The official wedding festivities started on Friday night with the rehearsal and over 100 family and friends were invited to a private party at Morton's in Beverly Hills for the rehearsal dinner. The wine was flowing, the food was fabulous and the desserts were mouth-watering delectable. After dinner, I headed to Venice to meet Alex, Rasmus, Mike and Andreas and hit James Beach and Viceroy for an unexpectadly very long night out.
The next morning, after virtually no sleep, I dragged myself to CJ at 9am for hair, raced to the hotel by noon for makeup by the always wonderful Marisa and her friend Diedre and around 3pm the entourage of help had arrived. There were more people in the room taking pictures and assisting with different tasks than I have ever seen or could have imagined. It was a bit overwhelming to see the crews of cameras and videographers, dressors, make-up artists, hair dressor, etc. etc. as we were putting the final touches of our dresses together and as Karen was dressed in her gown and preparing for her big day. We had an amazing suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The bathroom alone was bigger than my bedroom in Dublin. No detail was spared, there was even a fabulous girl who whenever you said, "I need or I forgot" seemed to be prepared with anything you could possibly need or imagine. Karen looked more amazing than I have ever seen her, and she is always beautiful but this was breathe-taking. All of the bridesmaids looked beautiful as well in the floor-lengthed cream dresses with black sash to floor and black strappy heels. The men were in tuxes with gorgeous silver silk ties and everyone looked fabulous as we were finally getting to see all of the extensive planning come together.
Pictures began around 3pm and we then had a break for a little bit in the hotel bar at which time we had a chance to touch up and rest and run into some of the fabulous celebrities of Hollywood including P Diddy staying in the suite opposite Karen's.
The official signing of the Katuba was around 6pm. There were appetizers and drinks included. Meanwhile, the guests were beginning to arrive for 7pm appetizers and drinks in a separate banquet room downstairs. The room was beginning to fill with approximately 400 guests and we were able to go down and mingle for a bit and see the amazing ball gowns of the women, the fabulous tuxes and suits of the men. Everyone was dressed beautifully.
Then came the official ceremony at around 8:30pm. We had to wait until sundown to begin as it was a jewish wedding. As we walked down the isle surrounded by hundreds of Matt and Karen's family and friends, I realized that since I'd been in our very fabulous 4 inch heels for about 6 hours by this point, my feet were becoming unbearably sore. By the time I got to the front, I realized my feet on the stone had officially decided to transition into the nausiating feeling of razerblades through the balls of my feet. I have never felt anything like this in my life and can usually handle myself well in heels of all sizes...but this was something different, so I took deep breaths, smiled and tried not to throw up or pass out as I was supposed to be standing for the bride not literally falling for her. I tried my hardest to concetrate while moving my feet to a small patch of grass to the right of my feet to releave some of the pressure, thinking, "Am I the only one who is feeling this?" The rabbi was a great speaker, they had a beautiful voiced singer and the ceremony lasted about 30 minutes, ending with the breaking of the glass...this is it, Karen and Matt were officially married. As I walked back down the isle with David, a groomsman, I was whispering slower, slower because I still felt like my feet were going to give out on me. It turned out that all of the bridesmaids were all feeling the same pain. Virginia, Laura and I literally collapsed into the cushy chairs in the outside of the reception area and stayed there with our feet up in the air for 30 minutes as the guests entered the reception.
As soon as we walked into the reception area and my shoes were replaced with very hidden flip-flops under our floor length dresses, my breathe was literally taken away as I was able to absorbe the details of the room and by the amazing arrangements of flowers throughout the room. No detail again had been spared. There was even floating roses in the center of the room surrounding the dance floor. It was like walking into a fairy tale. There was an ice-sculptured martini bar with Karen and Matt's initials engraved into it, where the bartender would pour the martini requested through the ice sculpture and into the glass. There was a cigar roller, a 5 course meal, an amazing band that was incredibly versatile and everyone seemed to be having an amazing time.
Matt and Karen had choreographed their first dance and I had no idea what to expect and had been teasing her about just looking into his eyes dreamily for the first dance and everything would be fine...so when they were introduced and walked onto the dance floor, I was amazed to see that they were actually looking like the fairy-tale couple floating on the dance floor, dancing and spinning around the room. It was one of the most adorable things I have ever seen.
The toasts were heartfelt and hilarious, the kindest, funniest and truest words were spoken about Karen and Matt's relationship. The dancing was so much fun and the band played a huge variety of great music. I even got the pleasure of swing dancing with one of Matt's guests.
It was an honour to be a part of. I can't even describe how happy I am that the two of them found each other and were able to have such a memorable day to celebrate their union to each other. I was truly proud to be a bridesmaid in their wedding as I adore them both so much. And nothing I write will ever be able to truly capture what an amazing day it really was.
But the party didn't stop there...there was a brunch the next morning at Matt's parents house. It was equally fabulous with a coffee bar, omelette bar, variety of meats and cheeses and fruits and breads, etc. etc. They have amazing rose gardens and an equally impressive herb garden. I really hope one day to have a fresh herb garden to pick out fresh herbs and vegetables for cooking so this really impressed me.
And now they are off on their honeymoon in Italy and France and I am kitty-sitting their very-devilish cat until I return to Dublin next week. It was truly a most fabulous occasion and I wish I could describe it with the justice it deserves but this will have to do.
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