09-09-09 OH MY part 2

There were some standout couples yesterday, and not always in a good way. Some were funny, some not.

One bride had on a beautiful poofy long white dress. It had a tight bodice and then ballooned. Her daughter, around 3 years old, had on a matching dress. The bride had a bouquet of silk white roses, which her daughter was carrying. Mom was using both hands holding up her dress so the bottom wouldn't get dirty while walking. We got ready to begin the ceremony and the daughter would not give up the bouquet. Rather than have a crying child, I retrieved a silk flower bouquet from the office. We were going to trade the daughter. Didn't work. Mom carried our flowers and the daughter had the big bouquet. Then the daughter held both during the ring ceremony, As they were leaving I tried to take our bouquet back. Then the crying started. I kept ours and they went home with a crying child. I felt mean.

One couple had their 3 year old son bring their rings up. Do you see this one coming??? He walked up with the box open and then screamed when they took the rings out. And he was still screaming as they left the building. He was trying to pull the rings off their fingers. Never give anything to a toddler you will want back.

And we had white dresses. As I have mentioned most were lovely. But two, OMW! I told K, one of the bosses, I wanted a sign at the door, All women in dresses must wear a slip, especially if sheer white dresses. I told him none us know where to look when women come in with a malfunction. He thought I was joking, nope.

One dress was very sheer, can you say bikini pants and bellybutton? One dress was a heavy satin sheath, it was very pretty. It also was very, very tight. We had a size 10 packed into a size 8. Visible panty line and belly button.

And there was the family from hell. As I was doing the poofy dress wedding there was loud talking and laughter in the waiting room. We had beating on the glass doors, and they were pushing them open. Two toddlers were beating and pushing away while the parents watched. I stopped the wedding, went out to the parents and told them to control their children. And to please whisper. Then I went in and began again on my wedding. Guess who I married next?

Yep, the parents of the door beaters. All during the ceremony the two kids ran through the room screaming, knocking things over, pulling on the vertical blinds, climbing the support beam, and none of the adults did squat. I picked them off the beam, and kept going. I did a fast ceremony. Anything to get them out of there before they destroyed the building. And yes, I still did a nice ceremony.

As I said yesterday, it was a lovely day. Even with the trouble, malfunctions, rudeness, most people were nice. They gave me hugs, thanked me and thanked me, and even tried to tip me. I kept the hugs and nice compliments and suggested they use the money for champagne.

09-09-09 OH MY

Today was a big day to marry. The Chinese and many other Asian countries consider 9 a lucky number, and the rest of world thought they could remember the date easier. I agreed to come in at 8:30 a.m. to marry couples. I DO NOT DO MORNINGS. Yet there I was. It was well worth being up and out so early.

I walked in and the deputy and the information clerk said they will be so happy you are here today. (people were lined up at 7:30, we open at 8:30) I walked into the back lobby and there was a loud chorus of "JANET IS HERE". I went to my desk and the clerks left their desks and gathered round and starting doing cheers for me and ended by spelling my name. Talk about feeling loved. Within 5 minutes I had my first license to begin the day. By 9:30 I had done four weddings. I did not return to my desk until noon, when I took a break and grabbed some lunch.

We had a staff person helping me with English weddings, and two translators doing Chinese and Spanish weddings. Another volunteer was there for a couple of hours. At one point we were still 2 hours from a couple's check in time. That is just awful. We also only had one room to use for a couple of hours. That really slowed us down, But we ended the day only running over to 4:30. We did catch up, and were only 20 minutes or so between couples.

There were some outstanding weddings and some are just a blur. We sold 79 licenses the clerks fingers were bloody stumps, (Many couples had bought their licenses last week. Many couples went elsewhere for the ceremony), and did 40 ceremonies. I think I did something between 20 and infinity.

We had lovely Chinese brides in bright red. The loveliest had on a red sheath that looked like she was wearing rose petals. The dress was and is absolutely gorgeous. There were several brides in long poofy white dresses, long white sheaths, men in morning suits, black suits, lots of lovely dressy dresses. It was a fashion show.

I had a bride stop me and demand to know why they were having to wait. People were taken ahead of them. When would I take them? I checked, they were next. I explained that couples needing a translator went out of sequence, we took the translators when we could get them. I checked the license, went out and called them, and guess what? They didn't have all of their party there yet. So why the hell did she give me grief?

One couple just filled the room with love. They were in jeans and tee shirts. She was so sweet and moved, she was crying. He pulled out a tissue and wiped her tears. So very lovingly. One couple whispered their vows to each other.

And there was the couple who were fighting. He was just a total a**hole. I told the bride to just hit him up the side of the head and tell God he died. His Mother agreed with me. He was just rude. I asked her if she wanted to go through with the wedding. She said yes, she was going to make him pay. I think they may kill each other.

The majority were lovely. In love and fun. Crying couples, the couple who got the giggles. It was a fantastic day. I am worn out, my feet hurt, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Watch out for 10-10-10.