Most. Creative. Wedding. Idea. Ever.

The groom. Our amazing nephew Tom. A man with the second sweetest heart in the world (after my own husband of course). Tom is creative and caring and funny and charismatic and kind. I love him.

The bride. Kristina. Wow. This girl is a firecracker. Energetic, creative, beautiful with a dazzling smile. She is frequently on TV and radio doing interviews and spots for Arizona Weddings Magazine. I love her.

But we didn't know he was going to be a groom that night. And we didn't know that she was going to be a bride.

We attended what we thought was an Engagement party for the two of them on Saturday night. It was a cocktail party. In a rundown warehouse that had been converted to an ultra-modern sleek space.

My husband and I were late because we kept driving by the alley. Our GPS kept telling us we were at our destination but my husband kept hitting it and calling it a LIAR! I started getting annoyed, telling my husband to call our son-in-law and ask for directions and he kept refusing. I had warned my husband more then once before we left not to cross a woman wearing Spanx but I think he forgot. Tempers were definitely flaring when we finally discovered the little unsavory looking alley leading to the venue well tucked in between two old buildings.

We were both crabby from the bickering and exhausted from Dad's 80th Birthday Bash the night before. But the crabbiness evaporated when we entered the dim and cavernous warehouse. Candles flickered on industrial staircases, two long rows of banquet tables stretched down in front of us adorned with wheat grass and orchids. Glassware and silver sparkled in the dim light. It was beautiful.

Our nephew's Father was leaning against the wall when we walked in. It startled me for a moment. I have only seen him twice since my sister and he divorced years and years ago...the last time at Tom's brothers wedding last year. I thought it was weird he was there but I dismissed it.

I asked him where his parents were and he said "back in Ohio" and although I thought it odd that he came so far just for an engagement party I also thought it was really nice of him.

One of our daughters and sons were there with their families and my sisters were there ... and the grandchildren were there

... and lots and lots of other people.

We wandered around looking at the modern artwork and feeling cool and contemporary in the crowd of well dressed people. I looked at the cake, cupcakes actually and thought they really resembled a wedding cake but thought no more of it...
Working our way through the crowded room, we finally reached our nephew and hugged and congratulated him. He was relaxed and happy...looking handsome in a well-cut suit.

We couldn't find Kris, his fiance, but were told she had just been there talking to everyone wearing a purple cocktail dress so I kept looking for that flash of purple as we mingled.

We laughed. We walked around carrying cocktails and mocktails. We pretended to be cultured. We pretended like we attended high brow events all the time with the beautiful people.

And then a gentlemen went to the way front of the room and announced that dinner was going to be served and asked everyone to take their seats. To be continued...

And, yes, I heard that sigh.

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