A Napa Fairytale: She Wakes

I woke up not feeling awesome. Really? Today was our wedding? I wasn't feeling like my peppy self after the previous day's excitement, drama, and subsequent alcohol consumption. Omigod, I think I'm going to puke-- thank goodness, false alarm. I was nauseous and dehydrated. While Mr. Barrettes leapt out of bed, all shiny and rested, ready to meet his family for breakfast, I struggled to find my glasses and force a granola bar down my throat to get my motor running.

I was in no state to go anywhere and requested coffee and fruit upon my groom's return from breakfast. I burrowed under the covers and just lay there with my eyes closed, trying unsuccessfully to go back to sleep. Why did I drink so much yesterday? Please God, make me feel better. I promise I'll never drink again. We all know this game well, don't we? But I didn't feel better, and I didn't have the energy to fake it. It was my day and I wanted it to be authentic. If I didn't feel bride-y yet, well, that would just have to do.

The blackberry started up. Luckily it was members of my bridal party wondering where the bride was and how she was feeling. After reporting that I felt like garbage, they quickly jumped into action, organizing themselves for the day and reporting to their hair appointments. My mom and 2 cousin bridesmaids gently let themselves into my cave. They laughed at my disheveled state. Mom took control of the situation, throwing open the heavy curtains to let that happy, morning wedding sunshine warm my sad condition.

When my groom didn't show up with breakfast, I assumed the day's activities had taken hold of him and I sent a desperate plea to my MOH to pick up Starbucks and fruit on his way over. The ladies left me in a brighter state, although I took the opportunity to curl up again and try to find my inner bride.

My right-hand man arrived with coffee, fruit, and re-inforcements.

I took advantage of the situation and just let everyone do things for me. I sat in my glasses and pajamas slugging down coffee and picking through a gorgeous fruit platter. Champagne? Mimosas? No thank you! My dresses were still in the car, and the dinner menus and wine lists I made the day before were still waiting to be framed, but I didn't have the energy to stress yet.

(images via weheartit)

The groom returned with my dresses (don't worry, they were in black garment bags), gave me a quick slap on the bum and said goodbye for the last time as my fiance. I decided it was time to emerge from my cave and I needed to feel the sun on my skin and let the magic of Napa work its way back into my psyche. I retrieved the 32 frames, the menus and wine lists from the car and leisurely walked back to the hotel, trying to find that spring in my step.

Back in the suite, I put the boys to work framing the copies as I opened my Mac to see what was happening on the internets. Love, love, so much love! Emails, facebook messages, weddingbee love-- this is what I needed! Someone order pizza! As I started to fire on all cylinders, time started ticking. Our photographer, Luke Snyder, was due at 3pm and I needed to be semi-ready by then. MOH ordered me into his office, set up in the bathroom. He pressed play on Jill Scott's Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol.2 and we went to work.