let me preface this story by stating that it is only a two-parter because it took place over the same weekend. it was a strange weekend and looking back at this particular wedding weekend, it still seems surreal.
Jan was set to be married on a fine fall saturday over columbus day weekend. i arrived the thursday before her nuptials to spend some quality bridesmaid time with her. she had been having back pain, back pain she was all to familiar with, back pain that she had to have surgery for a few years back. it was worry some. she was walking crooked, and insistent that she would be fine, but she was in agony. she would need surgery again as soon as she would return from her honeymoon.
we went to her final fitting. remember how i said she was walking crooked because of the back pain. well, her dress fitting wasn't any better, her dress fit crooked. it was bad. we had lunch and then went for a massage. or maybe we went for the massages before; either way, the day was a mess.
when we woke up the following morning, the eve before her wedding, June and i found out that Jan had been taken to the hospital because she was found curled in a a ball at the bottom of the stairs in her parents home in agonizing pain and tears, unable to move. we were horrified. for months we had been slowly watching our best friends spinal health deteriorate as she insisted she would be fine. it was obvious she wasn't, when she could no longer stand, sit, or walk. what were June and i to do? the only thing we knew how- first things first, out of town family was headed to Jan's parents house for the weekend. Jan's mom was in a frenzied state, as were we, and we all needed to stay calm, there was nothing we could do for Jan in the hospital but there was something we could do about the wedding, and the house.
June and i took charge, as did my husband. June and i cleaned, cleaned, cleaned every room, and thing in sight. we picked up flowers, approved arrangements, and photos. we set up appointments, picked up tuxedos, and demanded that the groom get his shit together or we'd do it for him. as all of this was happening Jan was being prepped for surgery, and June and i refused to look at each other for fear of hysterically crying. my husband got food, made sure everyone ate something, made sure everyone was comfortable, and all the cars had gas.
after the house was spotless, everyone was fed, and all the wedding stuff was picked up and squared away it was time to attend the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner without the bride, the groom, or the father of the bride. we all managed to get through just fine. no one seemed to be all that phased by the 3 missing people other than June, myself, the brother of the bride and the mother of the bride. the brother of the bride said some lovely things about his sister and future brother-in-law at the rehearsal dinner as well as June and i and how the rehearsal dinner wouldn't have gone quite as smoothly without us. we were in a daze throughout the whole thing. to this day we aren't really sure what happened and what didn't happen.
after the rehearsal dinner a group of us girls decided to run over to the hospital and try to catch Jan before surgery and tell her we loved her and would see her tomorrow in her beautiful gown and all was well. we had just missed her, but somehow, my husband and June's husband got the chance to see her, which stings a little but at least one of us saw her.
June, myself and the Maid of Honor made the decision that we couldn't be alone and had a slumber party. no of us slept, and it wasn't because of RB's snoring. we couldn't stop thinking about the day in front of us. most brides are awake the night before their wedding thinking about if it rains, or if someone drinks to much, or if someone is late. Jan was in a hospital having surgery; sure she was fully medicated not feeling a thing, getting the best nights sleep she had had in months, but we were still concerned.
on saturday morning June and I and the MOH went upstairs bright and early for some coffee. as we walk into the kitchen, Jan strolled in through the garage door, standing straight with a big grin on her face! we all began jumping up and down and wanted to hug her so hard. knowing we couldn't we grabbed each other and began crying- she clapped and cried off to the side. it couldn't have been more surreal to see her there. it was like it never happened. we got ready and headed over to the hotel for the ceremony.
Jan walked straight and upright down the aisle on her fathers' arm and got married to her long time boyfriend. i was attacked by mosquitoes on the beach while taking pictures, but it was a small price to pay for my friends happiness on her wedding day.
Jan and Brad had to postpone their honeymoon because of the surgery, but lucky for me and RB they came on ours! we had a great time.
on June's wedding day it rained, and another girl wore white, but it was lovely. the week of my wedding it snowed but it ended up being 65 degrees the day we got married, and then a few weeks, then months later RB's family members began passing away, we would trade our 65 degrees, and good photos for RB's dad to still be with us today. Jan was told that she needed to have surgery in order to be able to walk down the aisle at her wedding otherwise she'd have to do it in a wheel chair. we all have our little wedding quirks; but every time i hear a bride start to complain about what could go wrong the day or week of her wedding, i tell her about Jan, and they immediately breathe deep and realize that things could always be worse; maybe Jan didn't need us, but we needed her, we are all strong and can get through anything; especially if we have each other.
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