The sun shone bright in the blue sky. It was much warmer than previous fall days. She was glad for that. Mr. and Mrs. Smithson would be so happy. She had met them last week for the first time since Maxine originally managed them and they seemed so sweet and appreciative.
Right. The checklist.
Lucy glanced down at her notepad and clipboard in her hand. She’d already spent the morning and last two days obsessively checking the wedding day forecast. It was forecast to be a cloudless fall day. An unseasonably warm day, at that!
Lucky for the Smithsons.
I wish it were me getting married.
A longing so sharp and painful settled inside Lucy’s heart but she tried to squash the thought. It was a good thing this would be her last planned wedding.
She confirmed securing necessary permits, as well as a backup for the wedding ceremony and reception in case it rained unexpectedly. Catering was organized. Easy access to bathroom facilities was checked and so was access to parking. The sound system was checked by the DJ and they had a hard surface for the dance so that lady guests would not get their heels stuck in the grass. Not like that last “twerking” wedding disaster weeks ago.
Lucy drew in a deep breath. She glanced around her surroundings. It was breathtaking. A gorgeous Edenic garden nestled near a wooded area outside of Toronto belonging to a rich owner who was generous enough to allow them to use the facilities. Maxine located the venue when the Smithsons requested a specific setting. The trees looked angelic decorated with warm fairy lights that created an inviting ambiance. So romantic. So soothing to the senses. Flowers of every kind decorated the area and lined the aisle leading up to the makeshift altar. Lace curtains were also present. It was spectacular. Lucy spun around and froze.
She caught the silhouette of a tall, well-built man in a suit near one of the trees.
