Idaho Rehearsal Dinner...

 So... I have been putting this post off for a couple of months.  This Idaho Falls rehearsal dinner in that I helped with in July was not the greatest experience. Even as I gather these few photos - I wince a little as I review it in my mind.

The Dinner was to be held out on this lovely patio across the river from the Idaho Falls Temple.  BEAUTIFUL!  Big, spacious, classy patio with globe lights, couches and a fireplace.

Well, around 3:00 pm the wind started to pick up.  And it continued to pick up.  Tablecloths were blowing up - centerpieces were tipping - favor boxes were tumbling off - paper lanterns were destroyed - candles couldn't be lit - place cards could not be set.  The sign-in table even blew over.  The hostess (MoG) was insistent that the guests be seated outside.  The whole reason she booked the venue was for the Temple view.  Was she actually trying to control the weather?  Well...that was super fun.  About 45 minutes before the guests were supposed to arrive, she conceded, and the hotel staff hurriedly moved the tables inside.  But not into the ballroom - no!  The dozen tables were set up in the walkway between the ballroom and the windows looking out on the patio (and the Temple).

The guests waited patiently for us to finish setting up and trying to recover the decorations that had been ruined by the wind.  It finally became this:

But without the lights, the fireplace, the fresh air, the paper lanterns, etc.  The place cards didn't even make it back on the tables. :(  There was major chaos because everyone was trying to help - which was nice - but I no longer had any control over what went where.  The Sign-In table was cramped and up against a wall, the Seating Chart was not where anyone could see it, and the table with the framed Chinese Calligraphy Scrolls that I had hand-painted (for the family gifts) were right at the front where everyone else could wonder why they weren't getting one.  Ugh... 

After the 'hostess' went up to her room to regroup (cry), it went fine and nobody cared except her and me.  She was mad, I was mad, the hotel manager was I don't know what...trying to be accommodating.  One of the lessons I learned:  try not to put yourself in a position where someone can blame you for the bad weather.  Another...Accept and Allow!  Bad weather doesn't define a person, right?