Ida takes the microphone from my grandmother and steps up to address the crowd. “Alright, everyone, if you would like to follow the path back to the cars and head down the road to the lodge for cocktail hour, our lovely family will be up shortly after pictures.”
Odin grabs my hand and pulls me in for another kiss. “Babygirl, you look absolutely stunning. This dress looks amazing on you.”
I’m spun away again into a waiting Silas’s arms. “You look good enough to eat, Wildflower.”
Callum gently smacks him in the back of the head. “Not in front of our kids, babe.” He pulls our man in for a kiss as well.
I love how their relationship has progressed over the last couple of months. It’s amazing seeing them finally give into their feelings and not hide from it like they used to.
Ida and my grandmother walk over with the photographer, and we spend the next forty-five minutes taking a bunch of pictures, then Bodie and I have to sign the wedding certificates. The kids are so excited; they each want a picture with all the guys together and separately. Will and Ellenare also included in pictures, and I’m thrilled to have some of the whole family.
I’m finally sitting down for a moment resting my feet, when Bodie comes to join me, and it’s like my body knows the one who normally feeds me is close. The moment he sits down, my stomach starts growling.
He stands back up with a shake of his head and gently pulls me with him. “Okay, are y’all ready to head over? The monster in Isla’s stomach is growling.”
Everyone starts chuckling and gathering everything so we can head to the reception. Arden and Lochlan elbow their way next to me to hold my hands. “Mommy, you look so pretty.” Arden smiles up at me.
“Yeah, you look like a princess!” Lochlan says as he swings our hands.
Vivian squeals, “A princess! That makes daddies the princes.”
“Nope, kiddos. Mommy is the queen, we are the kings, and y’all are the princes and the princess,” Orin replies, walking up and booping Vivi on the nose.
“Well, what does that make Maw-Maw?” Arden asks, confused.
I glance over my shoulder to make sure she can hear me. “She’s the fairy godmother, like from Shrek.”
Swat.“Ow, did you just toss flowers at me?” I glare back at her. That woman gets feistier the older she gets.
“I don’t know what you're talking about, dear,” she deadpans as she grins at me.
When we get to the lodge, Maw-Maw and Ida go in first to lead everyone else from the waiting room to the reception-slash-dining area so we can make our entrance through another door. About five minutes later we hear, “Please welcome, the Aarons!” All the guests cheer as we walk in. We wanted to wait and do the dances after we were able to get some food, since we knew we would be starving.
Since Maw-Maw used my Pinterest board for inspiration, there is one large circular table in the middle for us and the kids, and everyone else can sit where they please at tables around the room. I am dragged to our table as soon as we walk in, where Bodie has food waiting for the kids and me. Thankfully, he made sure I had something fairly plain; a Caesar salad with ranch, of course, and potato soup. Both are safe foods for me right now, so hopefully I won’t end up with my head in the toilet on my wedding day.
I’m finishing up the last of my food when guests start making the rounds to congratulate us. We didn’t have a ton of people; mostly the guy’s co-workers, and a few friends, since my only family are the kids, the guys, my sister, and grandmother. Callum is the only one of the guys who speaks to his mother, so there’s no other extended family or in-laws. However, between the guys’ guests and the couple teachers I made friends with, we have around fifty people.
I love it being smaller and intimate. We actually have the chance to greet everyone and spend a couple moments making small talk. Silas eventually drags me to the dance floor, and we start our first dance. We decided to do a mashup of a few of our favorite songs. They each got to dance part of the song so I wouldn’t be on my feet too long. I also had to dance with the boys, and each one of the guys took turns dancing with Vivian, my grandmother, and Ellen.
When it’s time to cut the cake, we have Bodie do it, but he sneaks me a piece to shove in Silas’s face. The look he gives me when he realizes what is happening is priceless. The whole night goes off without a hitch. Jose and Joe danced around with the kids, and Chris and Nathan both asked me for a dance.
Ida has the few unmarried women that attended gather around so we can do the bouquet toss, and Silas practically shoves my grandmother out with the rest of them, earning a glare–and from the harsh whispering–a death threat.
“Alright, you ladies ready?” I call out. A round of cheers go up as I turn away from the group so I can toss over my head.
“One.Two.Three!” I let the bouquet go and as soon as it leaves my hands I turn to watch.
The look of complete terror on my grandmother's face when it comes flying at her, and literally smacks her, is priceless.
She catches it before it falls to the ground, though, looking over at Will before turning back at me. “Well, shit. Looks like we gotta get married now, huh?” she asks, batting her eyelashes at him.
The whole room bursts out into laughter.
It was an amazing end to a wonderful day.
When it is finally time to call it a night, the guests line up outside on the walkway with sparklers, and we make our way down to the car that will take us home. The kids and I fall asleep on the ride, and I wake up to being carried into the house. Callum, who had the pleasure of carrying me, sets me down in the bathroom and helps me take my hair down and get the dress off.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I’m up for sexy time tonight,” I tell him sadly.
