Here Comes the Bride...

As many of you know for almost an entire year now, Christina Cook and I have been planning and coordinating her wedding to Brian Payne.  Now we all down to the last few days before Saturday, April 9th, 2011...also known as "The Big Day!"

Christina and Brian

also know as

"Tink & Briance"

I'm finding myself with more excitement and energy as progress toward Saturday with each day that passes, despite the lack of sleep.  For some reason I tend to thrive on less sleep and high intensity, until I reach a point where I will "crash-n-burn!"  God willing, this will not be until I return to the office on Monday.

On Sunday evening after I closed my office, I met with my staff of three and the MOB (Mother of the Bride) at my home.  My staff in itself is quite entertaining.  Allow me to introduce the people behind the scenes.

First off we have my mother, Shelia Hanna.  I don't know what I would without my mom.  I get a lot of my good taste and eye for detail from her.  She is also a "drill sergeant" when it comes to carrying out a certain task, so she is always a big help and very supportive.  As a matter of fact, we have traded cars for the week, so I could use her big, white Suburban to haul everything around that I need to.  However, she's not suffering "scootin'" around in my big, black car either.

Geraldene, far left.  Mother, far right.

Secondly and perhaps our most entertaining member is Geraldine Hatchell.  Geraldine has a beautiful way of arranging things, which she does so perfectly in her own home.  She's also very creative, but most of all her upbeat and humorous personality always make her a pleasure to be around socially or business wise.  I would be lost without her as well.  She is my mother's constant sidekick and has been a wonderful family friend over the years.

The last member of our small staff is my close friend and neighbor Jill McMillan.  Jill brings high-level energy and good old fashioned hard work to our team.  I wish I had 1/4 of the energy this woman has in her life.  I think she is the only person, other than me, that never stops going.  Jill too enjoys decorating and like my mother, has that innate ability to direct and get any job done.  Aside from helping with the wedding, Jill is my walking buddy and does her best to keep me on an exercise regime.  I would be totally lost down at the river without her and the McMillan family.

Jill with Me

Of course the entire time we met Sunday night, we often laughed and swapped stories from the past weddings, parties, and events we've done together.  Despite our past humorous debacles, we've always pulled everything off with the true panache' and flair. 

I think the MOB, Fran Baxley, was relieved of any worry and extremely excited to have us pulling together Brian and Christina's wedding festivities.

Christina and Fran

I've sent my little Maltese, Sheldon Baxley Hanna (no relation to Frannie), home with Mother for the week, and I've dove full speed into my wedding activities.  I'm using every minute before and after work or during my lunch hour for last minute errands, calls, and meetings. 

Yesterday I finalized touches for some of my tables with my seamstress and touched bases with all of my contacts and vendors to coordinate arrival times, setting up, and so on.

Last night I finally finished the design of my centerpieces, which I must are the best I have designed so far.  Now if I can carry-out this vision, I will be doing fine. 

I'm taking the rest of the week off from my interior design position at Ethan Allen, to perform my exciting and fun side job of this wedding!  The poor bride and groom are about to have their house invaded by me and my mountain of peculiarities.  God willing they will still love me and we'll be friends after living with me for a week.  This should be more interesting than Joan River's new show "Joan Knows Best," where she moves in with her daughter Melissa.  

And for my last final thought, for now, I must mention that I intentionally have left the details of my travels and work to be vague. Why if I just told you every last detail and thing I do or will be doing, you might be able to immolate it yourself.  I can afford to be anything but replaceable; after all, Sheldon and I have to eat!  Hahaha....

Now I do realize that while the company I work for is an interior design firm, some people still view Ethan Allen as a regular furniture store.  This absolutely drives me up the wall.....imagine someone scraping their fingers across a chalkboard!

Now 90% of the time, we are like any normal hairdresser or lawyer, which means we work by APPOINTMENT!  And to be perfectly honest, today is one of those days that if you do not have an appointment to work with me, I really don't want to be bothered - not by passer-by onlookers, not by ill prepared co-workers, not be the constant ringing of the telephone.

Instead of losing my head over the wonderful antics of the public, I'm desperately trying to find humor in their wit or lack there of! Ha ha!

Here are some of my favorite/not-so-favorite questions and comments from the "looky-loos" as we call them:

1)  Country Man - "Y'all sale recliners?" Me: "We certainly do, but since we our a design firm, ours are geared to look more like occasional or accent chairs, so why don't I point them out for you."  When really I want to say, "Well Jim Bob, if you would get the toothpick from out of your front tooth, your twang might not be so severe.....and to be perfectly honest I'm not going to have anything comfortable enough for you to lounge back in with your six pack of PBR, greasy fried food, and 2.5 barefoot children in your mobile home!"

2)  Yankee Doodle Woman - "I'm just looking....wanting to see what you have."  Me: "Certainly make yourself at home.  I will be glad to set-up an appointment to work on your design project if you see anything you are interested in today."  Again, I'd prefer to say, "Well just what in the Hell is it you are looking for?!? Natalie Holloway?!?  I might could direct you in the right way.....like back of North!"

3)  INSERT THE NONSTOP TELEPHONE RINGING - Disgruntled and Confused Elderly Client of Another Designer's - "So and So said my order would be in by now, and I want to know when it is coming?" Me: "Mam, your designer is not in today, but I will be glad to transfer you to his voicemail, where he can check on that and get back to you."  Client: "Well can't you do it?"  Me: "Certainly, just one moment please." INSERT THERAPY SCREAM AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Now this is the point where I would like to crawl through the phone.  If you're not my client, I could care less if your order is headed on a slow boat to China or off somewhere doing 40 going North.

Now I know this sounds like a lot of complaining, but honestly I do love my job.   I just enjoy working alone and only with my own clients.  And I do take care of my clients well.  I let them know when we offer sales and promotions.  I caudal them through their design, noting every process and carefully monitoring every move of each and every piece of fabric, trim accessories, and furniture.  I also tweak and place every item in their home with what they refer to as "the touch!"

Interior design is somewhat like any other job I suppose.  I love my career, love my clients, and my daily routines.  The keyword in all of this being "MY!"

With this Ring

The forecast for 2011 is that it is truly the year of the weddings!  So many friends and acquaintances are getting married, especially this spring.  My schedule has been so wild since the New Year. Aside from being a full-time interior designer for Ethan Allen,  I'm well into my 11th month of planning and coordinating for a wedding in April. 

On April 9th, 2011 my good friends Brian Payne and Christina Cook will wed.  I have had the pleasure of being their wedding planner for almost a year now, and I have really enjoyed becoming so close with them.

http://www.projectwedding.com/ourwedding/cookpayne/

Brian and Christina, better know to me as Briance & Tink, have been a true gem to work with this past year.  People hear horror stories of Bridezillas that have the "my way or highway" syndrome, or even worse are those brides that cannot even manage to muster a simple yes/no answer, much less a simple declarative sentence; however, Christina has been so on top of things....some days even more than me. 

I hosted Christina an engagement party back in December 2010.  Even the party was a treat to work with her on because she's so organized, knows exactly what she likes and does not like, and follows the propriety down to the letter.  The guest list was great - the invitations were as cute as ever - the food was delicious -the gifts were beautiful, but most of all everyone enjoyed the company of friends and family!

Now we're coming into the last stretch of the final touches of preparations.  This weekend both Brian and Christina have their bachelor/bachelorette parties, so tonight we're meeting to finalize on the centerpiece vases.

The excitement I have for this wedding would make an observer perceive it as my own, but I believe in doing designs and planning this way.   If I'm going to put my name on it, then it is going to be perfect!



Cheers to Briance & Tink!