Cold Feet

VIOLA

Cold feet.

No, I don’t mean cold feet as in the kind you get from being out in the cold or swimming in water that’s too cold or simply not dressing warm enough.

I mean the other kind of cold feet.

The worst kind.

The kind that some women, and to a lesser extent, some men get just before their wedding. Yes, that kind.

My biggest pet hate. Why? Because in my line of work, they can ruin everything.

What is my line of work?

I’m a wedding planner. Any wedding planner hates and fears cold feet. They can derail everything. The whole day. Ruin you financially and possibly your reputation too.

I’ve been in this game a long time though and I’ve learned the hard way. When you’ve had enough cancellations because of cold feet you become hard. It becomes a matter of survival as well as doing what you love.

I now insist on non-refundable deposits from clients. They sign a contract when they hire me and they accept that they will lose their hard-earned money if they dare cancel. The deposit covers the location rental, decorations, cakes, caterers, furniture and marquee, photographer, band, and absolutely everything I need to cover.

I’ve gone a step further with my service. I include a counselor who provides last-minute counseling if the bride or the groom gets cold feet. They don’t know the person they’re speaking to is a counselor if I send them in. The counselor works the magic they need to, to keep the show on the road.

I’m the best. Not just as far as clients are concerned but also as far as my suppliers are concerned. They know they’ll get paid even if the show doesn’t go on.

I’m inundated with clients and they even delay their weddings just so I can be the wedding planner. I’m not boasting, just saying how it is.

For me, it’s not about the business aspect. There’s something about seeing a couple walk down the aisle to that moment in time when they will commit to each other before God and everyone present. Seeing the love and caring in their eyes and their kiss and the celebrations that follow. I love it. I love to see a couple in love and happy. That’s why I do it. I help couples make a dream come true with their wedding day.

But right now, I’m waiting with bated breath. It’s early Saturday afternoon.

in church and the bride hasn’t even left her home yet. The counselor is doing her best

run of talking brides and grooms out of cold feet threatening to end here and now. The groom is restless as are the people in

for the message to update me.

phone pings. The bride is

sigh of relief. I

had cold feet is always told what to say beforehand. As far as possible, no-one wants to admit they had cold feet on their wedding day. It’s not the way to start a marriage. They can sort it out later if the bride or groom wants to

enough. The bride steps out and the organ starts playing as she enters the church with the flower girls and maid of honor

face that well because of the veil. I hope the bride is giving none of her fear away. My counselor climbed out of the car

back out but thankfully she doesn’t. I say another

exit the church. Guests and well-wishers sprinkle confetti and smile as the couple walks down the church steps and climbs into the waiting

made it this far, I think with relief. Now it’s on to the reception which I expect will go off without a hitch. The couple will do their photos just before the reception so there is time for me to

I notice him for

gym. His hair is jet black and short but not military style. His

looking at the newly married couple but must feel my eyes on him because he turns and our eyes

he was with someone and I wonder where his partner is. Surely, he can’t

couple is heading down the

church grounds where we eat lunch. In my business, I have a lot of contacts. One of them is a caterer I use regularly for food for the team. They’re not expensive and the food is always good. They also know what food is needed for every team member so I don’t have

eat somewhere away from crowds in a restaurant with no distractions. We can focus

the reception. The photographer is the only one who is absent since he has a full day

they are ready with their equipment and will head to the reception location after lunch

the checklist and mark off items one by one as the team members confirm that their

Decorations. Check. Flowers. Check. MC. Check.

the checklist and everyone continues

feet. I never expect her to stay around

We have worked together for a long time and are good

I smile when we end our

team quickly and then back at me. “Can we speak