A Fresno Wedding: Intro

Who needs a wedding planner? This is a job for...

(trumpet flourish)
The Humboldt Crew

I'd been hearing stories about Em for years, but we only just met last April. My roommate and I took a spontaneous roadtrip to Fresno one weekend , and I really didn't know what to expect. Theoretically, we're sorority sisters, but...

After all, I'm from Southern California, land of fruits and nuts. I expect everyone to be packing a gun, an illicit substance, or a quasi religious text. I'm on my guard until proven wrong. But if Em has a suspicious bone in her ebullient little body, it's entirely outmuscled by her warm heart. On the basis of sisterhood and a wild night out, she invited me to her wedding and made me an honorary bridesmaid.

The wedding was originally planned for next May, but to accommodate the Unitarian pastor Em and Ze moved the date to September.

Now, you might try to tell me there's little difference between Fresno in May and Fresno in September, and you'd be partly right. It's hot, either way.

But the September flowers blooming in the soon-to-be inlaw's backyard would clash horribly with the colors chosen for a May wedding. Wisely, Em decided to go with burgundy and lavendar instead of burnt orange. She even bought a second wedding dress, which, as many women will tell you, goes to show that shopping can be just as effective as drug therapy for chasing those blues/pains away.

Unfortunately, Em was floating on both. Em would rather do than tell, and while attempting to decorate the soon-to-be inlaw's yard did some damage to her ankle. So, the Humboldt Crew --consisting of the Maid of Honor/Pledge Sister, a Bridesmaid, a Tagalong Sorority Sister, and an Errand Boy-- left Eureka at one and arrived in Fresno at eight to be greeted by a bride with torn ligaments, unarranged flower arrangments color coordinating with the ankle, an undecorated residence, and a wedding in 48 hours.

After hellos and "oh nos" and "get off that ankle or we'll tie you down" the Humboldt Crew settled immediately to work while the soon-to-be inlaws watched. The flowers got arranged, and the evening proved prophetic of things to come.