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11. GUEST BOOK
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2024-10-29 19:42:56GUEST BOOK:
Your guests can write special messages on your wedding day. You’ll want to remember who was at your party. Some opt to have a photo book printed with their prenuptial pictures and empty fields and spaces where guests can write their messages. It’s a photo book and guest book in one!
Jacob and Angela’s big day was also a big day for me. It was my debut. A coming out… a vindication… a resurrection… a rebirth.
I worked tirelessly for the entire day, tying up loose ends, making last minute confirmations, making sure that nothing would go wrong.
The ceremony by the beach was perfect. The way we arranged the place made it look like they were not in the beach at all. Instead, they were in paradise. We had the reception in an open area, facing the beach where huge lanterns glowed along the shore and some in the sea itself. At least four bubble mac
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Knight in Shining Suit 12. WEDDING FAVORS
WEDDING FAVORS: There are plenty of choices for wedding favors. You can choose from figurines, candles or mints. Just make sure that whatever you choose, it’s not out of your theme and your budget. Plus, it should be something that you yourself would be glad to receive.I made myself busy the next week. I got the early shots of Angela and Jacob’s wedding. I asked permission for those to be uploaded onto my site. I also asked for some early video clips that showed most of the venue, the arrangements, and the highlights of the party.I was very happy with the results. Rose was getting a lot of inquiries for our services.I met with my friends at a new bar called Rig Style. I didn’t want to risk meeting Ryder at Oil Rig. I promised to stay away from that place since I found out he owned it.“So when will you treat us for a round of beers?” Dannie asked me.
Knight in Shining Suit 13. THE MAID OF HONOR AND THE BEST MAN
THE MAID OF HONOR AND THE BEST MAN:The Maid of Honor has to be unmarried. The Best Man can be a married man, or a bachelor. You can choose from your closest friends, you can choose from your family. But always keep this in mind: Make sure you choose one whose relationship with you runs deep and goes far back.We flew business class to Miami. It was a first for me. I always thought business class flights were a waste of money. But Ryder had a lot of money to burn.He checked us into a suite in a five star resort. When I stepped into the room and realized that there was only one bed, I instantly became nervous.He must have sensed my discomfort because he looked at me wearily and said, “It’s only right that we stay in the same room if we want to make this believable. But I’ll stay on the couch, don’t worry.”“I can stay on the couch, Ryder,” I
Knight in Shining Suit 14. BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN
BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN:Forms part of your entourage. They must be of assistance when required at any given time during the wedding.Tuesday night, I met up with my friends. “So, what happened to you last weekend? You don’t just take off to Neverland and not tell us!” Nicole scolded me.“I went to Miami,” I told them. “Something I needed to do to repay my debt.”Dannie raised a brow. “Who were you with?”I took a deep breath before I answered. “Ryder Van Woodsen.”“Holy crap!” Nicole wailed. “Do tell!”“There’s nothing to tell!” I told them.“You don’t spend a whole weekend with a god and say that there’s nothing to tell!” Dannie scolded me.I sighed. “I met up with his best friends. He had a bet with them. He had to
Knight in Shining Suit 15. HEIRLOOM
HEIRLOOM:Something of special value handed on from one generation to another.The next Friday, I had a surprise visit from my mother. She was with Uncle Reynolds and his wife.“We won’t be long. We just want you and Adam to come with us to Manhattan,” my mother said.“What? Why didn’t you tell me immediately?” I protested.“It was a spur of the moment thing for us. Your uncle has a meeting in Manhattan. We decided to come with him,” Aunt Betty said. But there’s a look on her face that I cannot decipher.“Where’s Dad?”There was silence. Then Uncle Reynolds said, “He’s busy. He’s meeting up with some of his associates for the weekend.”I was not convinced by my uncle’s reply. I immediately felt that something was up. The look on Aunt Betty’s face i
Knight in Shining Suit 16. BELLS
BELLS:One of the most common symbols of marriage and weddings.The minute I entered my mother’s hotel room, they noticed my ring.“Oh my God, this is just too gorgeous!” my mother said, pulling my hand.“This is expensive!” my aunt breathed. “It’s a Harry Winston!”“You’re embarrassing me!” I hissed at them.Ryder just chuckled.“You spoil her too much, young man,” my mother said, but I could tell that she was very happy for me.“She deserves it, Mrs. Jacobson,” he said. “Astrid deserves to wear a ring as beautiful as she is.”Ryder was the epitome of grace and gallantry. He was everything a girl could ask for in a boyfriend! It’s like he was ripped right out of the pages of a romance novel. Sweet, funny, he treated my mother and my aunt like they were queen
