My Dad, the Wedding Planner

Prompt: Start or end your story with a character preparing for someone else’s big moment.

My Dad, the Wedding Planner

I arose at the crack of dawn. I scampered out of my bed knowing that the day would be spectacular and full of wonderment. Adrenaline was pulsing through my arteries. Today would be the climax of my preparations for this glorious day. I would make my daughter’s wedding dreams come true. Stella’s hand had been betrothed to a fellow I had long since considered to be like a son. It was especially easy to get close to Stanley since he was estranged from his parents. In fact, he wanted me to be his best man. So, I had the duo responsibility of being the father of the bride and the best man. Was this his ruse to get on my good side? If so, I was enamored by my son-in -law’s shrewdness.

In eight hours, Stella and Stanley would exchange their vows for a lifetime of commitment and adventure. I sat on the edge of my bed trying to calm myself with deep breathing exercises. I began to reminisce about her mom and the two of us. I murmured aloud “Things are moving so fast. There is so much more to do. Everything has to be perfect or at least near perfection to make her happy on her special day. I wish Stella’s mom was here to help her prepare and calm my anxiety.”

But regretfully, she suffered and died alone in her dementia not remembering Stella or me. It took years for Stella and I to heal our wounds after the passing of her mom. We accused each other of being callous and neglectful of mom’s suffering. Her dementia became so severe I had her committed to a residential center for the mentally infirm. Stella was infuriated and blamed me for my lack of empathy. That was over five years ago and the road to our healing had been painstaking slow with words we wish we never had said to one another. Her anger forced her to move out of the house. Thankfully, ever since Stanley entered Stella’s life three years ago, he tempered her angst and softened her heart towards me. Now the two of them were getting married and I promised my best efforts.

I looked at the clock noting it was now seven hours to the appointed ceremony. I had procrastinated long enough. Still time to do the things I needed to complete as I reviewed the list burned into my memory. My sense of complacency jolted my thoughts back to the time when Stanley and Stella first announced their intentions for wedlock. Stanley proposed to Stella by shouting at her apartment window one very late night.

“Stella! Stella!Stella! Marry me, woman!” (akin to Marlin Brando screaming in the movie “A Streetcar named Desire.”). In true fashion, my daughter yelled at him to buzz off, but moments later she rushed down the stairs to eagerly accept his boisterous proposal. The neighborhood was aghast but pleasantly relieved at the outcome of their dramatic scene.

I had so many doubts concerning this entire event. Fearing they would want a huge ceremony I quickly offered the two of them a simple chapel wedding and reception of about fifty people at my expense. I would handle all the details as I choked on my words. It was the least I could do to honor them on their very special day. Thankfully both were happy with this arrangement. Stella chose her cousin and best friend Blanche as maid of honor. No exorbitant bridal party to outfit with luxurious gowns, or tuxedos to dress groomsmen like a herd of penguins.

I shook my head rattling my thoughts back to my mental list of things to do. First on the list I had to make sure my daughter got her wedding dress. It was still early to call the shop or even Stella so I deferred that item for later consideration. Next, I shaved, showered, and got dressed which meant momentarily attiring myself in underwear, socks, and pants. Now I have to make sure the flowers had been delivered. Oh, still early for that one. Call the caterer at the venue. Should be a piece of cake (ha, ha as I inwardly laughed at my own pun). Oh, for crying out loud! I need to call the baker.

I was befuddled. My fingers trembled because I forgot the phone number. I forgot even which baker it was! Things were slipping through the proverbial cracks. The clock ticked to less than six hours. Hesitantly, I decided to call Stanley. I put his call on speaker phone. When he answered I heard a bam and a thud like a body had fallen on the floor. Stanley grumbled and slurred a few words.

“Yeah? Who is this? It’s only nine in the morning. Need my rest. Call me back. Later.”

That response did not hold promise for the joys of the day ahead. “Stanley, it’s me, your best man, soon to be your father-in-law. What gives? Have you been drinking? I really need your help.”

