“I’m an event planner; I am also very good at my job and know how to get things done.” The confidence I felt in this department of my life was shiningly intact.
Corey smiled and placed his hands on my shoulders. “You are one strange woman, Danielle Hamilton.”
“Thank you.” Pushing past him I let out a smile, on my way to meet the clients.
* * * *
Corey trailed close behind as we made our way to the banquet hall. Emily and Ben were the only two in the room and stood as they saw us enter. Emily’s heart shaped face was filled with a bright, white smile, her brown eyes looked to have stars in them. She wore her wavy brown and red colored hair in a French braid to her shoulders, that looked beautiful next to her yellow sundress. Ben reminded me of a typical high school jock; his attitude came off that he knew he was ‘the shit’ and had the ‘killer smile’ to seal whatever deal came along.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m Danielle, the new owner and this is my business associate Corey.”
“It is wonderful to meet you!” Emily squealed out; I sighed internally, this was going to be a long couple of hours.
After the introductions, I wasted no time jumping right into what it was they wanted. Emily was clearly running the show, which was no surprise to me. The ceremony was to be held at a church, with a simple and elegant motif. Once the wedding entered the reception stage, we offered up our normal dining room as a place where cocktail hour would be held. During that time, the prep for a steak or chicken course would commence, while hors d’oeuvres were being passed around. For the decorations the theme was to remain romantic and whimsical; with whites, pinks and soft twinkle lights encasing the room. We also planned to have another meeting in a month to finalize everything I’d have ready for them at that point.
I scribbled down every little thing the two of them mentioned; even if it didn’t exactly make sense. All the while, Corey sat with an amused expression on his face—taking it all in. Typically, he sat with his arm draped behind the back of my chair. Other times though, he would sit forward, take the pen from my hand, scribbling down a note of his own in my notebook. Sometimes his comments impressed me, when he caught something I’d missed, other times they were nothing but nonsense. Keeping a straight face when he wrote down, your perfume is intoxicating, was not an easy feat. Each time I would slowly turn my attention away from the happy couple, giving him my best—you’re unbelievable—face. Corey would respond with either a shrug of his shoulders, a wink or just a simple smile.
When we began the portion of the conversation about the drinks, Corey’s attention became focused. So concentrated in fact, that he slid my notepad in front of him, and took the pen from my hands to start making his own reminders.
Ben and Emily wanted to pay for the first $2000 worth of drinks for friends and family. Anything beyond that would become a cash bar; meaning the individual buying beverages would have to pay for it themselves. Emily mentioned her family would prefer wine over the bar idea; while Benjamin knew his family wouldn’t touch wine. Unless of course, it was made into a jello shot, as Ben pointed out. This brought a snort from Corey and produced an angry glare from Emily directed at her doting fiancé. My promise to provide enough of what both families required seemed to give her hope again.
“Well, I say we have all we need for today. I am confident that we will provide everything you hope for on your special day,” I said with a smile. “Now, I think we need to toast this moment, as the beginning of the new chapter in your lives.” One of the passing waiters came to the table as I waved for his attention.
“Could you please bring out four mimosas?” The waiter nodded and with a smile, he left.
In just a few minutes he returned with our drinks on a silver tray; setting one down gently in front of each of us. I raised my flute slightly with a grin.
“A toast to the future Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and to a lifetime of happiness to