"I feel like Santa"

What a thing to be quoted on....lol but I'm okay with it. I can only imagine what Santa must feel as he spreads holiday cheer around the world. What I experienced for three days, as I worked my way through the list, leaving non descript messages to please call me back - and then working my way through the typical questions - is this for real? it sounds too good to be true...what's the catch?

Last Friday, Aleksa and I had the honor of being part of in person notifications for two of our local couples. First was Nicole and Scott - they were nominated by Nicoles sister Missi, who along with their dad, called a family meeting to get Nicole and Scott there - this crazy woman with red hair walks up to them as they're gathered waiting to go into the restaurant and starts blabbing about I'm a wedding planner, blah blah - and then OH by the way, you've been nominated AND selected. Here's a sample of your invitation you're getting married in four weeks! Aleksa was recording and you didn't really hear much until the entire group of 20 or so? roared, applauded, cried, hugged, and experienced more joy than should be legal - oh that was me. The best part was when Nicole's mom could not believe that the wedding date was set for THIS December! We left them to enjoy the rest of their dinner and family night, got in the car and headed to our next stop - Amber and Wesleys. As we're on the 405, my head was just clearing and Aleksa and I were figuring out how we felt about what just happened...my phone rings and it's Lori (Basheda). I told her we'd just told the first couple and she said that's great - how did it go? I say OMG it was amazing - I kinda feel like Santa Lori - they were sooooo happy!

We arrived at Wesley and Ambers Townhouse to find Ambers mom, Patti, waiting for us in the street - she's so excited to tell them the good news - now, picture this - they are upstairs expecting moms boyfriend (who they've just been told is going to propose to her that night)as a rouse to keep them there instead of going to the grocery store with Wesleys dad for Thanksgiving food. We walk up the stairs and find Amber on the porch with Wesleys dad and Bryce, Amber and Wesley's son. Amber walks into the house with a puzzled look on her face (later she told us that she went in to tell Wesley that there were these two ladies walking in with her mom, NOT the boyfriend). Patti invites us into the house and despite her best efforts not to give it away, she starts crying. Poor Amber is trying to figure out what's going on, why is her mom crying and these women in her living room, one with a phone in her hand pointed at them... so I introduce myself as a wedding planner, blah blah, and as I get to the part about the which couples were selected, Patti cries out, "YOU GUYS WON!" Immediately, the room goes into a quiet stupor, everyone was so completely surprised. Bryce was smiling (cause grandma told him about it already) - even Wesley's dad could not fight the tears anymore. They were so excited and their home was filled with a joy they thought would not come. Will upload the video soon.

This feeling of joy, I learned over and over as I made my phone calls throughout the weekend (one I returned during my wedding last Saturday). One of our brides to be honred didn't recognize my number so she wouldn't answer the phone no matter how many times I called - until I sent a message saying PLEASE call me - I have amazing news - 'who is this'? was the response. "I'm the one you wrote to about getting married at Angel Stadium, please call me I have great news"....my phone immediately rang and it was her! She was at a family gathering at his familys home - so I asked her to put the phone on speaker. More joy -

What an absolutely tremendous, overwhelming experience this has been and continues to be not just for the couples and their families, but for all of us involved too. We thank each and every one of you who've helped to make this possible for these couples!