Katie and Adam got married. In typical Katie Pivec fashion, the website they created was hilarious. They did a re-enactment of the proposal with a porta potty prominent in the back ground. The RSVP page was multiple choice ranging from “Would crawl off my deathbed to attend”, “Duh; free food” to “Stop bothering me; I’m getting a restraining order.”
Katie wanted a relatively stress free wedding and with the help of her enormous family and circle of friends (much more her father’s daughter in that regard than mine) managed to pull it off.
As soon as they announced their engagement, Katie asked everyone to start saving bottles and jars; clear glass, cleaned of any labels. She began collecting them from everyone this spring at the showers. We ended up with well over 250 jars and bottles of all shapes and sizes.
Last fall, she began her hunt for a dress. She tried on lots of dresses, decided what style and color she liked and bought a gorgeous Ann Taylor dress online the day after Christmas so it was half price. It was a strapless, ecru gown with a skirt that was tiers of tulle cascading beneath a sequined sweetheart bodice. It flattered her figure tremendously! A gown designed for her personally couldn’t have looked better. We used a fabric sample to choose the silks we used in the needlepoint sash she and I designed together. Gr. Punkin and I stitched it and I beaded it as well. I got the beads off an old (1980s) cocktail gown I found at Value Village for $13.99. I had more beads than I could use after peeling off only one armful of beads. That dress was a gold mine! The ladies at the Picket Fence were indispensable! Not only did they show me how to bead, they gave me several rolls of ribbon to use in the finishing. All in all, including finishing charges, the sash cost us about $50.00 instead of the $300.00- $500.00 typical of beaded shashes in the bridal shops and this one was personally designed and made for the bride.
They found a perfect venue that accommodated their list of desires; gorgeous, outside and wheel chair accessible.
Katie asked Zack to sing a song with the accompaniment of their cousin, Logan on the guitar.
Katie decided that instead of cake, they would have cupcakes and rather than buy bakery cupcakes, she wanted me to adapt chocolate cherry cake to cupcakes. We experimented last spring until we knew what we were doing. Meg, Alex and Heidi also made cupcakes so there would be an assortment. As strange as it sounds, not everyone likes chocolate. I know; some folks are tone deaf and color blind, too.
Two days before the wedding, Katie and her friend Leah went to the Farmer’s market and bought 16 large, colorful bouquets, which they haggled down to $5 a piece. They brought them to our house and we stuffed them in eight five gallon buckets from Home depot. The greens they bought to fill in the flowers were cilantro and dill; both pretty and fluffy and delightful. My house has never smelled so good.
The rehearsal was on Friday and we hauled the flowers, the cupcakes and all the other things we could stash at the orchard along with us.
I had baked, over the course of the week, twenty dozen chocolate cherry cupcakes. That sounds like a lot more than it actually was. It took 7 cake mixes and cans of cherry filling, which I’d been stocking up on, grabbing a box and a can every time I went in to the grocery store. Aldi has pie filling for $3.00 a can less than the other grocery stores so the whole process didn’t cost very much, either. I bought 17 plastic storage containers at the dollar store and each held a dozen cupcakes perfectly. I removed a couple of shelves from my overflow fridge and all the cupcakes fit with room for the lemons and limes Jay bought for the bartenders as well.
On Friday morning, I frosted all the cupcakes. I had to experiment a little bit; the frosting was too messy to pour on hot but 15 minutes in the fridge rendered it nice and spreadable and it only took three batches to cover all the cupcakes.
We had to be at the orchard for the rehearsal at five so to miss rush hour, we planned on leaving the house by 3:30.
You know how that goes; the plan fell apart at 3:05. Babies needed new diapers, shoes were not to be found, flowers had to be packed into the van, not the truck (the truck bed isn’t air conditioned) so we were all running around doing what needed to be done and my phone was ringing off the hook. In addition to the logistics, I had to get dressed, including hair and makeup. Josie helped me with my false eyelashes, the greatest beauty aid ever and Jay and I had stuffed the van with flowers and were carefully transferring cupcakes to the back of the acura when my phone rang for the 17,000th time in the last hour. “Don’t answer it!” Jay yelled as I flipped it open and barked “NOW WHAT?”
