day of, pre-wedding

I arrive at The Pierre at 12:30 packed with my evening attire.  I go to room #638 which is the designated hair and makeup room.  There, I meet my mom, Val, Jean and Sally.  Also there is Anderson, a magnificent stylist, and Lisa, an exceptional makeup artist.

 

Lisa with Sally

Anderson

Valerie has also brought in sandwiches and drinks.  We spend the way relaxing and getting beatified.  In the end, everyone is transformed to a glamorous new person.

Here are the results.

Everyone looks fabulous, though I fear I could be mistaken for a transvestite. Too much makeup and glammed up hair and I don’t feel like me.  Plus, I am not comfortable in my gown, fearing it could fall off. 

The men arrive looking handsome.   A man in a nice tux always looks sexy.

Valerie and Abbey

Jim with Jack, Jean and Sally

Jill and Jessica

Beautiful  grand dames, Rita and my Mom

And now, finally, the wedding is about to begin.

the rehearsal dinner

Valerie could not have done a more perfect job in planning, hosting and executing tonight’s pre-wedding dinner.  She has even chosen perfect weather:  cool, crisp, October air.  

The dinner is held at one of the city's nicest restaurants, Park Avenue Autumn (the restaurant changes with the seasons).

The 90 plus wedding guests are the only restaurant patrons tonight.  It is a beautiful crowd.  And a warm one.  People from all over the world are here to celebrate. The couple is radiant.

As are family and friends.  

With Valerie, my Mother, Jean and Sally

With Alexander

Jimmy, Jessica, Jared and Jill (Abbey's sister)

Valerie and Abbey

With my Mom

With Sally, Jack, and Alexander

With Michael and Adam

Jessica, Rita (Abbey's mother), and Jill

It’s of course not about the food, but the food is so good it deserves mentioning. The passed appetizers are amazing.  Mini lobster rolls.  Tiny cheese burgers the size of a quarter on a stick. Tuna tartare in little cones.  Mini croque monsieurs.  Excellent salmon somethings.  Gigantic shrimp served in a branch.   I overeat and overdrink before dinner even begins.  Everyone is having so much fun.

The dining room is filled with flowers and the feel of autumn.

The dinner begins with a video that is hilarious.  The concept is the parents and siblings giving advice to the soon-to-be-married couple.  It sets the mood for the night to come.

Adam and Michael host; and really, they do better than most you see on televised award shows.  

Adam and Michael

All the speeches are short and funny, yet the underlying theme is the same.  This is truly a wonderful couple, who complement each other in every possible way.

Even the youngest cousins give an impromptu toast.

Jack, Alexander and Sally

The dinner, too, is outstanding.  I choose a tuna/avocado appetizer, squash soup, filet mignon, and a signature chocolate box dessert.  I  gain back the 3.8 pounds I lost over the past four months.

It is the most perfect party.  Everyone leaves happy, sated, and excited for tomorrow.

ready at last

Amanda and Jason’s wedding is tomorrow.  The rehearsal dinner is tonight.  The big weekend is finally here.

The women have all gotten their dresses — both for the wedding on Saturday and the dinner tonight.  Those women with custom-made dresses have all been fitted multiple times.  Shoes have been found to go with the dresses.  The men have bought or rented tuxes. If needed, the men have gotten haircuts.  The women have bought, borrowed, or already have the jewelry they will wear with their gowns.  And the women, too, have watched their weight to make sure the dresses they bought months ago still fit.

Not that anyone will be looking at me, but I don’t want to stand out for having chipped nails, lifeless hair, bushy brows or hairy legs.  So the week is spent primping.  In between screenings, real estate classes, a meeting for my volunteer work, and breakfast with a friend from Maine, I get:

    Teeeth cleaned. 

    Hair colored, single process only.

    Brows waxed by Heidi at the Benefit counter at Bloomingdales (she’s amazing).

    Additional waxing, just in case my legs peek out from under the gown.

    Hair highlighted.

