Day 1 – A Lovely Bride
Actually, I should start this at Day minus one and counting
when the bride’s family had a terrific
luau/barbecue in their screened in lanai with pool, waterfall , tiki
bar, coconut cups, and lots of good people to meet. Having met only the immediate family and
groom, I knew everyone by name (heck I know their dates of birth, phone
numbers, past passenger numbers … you name it), but I didn’t know THEM. I heard so many “Oh – YOU’RE Dorothy” exclamations – the
Cruise Planners t-shirt made it kind of obvious.
You know how when you
speak to people on the phone several times you get a mental image of them? Well, how nice was it when someone told me
that I was younger and thinner than they had imagined me?
I LIKE this crowd!
Day of the wedding found the whole house up d congregating
around the coffee maker at about 4:30 AM
. Hair and makeup artist was arriving at
5:30 to work on bride and groom’s mothers and I think an aunt or two, luggage
had to be in the driveway by 7:30, beds turned back into sofas, the usual pre-wedding
stuff.
Then on the bus, pick up the rest of the
wedding party at their hotel and to the port.
Carnival had us in a holding pattern at the port for a good long time
(the old “get there by 10:00 AM or you won’t be able to board, but once we’ve
gotten you here you can go have a seat – for an hour and a half”). No photos in the terminal – Homeland Security
and all that.
During the holding
pattern I got to meet some of the wedding party that hadn’t been at the luau.
Even “Aunt Helen” who at 89 years old has more energy than half the people
I know and boogied with us on the dance floor later.
The ship is about what I remember from other Carnival
ships. Big, showy, okay maybe a little
cheesy here and there, but clean and bright and everyone had big smiles to greet
us. All the guests were invited to have
lunch while the wedding rehearsal took place, and the food was arguably
good. The wedding was held in the main
showroom because we had about 100 guests
– too many for the little chapel on board. I'm trying to upload a video of the bride coming down the aisle. Taken with my phone, and it looks it, but they internet Gods are not currently with me and I'm getting error messages.
Lots of hot and cold hors’ de oeuvres at the reception including
delicious fresh raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries (there’s something
that I just love about eating berries when they’re not yet in season – it seems
so luxurious). Carnival did a nice
job. The wedding coordinator got things
moving along very smoothly, the bouquet was thrown, the non-sailing guests
ushered off, and we were on our way to sea with the new Mr. and Mrs. Parker, plus
44 of their closest friends! And what a
group it is. This crowd could have fun
on a garbage scow so being on a nice ship just make it all the better.
My feet still hurt from the 4” heels, the dancing and just
once heck of a long day, including a 5:30 AM jog (never again), but I’d do it
again in a heartbeat – and the sailing has just started.
Hope you’ll join me in wishing all the very best to this
special couple – there will be stories to tell in the coming days!
