 JENNA PRICE/The Register-MailThe day before the wedding, the bridal party, friends, and family meet at the church for a rehearsal. Each bridesmaid holds a bouquet made of ribbons and bows from the wedding showers. Diary of a wedding Sunday, July 24, 2005 Self-described as anal, bride-to-be Stephanie Fritz spent 11 months planning her $20,000 wedding. From the coordinating bridesmaid shoes to the snacks at the hair salon, hundreds of details were thought out. But as with any venture, there are a few bumps in the road: Such as the restaurant making a last minutes switch from teriyaki steak to prime rib for the rehearsal dinner nad the maid of honor having red puffy eyes after an allergic reaction to make-up. Put everything together and it becomes Stephanie and Brian's wedding story.
Countdown Twenty-three hours, 37 minutes until the wedding (4:53 p.m.)
Bride-to-be Stephanie Fritz makes a last-minute music addition. She rolls her necklace between her thumb and forefinger and discusses where to add another song in the ceremony with the two singers, Doug Alderman and Erin Glasnovich and the Rev. Norman E. Myer, while they gather by the altar at First Presbyterian Church, 101 N. Prairie St. More than 50 family and friends participating in the wedding are now showing up. Stephanie disperses schedules and in-depth programs to everyone. The programs include details not found in those the guests will receive, which will function as flat hand-held fans posted on wooden holders tied with a black bow. 23 hours, 20 minutes (5:10 p.m.) - Stephanie hands bouquets of present bows to the four bridesmaids. She has one, too. The tradition is to save bows from the bridal shower gifts for the bride's rehearsal bouquet. Because Stephanie had four bridal showers she also had enough to make one for each bridesmaid as well. Myer tells the audience they will run through the wedding twice. The bridal party starts at the front of the church and won't practice walking down the aisle until later. The singers practice "One hand, one heart." 21 hours, 35 minutes (6:55 p.m.) - Friends and family gather at the Packinghouse for the rehearsal dinner. No seats have been assigned, but personalized wedding confetti is spread across the tables along with dinner programs, black and white matchbooks and magnets with Stephanie and fiance Brian Kennedy' picture, new address, phone number and e-mail.
Wedding Day 7 hours, 53 minutes (8:37 a.m.) - Stephanie arrives at First Impression where the bridal party is getting its hair done. She brings 28 bottles of water, muffins, assorted fruit and orange juice. Stephanie takes care of every detail as though she were an experienced wedding planner, even though she has been a bridesmaid in just one wedding. 7 hours, 20 minutes (9:10 a.m.) - "It's going to be so fun to do all this wedding stuff," Stephanie says from the stylist's chair. She did a practice run with the stylists three weeks ago.
Her shoulder-length, honey-colored hair is split into three sections. Then about 30 sections are individually curled and pinned to her head with bobby pins. Although her hair is naturally curly she blow dried it straight this morning so it would be easier for the stylist to handle. 6 hours, 20 minutes (10:10 a.m.) - The room is filled with the smell of hair spray. Stephanie's left hand grips the chair handle and matron of honor Tiffany Springer holds her right hand while the stylist Becky Collins digs the comb on the veil into her hair as though she were performing a medical procedure. "A little pain for a lot of beauty," says Debe Fritz, Stephanie' mom. Stephanie will spend the rest of the morning walking around town in a button-down shirt, jeans, white flip-flops and a wedding veil. "I remember putting it over my head and thinking 'Oh my God, it's for real," Springer says.
4 hours (12:30 p.m.) - All four bridesmaids are at the church putting on their matching black shoes. Stephanie is using the bathroom one last time before she puts on her dress. The white gown with pattered beads cost $750 and was easier to find than the bridesmaid dresses, Stephanie said. Her dress had to flatter only one person, the bridesmaid dresses had to flatter four body types. It takes all the bridesmaids to widen the dress over Stephanie's do-not-disturb hair and make-up. Then they tie the back and bring the ribbon through the 32 loops. 3 hours, 45 minutes (12:45 p.m.) - Pictures begin. 3 hours, 30 minutes (1 p.m.) - Springer brought spray deodorant for every one, and the smell fills the room. But it is quickly covered by the Body by Victoria lotion that everyone is applying as they get ready. Stephanie puts her engagement ring on her right hand before the ceremony. Brian and Stephanie had decided to see each other before the wedding so they can finish taking pictures before the ceremony and go to the reception immediately following. The sanctuary is cleared so they can see each other privately. 2 hours, 45 minutes (1:45 p.m.) - In one of the few moments they will spend alone all day, the two meet in the church. She stands facing the altar and he comes in the back door. Stephanie's personal attendant Terri Howard starts to cry as she watches from the sidelines. The two kiss and have their picture taken. Combination after combination is taken of the bride and the groom, the family and the wedding party. 37 minutes (3:53 p.m.) - David Danaher starts to warm up on the bagpipes, which are symbolic of Monmouth College where the two met. The sound travels throughout the church. The pictures are done and Stephanie waits with her bridesmaids until the ceremony. 4:30 p.m. - The wedding starts. The time was chosen so that the minute hand, symbolizing their lives together, would be moving up. As the groom is escorted down the aisle by his parents, Stephanie is waiting in the back talking with her bridesmaids. Flower girl Lian Haller drops red rose petals along the white paper laid out along the center aisle. When Stephanie reaches the front of the church her dad lifts the veil from her face and places her hands in Brian's. After the two recite vows they wrote themselves Myer proclaims them man and wife.
"We thought, we'd rather feed the birds than kill them," Brian says. 6:29 p.m. - Now the celebration begins. MR. AND MRS. STEPHANIE AND BRIAN KENNEDY," the DJ echoes, throughout the reception hall. Stephanie's left hand grips Brian's right hand as they walk into the party and their marriage.
About the bride & groom Bride: Stephanie Lynn Fritz Groom: Brian Scott Kennedy Stephanie's hometown: Galesburg Brian's hometown: Orland Park Wedding: July 16 Colors: Black and White with plaid accents representing Monmouth College Wedding Party: Four bridesmaids, four groomsmen, flower girl and ring bearer Cost: about $20,000 Cost of Wedding dress: $780
|
||||||||||||
