“And I’m sure you have a ton of resources from work,” I tack on.
“Yeah, yeah.” Her eyes stay glued to her screen until my phonebuzzes with eight new texts—links to spreadsheets titled “WEDDING MASTER SHEET” and “Seating Chart 3.0” filled with names and information from eight separate weddings. Aubrey, Kyra, two different Katies…
“God, you have a lot of friends,” I mumble.
“Two of them are my sisters.” Renee sets her phone down, mission complete, then scrubs her hands over her face, blocking a sound like a groan crossed with a whine. “She’s just so bad at this. I know I’m being a bitch, but it’s ridiculous. I’ve been in eight other weddings, and not one of those brides has been this disorganized. It makes no sense.”
But it’s perfectly clear to me. “Did those other brides have their parents in the picture?”
Renee’s face goes blank, lips parting with a breath of protest. “But the Bhats—”
“Are Gin’s in-laws,” I finish. “You know that’s not the same. They’re already hosting in their yard, and it’s not the big wedding they would’ve wanted…I’m sure it’s complicated. It’s always complicated with family.”
Renee twists one of her rings, brows pinched in thought. “But…but Gin saidwe’reher family, right?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“And she doesn’t have a maid of honor. It’s all of us.”
“I…that’s true,” I concede.
Gin’s voice is in my head. She’s told us more than once that she couldn’t do any of this without us. And what have we told her?Anything for you.
“Then we’re not just bridesmaids, are we?” Renee concludes.
“You’re right.” I give a firm nod. “We’re all she’s got.”
Gin’s I Do Crew
Gin Bennett
Hey ladies! Thanks to Renee and her amazing wedding planning templates, Rishi and I are finally feeling organized and have a specific vision for this wedding. Thank you again, Renee, for all your help and advice!
We finished compiling the list of items we’ll need for the wedding, and we’ve decided to divide it up between the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the Bhats, and of course, me and Rishi. My hope is that the three of you can work together and hit up Chicago’s secondhand stores to find these things. Per Renee’s suggestion, I’ve tried to be as specific as possible!
Rishi and I request that the bridesmaids thrift/provide the following items:
- 20 folding chairs (we’re looking for a specific style, I’ll send pics. We already have 10, and we LOVE the look, so we just need 20 more that match)
- 5 round foldable dining tables (60 in.)
- 30 plates (ceramic, 12 in.)
- 30 forks, spoons, and knives
- 30 dessert plates (ceramic, 8 in.)
- 30 water glasses (green glass, no clear, 8 oz.)
- 2+ large coolers (one pale green, one coral pink)
- 2+ large trash cans (metal, matching please!)
- 2+ recycling bins (not the blue ones—black or tan preferred)
- 2 long tablecloths for bar and buffet (ivory or eggshell, scalloped edges)
- 5 round tablecloths for dining tables (ivory or eggshell, scalloped edges)
