A Very Married Christmas: A Silver Bell Falls Holiday Novella(5)
Neither of them could argue with her logic.
“And look at the cloth napkins!” Lisa added. “I combined cinnamon sticks and winter berries, for a chic and organic napkin ring alternative. Aren’t they perfect?”
If Melanie didn’t put a stop to this now, she’d get so wrapped up in Lisa’s excitement that she’d be willing to get married in yoga pants and a sweatshirt!
“Now I have to admit, Hank is responsible for the chairs,” Lisa said as she pulled one of the chairs from the table. “Fussy chair covers wouldn’t really work in this environment. But I didn’t want to just leave them bare. While Hank was trimming the trees, he hung some of the discarded branches over the chair and I saw them and thought…perfect! So, a little greenery and some red velvet ribbon and—voila! —we have something more rustic and simple.”
“I never would have thought of that,” Josiah said and Melanie wanted to remind him how decorating on any level wasn’t his thing. When they had shopped for furniture for their new house, she had to stop him from picking everything that was brown and leather and functional. Functional was fine, but he had no creativity—or any idea how women preferred color and style in their homes.
Lisa moved toward the center of the room and pointed up at the ceiling. “These chandeliers are big and beautiful but they don’t throw off an excessive amount of light. Combined with the twinkly lights, I think we cancreate a really cozy atmosphere at your wedding reception. It will really feel like an outdoor event combined with the low lighting, lots of candles and a touch of sparkle.”
“It really does feel…magical in here, doesn’t it, Mel?” Josiah asked.
She was about to answer when she noticed something unusual in the corner of the room. “Um…what’s that?”
“Ooo…that is going to be the highlight of every party this winter!” Lisa exclaimed as she walked across the room. “This is a hot chocolate bar!”
“A hot chocolate bar?” both Melanie and Josiah repeated.
“Uh-huh! Isn’t it fabulous?”
“It’s…it’s…”
“Actually, we’re calling it a cocoa bar, but we’re going to serve mulled wine and hot brandy cocktails too! It’s a wonderful alternative to your standard bar and with the cold weather, guests will appreciate coming inside and having something hot to drink. Of course, you can serve whatever you want, but this is an option for you if you’re interested.”
“You keep speaking as if you’re handling the food, beverages and…pretty much everything,” Josiah commented. “I thought you just rented out the space and then someone else catered and decorated and handled the rest.”
“That was how we used to do things,” she explained. “And anyone who rents the space is more than welcome to bring in their own people. But…you know what a close-knit town we are and there aren’t a lot of spaces available for big parties other than the churches, so the more events we had here, the more I got to work with party planners and caterers—all of whom are local—and it just seemed like a smart thing to start working together. You know, professionally.”
“So…now you’re in the party planning business?” Melanie asked, a bit wide-eyed and surprised at the announcement. “But what about the ornaments and Hank’s wood carving business?”
She waved them off. “Hank’s relieved to have me doing this so I’m out of his hair a bit more,” she said with a laugh. “I love working with him, but I found I loved working solo and being able to express my own creativity a lot more!”
“That’s amazing!” Josiah said. “And your love of what you do really shows. This place truly is a winter wonderland! We love it, don’t we, Mel?”
There was no way she could lie. “It really is amazing in here, Lisa. And if I had a gown, I know I’d be tempted to book you right now, but…”
“You need a gown?” Lisa asked, sounding more excited than worried.
“Yes, she does!” Josiah answered before Melanie could.
Rubbing her hands together, Lisa’s eyes lit up. “Well, it just so happens that my niece Jessica got engaged last month and they are planning a wedding for Thanksgiving weekend—a short timeline like yours!”
“Oh, um…we’re still not…” Melanie tried to explain but Lisa was talking again.
“I got to go dress shopping with her and Marie—my sister—in New York City two weeks ago and she found a fabulous dress right off the rack at one of those sample boutiques!”
“Sample boutique? What’s that?” Melanie asked, mildly intrigued.
“Apparently, several top bridal salons, showrooms and manufacturers have been opening discrete sample stores where they can divest themselves of extra inventory and where a bride-to-be can walk out with a deeply-discounted gown, ready for final alterations by her own tailor! Amazing, right? I remember when you had to order your gown six months before the wedding!”
“Is that so?” Josiah asked as he grinned at Melanie. “And right there in New York City? Sounds like a great excuse for a weekend trip!”
“Oh, it was,” Lisa said. “It was. We had a fabulous time and none of them take appointments—you just walk in and shop. I’m telling you, Melanie, they had every style of gown imaginable!”