Rich is darned difficult to sleep with in a small bed. After Vince took to the floor, I braved the lion's den and attempted to sleep with my husband. He tosses and turns, and the bed was just bouncy enough I thought he'd flip me out. So I got very little sleep this weekend.

Monica and Mark had not gotten the reservations as early as I did, (May), so ended up in Tiburon, at $175/night and no spa. Nyaah, we have two. Of course, I didn't use them at all on Sunday or Monday, but I COULD have!

Sunday morning we went over to St. Patrick's church in Larkspur. It was the speed Mass, done in 35 minutes. This was nice, since that way we had some wiggle time. It dawned on me that Roni was born on a Holy Day of Obligation, All Saints, and was marrying on one, the Assumption. That leaves Christmas, New Year's, and the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, as dates for her to avoid, since death is next, right?

Bernadette had to be at the Nordstrom's counter for her makeup at 1. Roni said her appointment was at 12:45 and B's at 1, but as it happened, they were running late, and Roni's didn't finish till a quarter to 2. I was feeling antsy about this, but Roni was all calm. I had gone along to take pictures of my little girls getting their faces painted. It wouldn't be the first time. However, they kept ignoring me about putting rainbows or lions (or, the perfect one for Roni, a frog) on their cheeks.

Bridesmaid Lisa had bought the perfect necklace, pearls with "illusion wire." Monica says they call it that instead of "fishing line" so they can charge more. Then Lisa was busy running errands, getting the dress, taking people here and there, and she came and fetched Bernadette, so once I had dropped her off (and watched face-painting) I didn't have to worry about her. Lisa was so busy, I know why they are called "bridesMAIDs."
I had already showered and pin-curled my hair, and it was nearly dry when I got back to the room. Vince had dressed by then. I said "My you look nice." He replied, "Well, duh."

It seems Niki has taken Vince's initials and calls him "VCYar."

My hair was poufy as I'd expected, but it rolled nicely and I put all sorts of butterfly clips into it and left it down. Rich was relieved he didn't have to roll it again. We were able to get dressed and ready and to the church at 3. Apparently R.J. had thought asking his folks to be there at 4 was "an imposition" but Roni explained sweetly to him that they could do that, or miss the party for an hour while the groom's pictures were taken after the ceremony. As it was, the girls were not dressed when we got there, and the hairdresser was finishing Roni's hair, and the photographer was late.

However, it all worked out. The shade was poor so the photog. had his son standing on a chair with a reflector, and nearly sailing away with the breeze. Lots of pictures, and they finished by the time R.J.'s parents arrived and just before he did, and whisked away into the back room, again. Roni commissioned Bernadette to guard the guestbook and me to make sure it made it down to the hotel. (Oh, after our pictures, Rich and I walked down to the hotel and laid out our disposable cameras.)

The guests started arriving and Rich and I greeted them. I introduced my sister and family to R.J.'s parents. My eldest niece, bless her, managed to work the wedding into her leave and came in full dress uniform, and JJ postponed her trip East for it.

Then it was time! The best man almost escaped but we got him back to escort his mother in, R.J.'s stepdad followed along, and then Vince saw me in. I kissed him on the cheek, a nicety which Roni, excited, forgot with her Dad. The Canon in D started, and Bernadette led the way. Their dresses are long dark navy, spaghetti straps, a drape in back. They are the first bridesmaid dresses I've ever seen that really do look like they'll be useful again. Bernadette had not painted her toenails, but the other girls had blue nails to show in the strapped high heeled sandals. B. didn't find the shoes uncomfortable but Lisa said later they were miserable. The girls didn't show it, however. After B., who did manage to hold her bouquet nicely despite the florist not teaching them, came Lisa, then Monica (who likes to walk fast, aerobics, don't you know) and then L.J., the matron of honor. L.J. was a college friend, got Roni her first job, and has lived in Sausalito for years. (Lisa is a friend from elementary and high school and lived with Roni for a year, as well.)