“Hey Mary.” A male voice said. “How’s it going?”
“WHO IS THIS?” I snapped, not being in the mood or having the time to chit chat.
“It’s Joe.” Said my brother, who had called me from Afghanistan.
I started to laugh and apologized for the way I answered. “We’re on our way to Katie’s rehearsal and I can’t find my shoes!” I told Joe. He had called because he knew the wedding was happening, wanted to know how everything was going and of course from the other side of the planet, it’s hard to get the timing perfect.
“Go, go go!” he said. “I’ll catch up later!”
So Jay and I took off. Halfway to the orchard, I put on my reading glasses to check my makeup and saw that my false eyelashes had somehow managed to slide half way up my eyelids. Sadly, I peeled them off.
Traffic was fortunately light and we all arrived at the orchard in time for the rehearsal. My job was to sit where they stuck me and stay put. Piece of cake.
Then we all headed for the groom’s dinner in Shakopee at a place called Turtle’s. It was delightful. The only problem was the snooty attitude of the road bitch who insisted we turn off the highway where there is no longer an exit. Stupid road bitch. We finally found it after winding around and around the area. There was a classic car exhibit going on outside Turtle’s.
Inside, about forty people gathered and we had a lovely dinner. T he food was delicious, the company convivial and the atmosphere perfect. Babydoll, Bananas and Punkin finished their dinner quickly and spent the remainder of the evening running up and down the party room. They had so much fun it boded well for the next day, when they would be left behind at Banana’s dad’s house with a phalanx of babysitters.
We didn’t stay out very late; everyone knew that Saturday would dawn early with lots to be done. On the way home, Josie, the Maid of Honor said “Hey, you guys want to know something? I have to give a speech tomorrow and I don’t have one!” Then she laughed, a little bit hysterically.
Wedding Day dawned warm and overcast. Josie and I packed our dresses, shoes and makeup and hit the road with Megan. Our first stop was Sam’s Club, where Katie had asked us to pick up some veggie trays for the cocktail hour. With the trunk of the car packed with clothes and food, we made our way down to the orchard. We arrived around 9:30 and found the rest of the brides maids and the makeup artist hired for the occasion already at work in the adorable apartment set aside as a bride’s room. There was Prosecco, orange juice, croissants and donuts for the taking. Josie took a seat and Megan and I went off to join Gr. Punkin and Margy in hauling jars and flowers to the barn.
After about an hour, I gave Megan the keys to the car and she headed back to town to get her babies and herself dressed and ready for family photos.
The day was not too hot but overcast and sticky. I knew I would not have an opportunity to shower again so I was careful not to get too sweaty as we hauled flowers to the barn. Leah and another girl were putting together bouquets for the bridal party so I only took the flowers they would not be using.
We had a ton of flowers. Before we started to cut flowers and fill jars, Margy and I took the giant roll of brown craft paper Katie bought and used it to make runners on all 18 tables. I rolled the paper out while Margy cut. It was easy but time consuming.
It was just Gramma, Margy and me until about 11:00, when Kathy, Heidi, Alex and Vi showed up. Heidi and Alex put up the cupcake stand they made; a stepladder painted white with shelves cut to fit across the steps, bordered with gold, glittery ribbon. It looked fantastic! They also used some of the gold frames that had been used as place cards at Katelyn’s wedding. They covered the frames with glitter and used them to describe the cupcakes; Chocolate Cherry w/Fudge Frosting, Lemon w/ whipped cream frosting, Banana w/ cream cheese frosting…
But no cupcakes were going on it until the ceremony. No one wanted to return for the reception to find the cupcakes covered with ants.
