‘Great, I think we’re ready.’ Wendy grinned.
‘We’re ready? Does that mean I don’t have to come and plan?’ Elsie placed a bowl of carrot and cucumber sticks on the table.
‘No, it means we’re ready to plan.’ Shaking her head, Wendy laughed.
‘Ah, of course.’ Sitting in the seat, Elsie pulled the notebook towards her. ‘Let’s get this show on the road then.’
‘Yes, let’s. What’s first on the agenda?’ Diane asked.
‘Let me see.’ Elsie ran her finger down the list. ‘Shall we start with the flowers because I feel that decision will lead to the others?’
‘Good idea. Have you had any thoughts?’ Wendy picked up a pen, ready to write on the mood board.
‘I have.’ Elsie nodded. ‘It’s been a tricky decision and at first, I did think about having sunflowers. You know how much I love them. They always make me smile just because of how bright and cheerful looking they are, but then I began thinking it would be quite nice to have something with a bit of a family connection.’
‘Ooh, what have you chosen?’ Gemma leaned forward in her chair.
‘I’ve chosen peonies, pink peonies. They represent happiness, love and romance, plus they were my gran’s favourite flower.’
‘Peonies are so beautiful. I think that’s a perfect choice.’ Carrie smiled.
‘Thank you.’ Elsie nodded. ‘Now, that leads me to the next decision, the bridesmaids’ dresses. I know you’re all dying to find out what colour I’d like you to wear.’
‘Oh yes. Please don’t make us wear orange.’ Gemma grimaced.
‘Or grey, it washes me out.’ Jessie frowned.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen grey bridesmaid dresses.’ Wendy raised her eyebrows. ‘I bet it could be quite a nice colour, though.’
‘Don’t worry, we won’t have orange or grey, I’ve already decided.’ Else grinned. ‘It was a close call. A very close call. At first, I had decided on royal blue. Blue, the colour of the ocean, but since I’ll be carrying pink peonies and after catching a glimpse of some bridesmaid dresses this colour yesterday at the boutique, I’d rather like dusky pink. What do you all think? Will you be comfortable wearing dusky pink?’ Elsie looked up and down the table.
‘I love dusky pink.’ Brooke picked up a slice of pizza.
‘Isn’t pink Pippa’s favourite colour, Teresa? She’ll love wearing a pink dress.’ Olivia grinned at Teresa.
‘Yes, it is. Ever since you and Ian announced your wedding, she’s been nagging me to persuade you to let her wear a pink dress, so she’ll be thrilled.’ Teresa laughed.
‘Yes, that was another reason I’ve decided on pink. I can’t let my little flower girl down, can I?’ Elsie chuckled. ‘I spoke to Savanah about the bridesmaid dresses last night too and she said there are a few different styles of dresses and luckily, the bridesmaid dresses don’t take as long to be made so you’ll each be able to go along to the boutique whenever you’re free and choose the style you want, and she’ll have them all made up in the same fabric.’
‘So, we can really choose whatever style we want?’ Lauren grinned.
‘Yes, you can, love. Any style they offer, she can get them made up. She did ask you to pop along sooner rather than later though, if that’s okay?’ Elsie looked at Evie. ‘That’s you too, Evie. I’d like all my girls to be my bridesmaids.’
‘Me? Really?’ Evie lowered her mug of coffee. She hadn’t been a bridesmaid before. Everyone she’d known who had got married had always been too aware of her aversion to marriage to even contemplate asking her, but this felt right. She nodded. ‘I’d love to be, thank you.’
‘Good, good. Now, is there anything else on this list of things to do?’ Elsie stirred her coffee.
‘Food. You and Ian still haven’t been into the restaurant to decide what we need to cook.’ Daisy frowned.
‘Oh, yes, love. Shall we pop in tomorrow?’
‘Yes, tomorrow would work.’ Daisy nodded, pulled out a notebook from her bag and began writing inside.
‘The wedding car. Are you going to hire a car to get to the church and back?’ Nina tapped a photograph of a car that had been stuck to the mood board.
‘Ian’s dealing with that. He wants to surprise me.’ Elsie smiled and took a sip of coffee.
‘If the reception is going to be here, are you going to decorate it? You could have balloons or flowers?’ Wendy looked around the bakery.