Prelude to a Beautiful Life
Posted: August 9, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment
As Aunt Dana my job was to be available to do whatever was necessary to help get this wedding off the ground. Not that every detail was not already thought of, planned, back up planned, scheduled, spread sheeted, paid for and assigned ownership. Still I was called into action.
First duty was to go pick up fifteen pies in Dover NH. I had breakfast with my friends Karen and Nick and headed on my way. When I let Russ know about the 15 pies he said, “You mean 16 pies right.” So I got the wedding pies and one extra one for Russ.
Arriving back at Suzanne’s house I was greeted by her youngest Oliver and we hid the pies in the garage where I took a photo of them so the caterer would know where to find them. Then I joined the family in the great room/makeup studio. Suzanne was already getting her hair done for the rehearsal, Jack, her older son, was working on his remarks as officiant and I helped with those and the practice session.
As is always my role, I will be laughing first and hardest during the service giving all other attendees cues and permission to laugh. It will be funny, but also sweet and heartfelt. Oliver came up dressed for the rehearsal two hours in advance and needed me to sew a rip in his blazer. Sure enough, Suzanne pulled out the wedding sewing repair kit and I had all the needed tools to take care of the job.
Grace arrived for her hair and make up and we were a happy group toiling away. The last job was to tie the place cards on to the special treat all the guests will be getting when they find their seats. At last all the jobs were done and it was time for the beautiful Mother of the Bride and Bride to dress for the rehearsal and I slipped out to meet Russ and Carter who had driven up from Boston.
Carter did my hair and we dressed for the welcome party. I somehow had picked the perfect AirBnB across a short bridge from the event space where the party was being held.
As an honorary Worden sister and longest time friend of the Farley Family I got to see so many people I have known and loved because of Steve and Suzanne. We had college friends there and Steve’s friends and as many relatives as an Irish Catholic family could have, and neither of them are Irish or catholic. There were the groom, Paul’s people, especially his mom and her sisters who are fiercely loving of Paul and now Grace. And all the young friends of the Bride and the groom, here to celebrate.
After lots of how are you’s, we gathered in a big dark room and Suzanne gave the most beautiful, sweet, funny and touching toast. She is a fabulous writer professionally, but this was so tender and heartfelt.
Then they played the movie Suzanne made along with help from Sandy, Paul’s mother. I need to get to watch it about ten more times because sometime the tears in my eyes obscured my view. I especially loved reliving those early Grace baby years with video with the grandparents, all of whom I adored. I was so honored to be in the movie with a picture of me and Grace on the subway together.
It was a beautiful celebration of two wonderful young people. Grace and Paul clearly are a happy couple being welcomed into two adoring families.
For me it was wonderful for Carter to get to know people I love who she did not know well and be with Grace, Jack and Oliver and especially Suzanne, whom she has a special bond with as she is her godmother.
Surprisingly we were almost the last people to leave the party. This is never the way with Russ Lange. Even he was having a ball. And this was just the warm up for the big event. Tomorrow will be a day of endless love.
Less Dana, More Good 
❤