Then all I heard on the other end was a ‘click’ and dead silence. So much for Stanley being a source of support on his special day. I realized that my loose ends were still dangling and I had to force myself into high gear. I raced to finish my nuptial attire for the day squeezing into my tight tuxedo.Any further preparations I needed to complete would require me to wear my tuxedo. I waddled around like a penguin. The clock now showed five hours to the appointed time. I felt I could now make a phone call to Stella.

The phone rang and rang, and rang.It seemed like an eternity before Stella answered with a sobbing voice. I could feel the tears coming through my phone like a tidal wave.

I asked, “Stella, what is wrong my dear? What has happened?”

She replied, “Blanche is not here yet. My wedding dress has not arrived. I called Stanley but he hasn’t picked up his phone. Oh, Daddy, I need your help! Maybe I should cancel the wedding?”

Inwardly, I felt ready to explode in terror. Calmly I told Stella, “Fear not Daddy will take care of his little girl. I am on it right away. I’ll be by soon.” Oh how I wish I had started all this sooner.

I hung up storming outside to my car. Naturally, it would not start after several attempts. I searched for a local taxi driver. Thankfully, one was available only fifteen minutes away. After some negotiation with the driver, he agreed to make various stops along the way to my ultimate destination, which would be at Stanley’s apartment. Like a hungry lion licking his jowls he said, “This will cost you a small fortune. I need a substantial deposit now.” The driver smiled at me showing his yellow, smoked stain teeth as I handed him a wad of “c” notes from my wallet.

First and foremost, I had to get Stella’s dress. I literally stormed into the dress shop demanding my daughter’s gown. They read the hysteria in my eyes and instantly packaged up the dress to avoid panic from the other customers. As I was leaving in the taxi, I made sure I had the right size. And then it hit me! Her shoes! Her shoes! Back to the shop. A clerk from the shop was waiting outside frantically waving a bag I assumed was Stella’s shoes. Crisis number one averted!

Now to check on the chapel and reception set-up. The taxi rolled up outside the chapel. Oh man! As I walked inside there were no floral decorations, no red carpet. No tables or chairs had been set up in the adjoining reception hall. Like a maniac I searched for any living person wandering around the place. I was running out of options to find someone. Knowing my time was ticking away, I bolted like lightning into the Reverend’s office hoping he would be there to sort things out.

Calmly, the Reverend lifted up his head from his bible asking me, “What can I do for you? Hopefully, I can help you before the memorial service starts in an hour.”

I was flabbergasted. I stammered, “Reverend, did you forget my daughter’s wedding today? Stella and her fiancé, Stanley are to be married this afternoon! I am not seeing any preparations for a wedding! I requested this particular day at the chapel weeks ago and now you tell me there is a memorial service at the chapel today?”

The Reverend responded, “Oh yes.” And with a wryly smile he said, “After the memorial our church staff will set out the tables, chairs, and wedding paraphernalia well before the guests arrive and certainly ahead of the ceremony. There will be no problem. It will look wonderful. The food and band will be extraordinary too.” He then whimsically laughed as though he was just trying to humor me.

He continued, “Take a deep breath my son. Jesus has your back. Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. 1 Remember these words, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 2

The Reverend further remarked, “God has promised forgiveness for your repentance. But He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” 3 Now go and take care of the groom and bride.”

He had a way of reminding me of my poor time management and what was really important about the day. It went in one ear and out the other, however. I waddled out of his office. My tux was getting even tighter and starting to wrinkle as I continued through the day’s nuptial agenda. I pounced into the taxi shouting Blanche’s address at him. Four hours left and I needed at least one of them to get Stanley to the chapel.

We arrived at Blanche’s house in short order. I pounded and screamed at the door. Finally, her terrified son let me in after realizing who I was. "Uncle you look distraught," he stammered. I thought it was such a big word to use for a kid six years old. Anyway the commotion alerted Blanche who was standing at the top of the stairs with her bathrobe on. Her surprised look said it all as she blurted out her annoyance at me.

She snapped saying “Why are you here? The wedding isn’t for another three and half hours. I still have to get ready.”

Firmly I said, “Blanche, Stella needs your help now! Grab your dress and let’s go.”

