“We’ll be done now with the lovey-dovey stuff and we can start the meeting.”
“The lovey-dovey stuff is my favorite,” Renee assured her. “You know Jasper’s here for the meeting, as well, right?”
“Hi, Jasper,” Hanna said. “We’re so excited about the book. Thanks for the notes you sent. I love being involved in the process.”
“Thanks for letting me sit in on this,” he said. “Pretend I’m not here.”
Renee picked up the first folder. “Let’s confirm the events,” she said. “Friday night is the rehearsal dinner. We’ll have the actual rehearsal at five and the dinner will follow at six. Things will wrap up by nine.”
She paused, as if waiting for them to respond.
“I want to go later,” Graham said with a shrug, “but you and Hanna are right. The big event is the next night and we don’t want to be tired or hungover.”
“Exactly.” Renee flipped to another page. “The ceremony will start Saturday at five, with the reception at five thirty and running until eleven. Then you’re back here at ten the next morning for a goodbye brunch.”
Hanna glanced down at several pieces of paper. “That’s what I have, too. Jasper, does that work for you?”
Jasper thought of how Renee had warned him just being around the couple would change things. “I’m good with whatever you decide.”
Hanna nodded. “Okay, then the times work. What’s next?”
Graham sighed. “My mom really wants the bagpipes to play ‘Amazing Grace.’ I know it’s usually played at funerals, but this is important to her.”
Jasper was more caught up in the fact that they were going to have bagpipes at the wedding. He wasn’t sure he’d ever heard live bagpipes before.
Hanna smiled. “Honey, it’s fine. I already told you it was.”
“But you really didn’t want that song at the wedding.”
“It’s not what I would have picked but she’s your mom and you’re her only son and it’s important to you. I want you to be happy and I want her to feel good about the day, too. It’s one song. I can live with it, I swear.” She looked at Renee. “‘Amazing Grace’ at the wedding.”
“Why don’t we have him play one or two songs while everyone is being seated,” Renee said, making notes. “That way it’s not just a single song that everyone focuses on. We can have ‘Amazing Grace’ be the last song performed on bagpipes, right before you walk down the aisle. You’ll still be in the bride’s room, so you can hear it, but it’s less, um, in your face.”
Hanna laughed. “An excellent compromise.”
“Perfect.” Renee pulled several lengths of fabric out of a bag. “I have the table runner samples to show you. We have a simple blue that matches the color in the tartan we’re using or we can just go for it and use the tartan itself. Keep in mind the fabric is the same weight regardless. We’d use a computer generated design to print the tartan on the runners so while there’s a cost difference, we’re not talking about a heavy wool fabric.”
She held each sample up in front of the camera at the head of the table.
“What do you think?” Hanna asked.
“Tartan,” Graham said.
“Oh, good. That’s the one I like, too.”
The meeting went on for nearly two hours. After a while, Jasper stopped taking notes and instead just listened. Renee kept things moving along, but also gave the couple as much time as they needed to make decisions.
They all agreed they would have the caterer at the next meeting, along with Silver, so they could nail down the food and bar menus. Hanna had already picked a local florist who would work directly with Renee as the decoration decisions were made. By the time everyone logged off, they were further along than they had been but there was still work to be done.
When the screen went blank and Renee closed her computer, Jasper handed her back the agenda.
“I don’t know how you do this, week after week.”
“It’s a lot of work but then a wedding is often the biggest party a couple will ever throw together. Details matter, so does making sure it all comes together.”
“Which is where you come in.” He thought about what they’d discussed and what he’d observed at the apple wedding. “I see the similarities.”
“Some elements remain the same. The dress, the flowers, walking down the aisle, the food.” She smiled. “Some kind of drama. But every wedding has its own personality. This is going to be a fun one.”