Knight in Shining Suit 17. CONTRACEPTION
CONTRACEPTION:Part of the honeymoon checklist, if the couple is not yet planning on having babies immediately after the wedding.We dropped off my family at the Waldorf Astoria. Then, Ryder and I drove back to his apartment in silence.We were playing a dangerous game. In truth, no guy would put up with this. Why Ryder was doing so, I didn’t know. And he was doing it so well, and so nicely, it was getting more and more difficult for me not to feel something for him.Damn! Already physically attracted to him; I didn’t want to wish this was all real. I couldn’t take that risk.When he closed the door of his apartment, I turned to him nervously. He was smiling at me mischievously.“Ryder, I can’t really kiss you here. No one is here to see us. No need to put on a show,” I said.He stepped closer to me and tilted my chin gently so he cou
Knight in Shining Suit 18. FLOWERS
FLOWERS:An important element that makes up the whole wedding. Flowers must go with the theme, and must always match or compliment the motif.I found my mother in deep conversation with my aunt. When she saw us coming, she turned away, but not before I saw that her eyes were glistening with tears.I raised a brow at my aunt, but she merely shrugged.We went back to the hotel. Uncle Reynolds and Ryder had coffee in the living room and I figured it was time to speak to my mom and aunt privately.“What’s going on, Mom?”She shook her head.“Mother, I’m not a child anymore. Tell me what’s wrong.”All of a sudden she launched into a fit.“Oh my God, Mom!” I said, hugging her.“Your… father is having an affair!” she burst out.“What? When?”“It’s
Knight in Shining Suit 19. USHERETTES
USHERETTES:Their role is to make sure that your guests do not lose their way on your wedding party.One night, Ryder called me to ask a favor.“The maid will come tomorrow. Usually I’m there when she does. But I won’t make it this week. Can you stop by my house? She doesn’t have a key. Just let her in and stay there while she does her stuff.”“You want me to supervise your maid?”“Not really. Just be there to make sure that everything’s in order.”“Alright. I think I can handle that.”The next day, I went to Ryder’s house. His maid was a woman in her forties named Zara. She didn’t look like a maid at first, more like a diner waitress. She was chewing gum and was wearing a skirt way above her knees.“Where is Mr. Ryder?” she asked me.“He’s in Manhat
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Knight in Shining Suit Epilogue: THE WEDDING
THE WEDDING The ceremony that officially takes a couple to the beginning of their happily ever after… a gathering that involves a lifetime of promises. Breathe in. Breathe out. I looked at myself in the mirror. I could barely recognize myself. The girl staring back at me was wearing a very elegant white princess gown made from the finest duchesse satin and silk. The bodice that has a sweetheart neckline was encrusted with genuine crystals. The romantic full skirt with elaborate ruffles and folds was adorned with crystals and intricate embroidery, as well as the cathedral length veil that I wore. The famous designer who made my gown made sure that the dress was fit for fairy tale and princess romances, too. My hair was curled and clipped in a half pony and fastened with two diamond hair combs that belonged to Ryder’s mother. My hair cascaded around my face and there were very s
Knight in Shining Suit 38. THE VENUE
THE VENUE:The place where the whole wedding will take place. Considerations in choosing a venue could be because the place holds special memories for the couple or it could be sentimental to one of the couple’s parents or grandparents. But more than anything, the venue chosen must accommodate the theme of the wedding.It was the most hectic following months of my life. I was setting up Ever After Manhattan, meeting up with potential suppliers, and hiring and training people. On top of all that, I was planning my own wedding. I had to actually get Nicole to stay in New York once in a while to help me. Leilani, my assistant in Malibu, was left in charge of the branch and Nicole and I would just fly in if there were important matters that needed our attention.The first major problem that I had was the location of my wedding. I could easily have that in a hotel, but it wasn’t good enough
Knight in Shining Suit 37. RING
RING:A ring is round because it represents eternity… like a love that will last forever. It is a symbol of never-ending commitment. It is usually worn on the left hand, on the fourth finger, as “myth” states that this finger contains the “vena amoris” or the “vein of love”, which is connected to the heart.We were sitting on the deck; Ryder was strumming his guitar, serenading me with his smooth, soulful voice.I couldn’t help but be drawn to him and the world he was bringing me to when he sings. If I wasn’t in love with him already, hearing him sing to me would probably do the job.“How come you sing so well?” I asked him.“Genes, I guess.” He smiled.“Did you always know how to play the guitar?”He nodded. “Ever since I was a kid. I play the piano, too.”&ldq