With the full contingent of workers on hand, I was shooshed off to get dressed and they transformed the barn into a glorious, gorgeous banquet hall. In the end, there were enough jars of flowers to put nine on every table, several on the cupcake stand and several on the buffet tables where the food would be served. Katie and I had taken great pains to collect enough tall, slim jars to use for the table numbers. She had made card holders with long, slim dowels and tiny wooden clothespin clips which would hold the silver cards with the numbers on them. We couldn’t find the box of tall bottles but it didn’t matter; Vi just stuck the dowels right in the jars with the flowers and they looked better that way.
Before I went off to get dressed, Jay had arrived to conduct the setting up of the bars and kegs. He had everything under control when he turned to me and said “Where’s your car?”
“Megan took it back to town.” I told him “Why?”
“All my clothes were in the trunk.” He said, after dancing up and down and turning red for a moment.
Good thing we all had cell phones. A quick call to Zack, who hadn’t left home yet and the clothes, which had already been to the orchard once that morning, were transferred to the van and brought back out again.
The gals in the barn had finished things in the barn and gone off for lunch when I went up to get dressed.
The makeup artist Katie had hired was very, very good. The bride, who is so beautiful that she rarely wears makeup anyway (it wouldn’t be fair to the other women) looked like she just stepped off the cover of Bride magazine. Her makeup was so well done that she looked not at all ‘made up’, but her natural beauty was emphasized to the nth degree. All the bridesmaids looked stunning as well. The gowns were gold lame, V-necked and ankle length. If the sun hit them they were completely transparent yet blinding but the cloud cover held and they looked simply beautiful. The five bridesmaids looked like Grecian Goddesses. After Kaylie applied my false eyelashes, they went off to be photographed.
At 2:00, Katie and Meg McCollow arrived in a car full of cupcakes and a giant Tupperware of whipped cream frosting. They took them up to the bride’s room where Josie (finished with the first round of photos) helped Meg frost and decorate ten dozen citrus flavored cupcakes. In addition to the whipped cream frosting, they sprinkled zest on each; lemon, lime or orange, depending on the cake beneath. A candy flower of different colors topped the display and they were as fun to look at as they were to eat.
Katie had had sandwiches for the bridal party and all the helpers delivered. I had a bite but I was too excited to eat much.
It rained a tiny bit in the middle of the afternoon but not enough to dampen anyone’s spirits. It just cooled things off a touch.
Megan and Tyler dropped the babies off at MJ’s with her kids and came on out. We had our family photos (sans grandkids; nothing’s perfect) and then had nothing to do but wait for the guests. Cars began to arrive very soon after our family pictures were done. Soon, the yard around the barn was full of family and friends. One of the kegs was tapped so the partying actually started before the ceremony.
We were all transported to the ceremony site, riding in wagons pulled by tractors. After the guests had been seated, we awaited the arrival of the wedding party. Finally, it was time to start. We were all seated and then Jay and Katie came down the aisle to the tune “L’air d’ Louisianne” by Jimmy Buffett.
JP did his official thing and Katie and Adam said the vows they wrote which were traditional but in their own words. Instead of “Till death do us part,” they ended with “Until one of us dies.”
While they were signing the marriage license, with Tyler and Megan as witnesses, Zack and Logan performed “On the Knees of My Heart” by Buffett. They did a great job and sounded really good together, even when Zack forgot the lyrics to the last verse and sang “I forgot the lyrics to this verse” in perfect tempo.
The bridesmaids dashed back to the barn to set out the cupcakes (five golden goddesses, dashing through the apple orchard. Sounds like a story out of mythology, no?) while Katie and Adam greeted each row of guests.
When all the guests had been ushered back onto the wagons, the reception began with a cocktail hour. This took place out on the lawn surrounding the barn. We’d set up several kegs around the yard and one of the bars so that there wouldn’t be a total logjam of thirsty guests.
One of the kegs was gone before dinner.