She ran into her room to snatch her dress, shoes and most importantly her makeup. Together we crammed into the back seat of the taxi. To the driver we looked like a pair of lunatics; me in my tux and Blanche in her bathrobe. She mumbled under her breath, “You are nuts. Your antics are abysmal. This is no way to prepare for Stella and Stanley's most important day.”

I could only muster up a feeble response. ”You’re right. Things got away from me. Now I am running on empty.” I told the driver to head for my daughter’s apartment but not before we stopped at the bakery. Fortunately, Blanche knew the location of the bakery. It was a miracle that the bakery had just opened and the baker was finishing last minute touches on the cake. She literally threw the boxes at me. It was another miracle we could fit it in the trunk of the taxi. Blanche gave me the evil eye when I placed the cake box alongside the spare tire. I told myself the boxes were stable and secure.

We came to a screeching halt as the car overshot Stella’s apartment complex. The abrupt stop caused Blanche and I to lunge forward. Her makeup kit and dress flew into the front seat. I heard some jostling in the trunk. We gathered up her stuff and I made a quick check on the cake in the trunk. Just a few dents but nothing I figured that would have altered the integrity of the wedding cake, or so I hoped.

Stella was surprised and amused to see her cousin wearing a bathrobe. I spent the next thirty minutes reassuring them both all would be well. Blanche would help Stella with her hair and makeup. I left them with extra money for another taxi once they were dressed.

I had to get to the florist. Traffic was gnarly for a Saturday afternoon, but my taxi made it to the shop. They told me the flowers had been delivered. The order of lilies, white mums, white carnations, and blue delphinium had been delivered early in the morning. “No, no that’s not right! Those flowers were likely for the memorial service,” I yelped. The florist said not to worry. “We will be sure the right flowers will be there in time.” At this point, my worry was leaking out of my ears. What did the Reverend say about worrying? “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” 4 I already had used up my fair share of worry in twenty-four hours.

There was still the issue of getting the cake and Stanley to the chapel. With only two hours to the wedding, I arrived at Stanley’s apartment. Despite my vociferous screams and maddening attempts to get him to answer his door, I got nothing. Stanley either was in bed comatose from a night of revelry with his cronies or he hightailed it for greener pastures to avoid marrying Stella. It never occurred to me that he might have actually awoke on his own and made his way over to the chapel.

I sat back into the taxi. The driver looked at me and said “where to now, mister?” I held my head in both of my hands as I lamented, “I spoiled their special day. It was to be the biggest moment of their lives and by my hands I ruined it.” Then the driver said, “The wedding hasn’t started. You still got time to get there. I know from personal experience a wedding is not about the chapel, about the food or even the guests. If they really love one another they will look beyond the craziness of the day to the future of their lives together. By my watch you got an hour, so let’s go!” I could not believe my taxi driver was actually giving me a therapy session.

My driver was adept at weaving in and out of traffic to get me back to the chapel. I was amazed at seeing that all the preparations were ready as promised by the Reverend. The church was decked out with Stella’s favorite flowers: gardenias, and yellow roses.The red carpet was rolled out down the main aisle. Tables and chairs were covered in white linen. Place settings were meticulously set. Centerpieces were carefully staged on the tables. Delicious aromas filled the hall as the meal preparations were underway. The band was fine tuning their instruments. The wedding cake was flawless as it rested on the cake stand. But how was that possible? I would have never guessed it given all the dents on the cake box. I learned later that evening Stanley had picked up the real cake as he made his way to the chapel. I actually had several boxes of donuts and cupcakes for a kid’s party, which by the way became “cupnuts and docakes” because of the dents and jostling in the trunk.

One could not count how many misfires I had to wrestle with to get to their wedding hour. But now it was time for the ceremony. It was a splendid event to witness.

The most treasured sight of the day was seeing Stella in her amazing wedding gown embracing Stanley as they exchanged vows on their very special day.

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 5

“ May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.”6

-END-

Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7 (New Living Translation)

Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)

St. Augustine

Luke 12:25 (New International Version)

1 Corinthians 13:7 (New Living Translation)

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (New Living Translation)

Author: Peter Gautchier

Acknowledgement: Reedsy.com prompts