Floral MacGyver

Though I have planned many weddings, I have only been in a handful of them myself.  A few years ago (okay it was probably more than a few but let's not worry about it) I was in a friend's wedding in Florida.  Though I knew the groom very well, I was just getting to know the bride.  My husband and I were both in the bridal party and as often happens, I ended up being a bit of a last minute wedding coordinator.  It's never bothered me, given I am terribly awkward in the pre-wedding social sphere.  I like being tasked with making someone's vision become a reality so I was certainly happy to do so for my friends.  

The bride had recently lost her beloved Grandfather and really only had one thing she had her heart set on.  Her bouquet was to have a single yellow rose in the center.

The girls in the wedding party enjoyed a pretty uneventful day as far as weddings go.  Hair and makeup, taping / pinning dresses to keep the girls in line (ladies you know this struggle #solidarity), all of the bridal rights of passage.  The florist popped into the room to give us the bouquets and I knew, instinctively, from the devastated look on the bride's face that they were obviously not what she had dreamt of for her big day.  

As she started to tear up one of the other bridesmaids, a sister of the groom who had known me for years, looked at me and said "Harmony HELP!".  I grabbed the bouquet, told the bride to dry her tears and think happy thoughts, then hailed the maid of honor, her sister, to drive me to the closest florist.  

My dress was about four inches too long and hadn't been altered since I lived out of state so I had to tie it up so I could run, literally, into the flower shop.  I can only imagine what the shopkeeper was thinking as he saw two women, clearly bridesmaids, come sprinting in, waving a credit card.  

Before he could utter a kind "hello" I blurted out - "I'm so sorry, I have less than thirty minutes to fix a floral emergency - I need every purple flower you have and ONE YELLOW ROSE!"

I like to think in that moment he understood I was clearly a professional (this is where you should absolutely laugh at my ridiculousness) as I tore through his cooler like I was on some Price Is Right contest.  He charged us a flat $50 for what was easily well over $200 and we ran out the door.  To this day I believe that was an ethereal floral shop manifest from magic clouds and run by St. Peter himself.  Obviously he was the patron saint of wedding emergencies.  

While we were in the car I hiked up my lavender dress to try not to stain it as I started pulling apart the flowers.  We squealed into the parking lot and the maid of honor dropped me at the door.  Two very kind older men, who I assume to be family of the bride, informed me I should "hurry".  

I shudder to think what my face looked like.  Hurry?  You're kidding me right?  I'm legit out of breath, sweeting in my dress, I don't know if I have ever "hurried" more in my life, but thank you for the tip good sir.  

I ran to the grooms room to find my husband who, at any given moment has some sort of leather man, pocket knives or other sharp thing that could be of use.  But that day?  He gave me fingernail clippers.  I still don't understand what happened to my dear husband to be so ill prepared for the emergency need to cut something that fateful day but I forgive him anyway.  

I threw the flowers on the counter in the bridal suite and pulled together a gorgeous (if I do say so myself) bouquet with a bright yellow rose planted firmly in the center.  I tied the ribbon and handed it to the bride just as I was to walk down the aisle before her.  

As I began to walk down the aisle myself I immediately realized I hadn't had a moment to wash my hands and of course MY FACE ITCHED LIKE CRAZY.  I'm sure it was all in my head but it was incredibly distracting through the rest of the wedding.  If I dare touch my face I would surely end up looking like the hulk and I doubt that was what the bride and groom were hoping for.  

As we walked back down the aisle together after the ceremony I gave my hubby back his sad (and likely ruined) nail clippers and immediately made a run for the restroom so I could scrub the green from my arms AND SCRATCH MY FACE.

The bride loved her flowers and most of the people there never had any idea the whole thing happened.  

If MacGyver were a wedding planner I'm sure this is exactly how he would have performed under pressure (though I question if he could have done it in heels).  

Takeaway Tip?  - Always provide your florist with a photograph or Pinterest Board with ideas that are close to what you are looking for.  And remember....you can always ask a vendor to make something right, even minutes before you walk down that aisle.  

Here's to Happy Ever After....

Harmony