R.J. didn't look nervous, though Roni said he was shaking at the rehearsal. They didn't use the wedding march, but instead the "Trumpet Tune" by Clark. I stood, everyone stood, and in she came, on Rich's arm. This picture is from the Mon Cheri catalog, and not that I'm at all partial, but Roni was much prettier. Her hair was up with a couple of tendrils. Mark had worried about this during the pictures, but Monica explained it to him. She had the white rosebuds in her hair. Everyone but R.J.'s mother, who wanted a gardenia instead, had white rosebuds. The bouquets were gorgeous: in fact, I have the orchids and lilies from Roni's bouquet in a vase now. Bernadette is drying the roses, hers and Roni's. Mine and Rich's are just drying, but as I look at some of the bouquets, it's possible we could have floated them and they'd have opened. The lilies were wrapped and looked really sad, but I unwrapped the stems and stuck them in a vase and they are gorgeous, but I digress.
Roni was wearing pearls and I think the bridesmaids must have adjusted them a bit after the pictures, as they had been making trouble then. These were a gift of that former inconvenient fiance. Anyway, she was beautiful. R.J. came down the steps to greet her, and Rich handed her over saying "have fun." Now, I ask you. Wouldn't "Take care of her" have been better? Geeze.

Anyway, they went up the stairs, Rich didn't step on her train, and the priest actually did that soap opera moment of "if anyone knows of any reason..." I had not seen this in real life before, and it was interesting feeling the guilty frisson of semi-hope go through the congregation. Kinda like watching skydiving. In the event, no one went splat, and no one ruined my little girl's day. Then the priest asked the congregation if we would support them, we said we would, and we had readings.

Monica did the first one, and she was good and practiced. This was the porn reading, but not really. (Song of Solomon, 2:10 - 3:, 8:6-7. See, they cut out the porn bits!) Then R.J.'s groomsman read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. (surprise!) He wasn't quite as smooth with it, since he doesn't do it regularly. Vince then stood up and sang the Ave Maria. He'd met the organist about 45 minutes sooner, and it turned out she couldn't transpose so he had to sing it in a higher key than he'd been practicing. He sounded fantastic. And look, we snuck a "Hail Mary" into the Episcopal church!

Then the priest read the Gospel. And they said their marriage vows. Roni looked remarkably composed. R.J. looked like he really means it, like he's the luckiest man on earth, as of course he is. Roni had a trick finger in her glove so she could bare her finger for the rings. No, I didn't cry. I thought if I started, I might never finish. (Still upset about the cat, no sleep, unpleasant side effects of the pain pills.) Maybe if the wedding's blessed by the church, later, then I'll cry.

We did the Lord's Prayer, which Roni printed out in case people didn't know it, and then there were some prayers from the congregation, and we were done. The recessional was Handel's water music. (Another non-crying reason, none of the trigger music playing.) Once they'd processed out, Rich rang the bell. I noted the guestbook and thought I would pick it up after the church pictures, which we were to stick around for. (Almost everyone did, though the reception was starting in the hotel.)

The photog first re-enacted the vows, and then did bride and groom and wedding party pictures. Then he wanted family pictures, us first. We even got Mark into one of them. Then it was time for groom's family, but R.J.'s mother was nowhere to be found. She had gone down to the hotel to put out the place cards she was so concerned about. The photographer said he'd put her in later. Isn't Photoshop wonderful? We got family together pictures, and then it was time to go. And the guest book was nowhere to be found. I thought maybe Bernadette had it, but she didn't. We looked all over the church, no. Then we decided Mother-in-law might have it, so we walked down to the hotel and asked, and she did not.

I'd also had my camera jam when they were doing our family pictures. It was on number 22 and so after the picture-taking, Rich and I worked with it. Nothing. I tried to get the film out under a blanket, and couldn't, so I put it back in the camera and left it, sulking. So I was happy that there was a spare disposable camera at the reception, and later another, as there were only 5 tables of guests instead of 6. Our plan was that people would not only take pictures of the bride and groom, but of each other, as well. Rich every so often went from place to place shooting just anything, and other people were good at that, too.

Anyway, R.J.'s mother disclaimed all knowledge of the guestbook. We looked all around the gift table. My uniformed niece remembered it in a box, so Rich dashed back up to the church, but nothing. Then Sue thought maybe the best man had it, and he did, and it only took us asking three times to get him to get it. Roni and R.J. were off with the photographer at this point having their picture taken in the getaway car while there was still some light outside.

I'll tell about the reception tomorrow.