During the cocktail hour, the doors to the barn were closed so that the caterers could set up the food. Kathy and I sneaked into the barn. We knew there was a full bar inside, too and we didn’t want to wait in line. We were pouring ourselves gin and tonics when Heidi and Alex joined us. The gals who worked so hard to help set things up deserved a drink in peace and quiet. Actually, they deserve much more than that. Katie and I will have to think of something.
The only necessary ingredient for throwing a magnificent party is not food, drink or music. It’s the guests. We never have to worry about one of our parties being a bust because if there’s one thing on earth more fun that the Pivecs or the Hubbells, it’s the Pivecs and the Hubbells.
Since the venue can only support X amount of guests and the families took up 90% of the list, Katie and Adam used the bulk of the rest and we only invited a handful of our friends but they’re the ones we couldn’t have done without; Ron and Kathy, Eric and Kelly, Dick and Jan, Perry and Kathy…the golden few.
Needless to say, the party was rockin’ long before dinner was served.
The food was fabulous! I don’t know who the orchard uses to cater their events but A+++!
Speeches took place while we ate. Jay gave a lovely speech. The Best Man rambled a bit but he was good. Josie was very nervous but acquitted herself well. Adam spoke and was funny.
But the Bride stole the show. Give my daughter a microphone and even when she’s not dressed and made up like a fairy tale princess she’ll give you your money’s worth.
She took the mic and began with “…But first, a song.” Then she said several very funny things, then listed all the things her new husband is good at, finishing with “Eat your hearts out, ladies. As of today, he’s taken.”
Then Adam grabbed her in a big smooch to the applause of all.
The cupcakes were a smash hit.
Alex, Heidi, Meg and I had made over 33 dozen cupcakes. At the end of the night, an assortment of five dozen remained. Out of the 204 chocolate cherry cupcakes I’d made, maybe fifteen survived the night.
One of Adam’s friends told Jay “I’ve only been in love once in my life…until I had a chocolate cherry cupcake.”
After dinner, the tables on the dance floor were moved aside and the DJ started the music. The bride and groom danced their first dance to Alan Jackson’s “Livin’ on Love”. I had managed to get that far without crying but that song just killed me. Then, Jay danced with Katie and Adam danced with his Mom to the Beatles “In My Life”, which played at our wedding 33 years ago. Yep. All choked up.
After that, the dance floor was packed all night long.
While dancing took place in the barn, lots of folks took advantage of what had turned into a spectacular evening to walk through the apple orchard, play bags or horse shoes on the lawn, visit the petting zoo behind the barn or just visit with friends under a gorgeous sunset.
The moon rose over the trees behind the barn, full and orange, making the entire scene look like something out of a dream.
After my initial gin and tonic, I drank nothing but water all night. It was still hot and dancing the night away is thirsty work.
At one point, Jay was on the dance floor with Adam’s mom and her eight sisters. They formed a big circle and Jay danced with each of them in the middle, one at a time. It was great.
Katie’s friend J, whom she met in law school, introduced himself to my sister, Katie.
“Are you Aunt Katie?” He asked.
“Yes.” She said. “Why?
“Oh, I’ve heard all about ‘Hot Aunt Katie’.” He said. Katie was flattered until he offered her his number.
“Why would I want your number?” She asked. “Am I gonna call you to babysit for me?”
“No, so we can go out.” He laughed. “On a date.”
“I’m not gonna go on a date with you!” she said.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Because I’m old enough to be your mother and that’s my husband and those are my kids!”
All in all, the night was a rousing success. Everything came together just the way Katie envisioned it. The decorations in the barn couldn’t have been more delightful if a Hollywood set designer had planned it all. The wild mix of flowers, stuffed into the recycled pickle jars, the twinkle lights, the full moon…it was all lovely and completely in keeping with the personality of the bridal couple.
Jay and I had a terrific time and left just a little bit early because the Maid of Honor got hammered and we had to take her home.
It was a night to remember.