I quickly entered the tent and made my way over to the DJ to give directions for the speeches- or speech I should say. Again, Grey and Jules were really my style kind of people: they eliminated all traditional speeches and were only having Grey say grace and speak a few words before dinner.
“Uh, Ellie?” I heard Grey’s deep voice sounding a bit pained from behind me, pulling me from theDJ.
I turned to see Grey kneeling down looking super confused at Jules’ longer skirt, and Jules giving me a pleading look.
“Right,” I nodded and internally slapped myself for not remembering that I was supposed to bustle Jules’ dress before the reception started. “Here, I’ll have you stand behind the sweetheart table so I can get out of sight and doit.”
Grey took Jules’ hand and whispered a thanks down to me while I quickly found all the little loops and buttons to pin up her train. It was a French bustle, and her seamstress did an excellent job, making very little hassle for me. The last few years made me an expert at bustling dresses. Nervous maids-of-honor usually struggled, and wedding minutes were precious.
When I stood back up, Jules reached to touch my hand. “Ellie, everything is so beautiful. It’s better than I imagined. I hope you enjoy some dinner, drinks, and dancing. Make sure you have fun too! Have a glass of wine for me especially,” she said, touching her baby bump with her other hand.
“It’s definitely the most beautiful tent wedding I’ve worked on,” I admitted, feeling my face heat up at her compliments.
“Yes!” she said excitedly. “I honestly just wanted to throw it together as fast as possible, but this blew my expectations out of the water. So, glass of wine, for me, please.” Jules’ eyes crinkled in the corners as she laughed and looked at the lit-up tent around her. It really was fancy-pants around here. Tulle and twinkling lights laced the entire structure of the tent, and they all tied up to the center chandelier hanging over top of the currently clean and empty, black and white checkered dance floor. The tables surrounding the dance floor, now filling up with guests, were draped with white tablecloths and dotted with Chiavari chairs.
“You girls did amazing,” Grey confirmed. “But I hope all this wedding talk the last few months didn’t make our little nugget in there a girly girl.”
Jules rolled her eyes and looked up at him with a smile.
“What?” he asked defensively. “She’s gotta be ready for hockeyseason.”
“Or figure skating,” Jules added. “Or ballet, or soccer, or nothing at all; it’s up to her, Grey, remember?” she asked, patting him on thechest.
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever Mommy says,” he teased, but then leaned down to seemingly whisper to herbelly.
Jules shot me an amused look and shook her head, but I could tell a smile was pulling at the corners of her lips.
Their love for each other was probably the most apparent between any bride and groom that I’d ever worked with. It seemed they were always touching each other and cracking jokes at the other’s expense. Their attitudes about life were like two kids in a candy shop, and even though I’d written off my love life a while ago, I felt the ping of loneliness when working with them. I had to shove that aside though. My business was flourishing, and this was my busy season- no time to get distracted and start desperately swiping on dating apps. Also, Venti’s was catering, and their vanilla sugar cupcakes could probably make me happier than any man ever could.
3.TJ
“And now!” the DJ’s voice boomed throughout the tent. “For the first time on the dance floor, give it up for… Mr. and Mrs. Scott!”
Greyson towered over Jules as he led her to the middle of the dance floor while a romantic oldies tune started to play throughout the tent.
I sipped on my jack and coke, skeptically scanning the tables around me for ‘Ms. Perfect for me,’ as Grey and Jules deemed her.
There were at least four girls I picked out right away that I figured were here alone… and then it was down to three after I saw a hulking defenseman from the Calgary team walk back to his table with two drinks. This place was filled with only hockey people apparently. I was kind of afraid I’d end up hitting on an ex-girlfriend of one of my hockey buds.
Towards the end of the first dance song, the DJ interrupted with the usual invite: “The happy newlyweds would love to invite all the couples present onto the dance floor for a good luck dance,” he announced.
I was tugged from behind then and whirled around to see Max shaking his head and shoving his drooly, happy baby at me once again with serious eyes.
“The wifey loves to dance, man. I’m trusting you,” he called over his shoulder as he started moving towards Paige, who was in a gaggle of people by the bar.
I looked down at the pudge ball that was forced on me and ever so carefully sat down.
“Just two single guys, am I right,” I said to the baby. He stared up at me and gave the goofiest gum-showing smile.
“Alright!” I laughed. “You feel me. Why they gotta do couple dances anyways? So awkward, right, buddy?”
I must’ve pinched him or something because all of a sudden, his face started to crack, and a scream-cry wasreleased.
I tried to do the whole bounce your knee thing to calm him down, but the cries seemed to escalate with that.
“Buddy!” I whispered. “I thought we were friends now. Two single dudes, right!” I scanned for Max, but he was twirling Paige on the dance floor and busting some weird moves.
I heard an exasperated huff from behind me then.