    Manicure and pedicure (Waltz with Vanity Fairest on top).

On June 26 I weighed 131.4 pounds.  I wanted to be 123 pounds for the wedding.  Losing 8.4 pounds in four months (17 weeks to be exact) should not have been difficult.  In 2010, I lost 23 pounds in 15 weeks.  So eight pounds in 17 weeks should be easy.  It wasn't.

Today I weigh 127.6.  I lost 3.8 pounds, less than half my goal.  But that's okay. This weight feels right. And importantly, my dresses still fit.

Alexander arrives home around noon, having taken a very early bus from Cornell.

My mother, Jean (and her family) arrive a few hours later.  We will miss my dad who is unable to come.  (Though he did finally have his neck brace removed on Wednesday). 

It is the first wedding in our family, and no doubt it will be a spectacular and joyous one.  We are all, finally, ready.

highlights

I look at my hair;  it is dull and uninteresting.  It needs highlights.  I think it’s been two years since I last had them, and now I must have them immediately.

I call my usual colorist whom I haven’t seen in months.  She is totally booked and four months pregnant with twins.  This is her last week at work before going on bedrest.  She has nothing available.  I beg and plead and the answer remains a polite no, I’m sorry. 

Then I remember Lyo at Tokuyama Salon, this little Japanese salon I found on YELP.  Lyo did a great job with a single process when I was there in early August.  And because she was an hour late, the salon promised me a 30% discount next time I came in.  I am a bit nervous about using someone for highlights that I’ve never used before.  I imagine arriving at tomorrow's rehearsal dinner with striped orange hair, or something equally horrid.  But I don’t’ have much of a choice.  I need highlights and Lyo is available.

The salon is small and busy.  Everyone there is accommodating and stylish.  Lyo is a true professional, having trained in Tokyo.  She’s only been in this country a year.  She spends an hour and a half on me, never leaving my side for another client, a quick backroom snack, or even to let someone else shampoo my hair.  Her head massage is one of the best (and longest) I’ve ever had, and her quick (free) blow out is great.  The total price (before tip) is a steal at $73 (including the discount).  

Before

After

I meet Gail for a screening of The Counselor later.  She tells me she has never seen my hair look better.  Gail worked in hair care for a long time and is an expert on the subject. 

I am happy I found Lyo.  

finding a new home

Before I speak a word, Alexander begins every conversation with, “I can’t talk right now.  I’m (fill in the blank:  studying, eating, in the library, or with friends).  That's if I call him.

Last night Alexander calls me.  Around midnight.  “Hi.  I’m sorry if I woke you, but I want to know, is it okay to get an apartment with my friends next year?  We need to sign a lease this week.”  The cost is less than he’s paying this year, so I think it’s sweet he is even bothering to ask.  “Sure,” I say, and then can’t fall back to sleep for the next hour.

Today Alexander calls again.  This time with more details.  He’s going to live with seven other students in Collegetown — in a “really nice house,” though he hasn’t seen it yet.  But he’s seen photos.  So I ask Alexander if he can send me the photos and he says he can.

I get these on my iPhone:

I’m thinking, rather hoping, it's my iPhone, and I'm not seeing the photos clearly.  So I look at them on my computer.  Even worse. Much worse.  But I don’t want to discourage my son if this is where he and his friends want to live.  Alexander calls and says, “So what do you think?  It’s nice, isn’t it?”  He sounds so enthusiastic that I agree.  But then I can’t help myself.  “Don’t you think the living room looks a little bit like a bordello?” I ask.  “No," he responds, “I like it.”  So I don’t say anything.  “But you like it too, right?”  he asks again. “Ya,” I say.  It looks awful but I won't be the one living there.

We talk about some other things, and then Alexander says, “That’s not really the apartment.  I looked for photos online under ugly rooms.  That’s what I found.”  Then he sends me the real link.  And he’s right.  It is nice.

Alexander may not have time to talk on the phone with me, but I'm glad he can find the time to google ugly rooms.