I was 20 years old and a day away from marring my high school sweet heart that I had known since I was 14. In his grandmothers kitchen we sat; mothers, grandmothers, aunts, great aunts, sisters and cousins. All wrapping different sized stems with wire and floral tape, making bows, drying out moss, and trimming up salal and sword ferns we had gathered from the woods surrounding her home.
Before long the table was full of tightly wrapped flowers that were ready to be combined into corsages and boutonnieres. I had no idea what I was doing but began to place things together and was amazed at how unique and different each piece turned out, much like the uniqueness of each of our childhood friends that would be wearing them the next day as we said our vows.
Before long the sun was setting and I was loading coolers full of arrangements, and bouquets to head to the next gathering for the night. The next stop was to my mother's fiancé’s home where another herd of women were waiting. We did facials, painted nails, ate fancy snacks, and I ended the night with a message from my mom's best friend who helped raise me from the time I was a little girl.
The next day the wedding went by in an instance, faster than I ever imagined possible. Everything was beautiful and never had I felt so lifted up and loved by so many people. For weeks I re-played the night in my head, different moments and feelings. But now almost 13 years later what strikes me the most is the day leading up to the wedding. The gathering of so many women, and the work of so many hands, all contributing to the beauty of one special day. The stories that were told during those hours of doing flowers, the laughs that filled the house and the advice that was given in hopes to prepare me for this next chapter in my life I will never forget!
This is the place I get to go back to each time I sit to work on flowers for a wedding. I get to pour love into each piece and get to see the excitement of others as they place boutonnieres on lapels and hand bouquets to smiling brides.
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