Knight in Shining Suit 36. PRESENT
PRESENT:A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; The period between Yesterday and Tomorrow… Today.It is also referred to as something special given to another person… a Gift.Remember this quote? “Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, and Today is a GIFT, that is why it’s called the Present.”Astrid.It’s been almost a week since I got out of the hospital. I got away just fine with some stitches on my forehead, just above my left brow. My wrist was also stitched up as apparently, I landed on broken pieces of glass when Bryan banged my head on the kitchen counter.Ryder was still at the hospital. Apparently, he took a couple of blows for me when he came to my rescue. And I k
Knight in Shining Suit 35. WEDDING ALBUM
WEDDING ALBUM:A collection of the snapshots and pictures captured during the wedding day. The Wedding Album holds all the memories of the most wonderful day between a husband and a wife.Ryder.I have to meet her. The girl I spent half a day looking for around the city! I thought I would never see her again.“I’ll cover the bar, guys!” I told my bartenders. I took my jacket off and grabbed the baseball cap from one of my staff and wore it on my head. “Borrow for a while, okay?”He looked at me like he thought I was high or something and then he nodded.I watched her. She was alone. Now, I wish I knew some pick-up lines. Or if I did, I knew how to use them effectively! But so far the only things that I could remember hearing around were:‘Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?’or
Knight in Shining Suit 34. SOMETHING BORROWED
SOMETHING BORROWED:A bride must complete her outfit by wearing something that is not hers. Suggestions would be a tiara, hair clips, gloves, jewelry, and the list goes on and on.Astrid.My heart pounded in my chest. But I knew that I shouldn’t panic. This was Bryan! He was one of my best friends before we decided to become more than friends. I knew him. Once in his life, I loved him. And he loved me. He will never hurt me physically… or will he?“Bryan…” I breathed. “Are you okay? You look… drunk.”He laughed. “Oh, I am more than that! And I like it!” His eyes gleamed with mischief and I got even more scared.“Wha-what do you want?” I asked him, taking a step backward.“Ha!” He sighed angrily. “You still don’t know
Knight in Shining Suit 33. SOMETHING BLUE
SOMETHING BLUE:The Bride must always wear something… anything… blue. It can be a trinket or undergarment. Some choose to put a blue lining on the wedding garter that they wear under their wedding gown.Ryder.That did not go as planned.Astrid is a little firecracker. You don’t handle her properly, she will explode. And damn! I did not handle that well.I wanted to woo her, show her my charming side, the one that is not uptight and suspicious of all women. The real me without masks and with all my guards down.I thought I was doing a great job earlier in the afternoon. I thought she’d appreciate the movers, but I don’t think Astrid likes owing people anything, especially favors with a financial value attached to it. A very admirable trait.Wow! I have
Knight in Shining Suit 32. SOMETHING OLD
SOMETHING OLD:A bride must also complete her ensemble on the wedding day with something old. It could be an heirloom piece, old jewelry, or anything that the bride owned in the past.Astrid.The following days, I barely left John’s house. Rose was taking care of all the queries for the company. I spoke to my suppliers over the phone. I searched through the net to find a new place with a lower rent.I was getting frustrated because the places with lower rents are really smaller. So it means that I have to rent a separate apartment for myself.“Why don’t you just rent a room instead of a place of your own?” John asked. We were eating pizza in his house.“I suppose you’re right. I mean, I can afford a new apartment, but I don’t want to spend too much on that. I still have a long way to go with my co
Knight in Shining Suit 31. SOMETHING NEW
SOMETHING NEW:Brides are supposed to wear something—anything—new during the wedding ceremony. It can be as small as a trinket, jewelry, an undergarment, or the gown itself.Astrid.I met up with my friends at Starbucks.“So, because Ryder forgot about you, we all have to be sober now?” Dannie asked. I knew what he meant. Since Ryder forgot about me, I had been steering clear of Oil Rig and Rig Style. It was too painful for me to go there. The sweetest guy I’d known didn’t want anything to do with me and looked down at me as if I was the biggest gold-digging slut on the face of the Earth.“No, Dannie. No one is preventing you from getting drunk out of your wits. As long as you don’t do it with me and in any of Ryder’s bars,” I said.“But those are my favor
