Deck the Hall

Picture it:
Staten Island, Saturday afternoon.
stephen and i went to go book the hall for the wedding. it's been about 2 weeks since we were there last, and it's been almost impossible to get down there before now (they're not open during the week and between the car trouble and the Pampered Chef Shows every weekend...).

when we had gone last, the Maitre'd had taken us up to the Loft; i promptly fell in love with the space: it's a long room, dark and elegant. there's a long bar and big windows that will look down on the garden area that they are currently putting in.it's very evocative of a space you'd see in Manhattan. there are nice sized booths all around the room, plus space for tables, that give it the feeling of a nightclub circa 1948. you almost expect Bobby Darrin to come out and sing. it's perfect for our affair. Stephen called later that week to leave deposit , but was told that they couldn't take the credit card information over the phone. the manager told him that since our date was more than a year in the future, he could just pencil us in. fast forward to saturday, sitting in the booking office.

the manager thanks us for booking and starts to thumb through his calendar to our date. then he looks up and tells us that it has already been booked. he then tries to get us to change our date. when i explain (calmly...but with an edge) that we've already printed out our Save the Date magnets, he and the maitre'd argue about who booked it, then agree that they had promised us and would call the other "affair" to change their date. surprisingly enough, the other couple won't switch. SO we sit there and lament the obvious, and agree to see a different room. after about 20 minutes of discussion (Stephen, bless him, is only concerned with my happiness and wants only to make sure that i won't be pissed about the switched room for the next 18 months) where i cross my arms, pout and stamp my feet repeatedly, we agree to go with a different room. we go back to the office and start to fill out the paperwork. Luckily, stephen looks at the contract which has October 6th 2006 written in. the Maitre'd looks at the book for 2007 to find that our name is already penciled in for the Loft.

crisis averted.

"The roses, the lovely notes, the dining and dancing are all welcome and splendid. But when the Godiva is gone, the gift of real love is having someone who'll go the distance with you. Someone who, when the wedding day limo breaks down, is willing to share a seat on the bus." ~ Oprah Winfrey