Disclaimer: We all know how these work, I acknowledge that J.K. ROWLINGS, Warner Bros. and Scholastic own Harry Potter and all other characters and settings from cannon, and I get to write whatever I please and even add in characters of my own as long as I don't get any money. The no money sucks but there you go, at least I don't get lawyers knocking on my door. Addendum: If you recognize a name of a character from elsewhere it isn't mine.
Sirius' Savior
Chapter 31 Planning the Wedding Part 2
When Friday came Beth was feeling more than a little crazy. Harry had argued his way into being a boarder at school which meant that Sirius was going to pull cat box duty at John's. Of course with Harry not being around during the week Sirius would probably just vanish it. On Wednesday she had finally had an appointment with the obstetrical medi-witch Winry was friends with. She and Sirius both had got a shock because they were informed they were expecting triplets.
Harry was over the moon he would have three siblings and had taken on an endearing and extremely helpful demeanor. That visit had also cemented Harry's going to Stuart-Cavanaugh as a boarding student. The medi-witch had been able to get a tentative confirmation that at least two and likely all three were magical. She stressed to Sirius how for both the babies' and Beth's health he would have to feed Beth's energy with his magic which translated to Harry needing to be away from Sirius for a majority of the time.
Harry was both excited and scared. Sirius and Walter had put together a warding plan that they would put around the school grounds a couple of weeks into school. He had opted to take the more modern of the humanities classes, he took the social science course, composition, critical thinking, Latin, math, science, orchestra, cotillion, and gymnastics. He also committed to compete on the swim team. He had gotten the books for the other Humanities class and the materials for the Japanese class he planned to work through them on his own time. He had gotten subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal, the Examiner, Time and US News and World Report. He figured that way he didn't have to share the schools copies. He had acquired his full recommended school list of clothes, dorm supplies, and personal items including an Apple llc plus computer. He had sorted through his belongings so he was taking the minimum with him to school. He had gotten the books for his classes and started reading them. Last he had acquired two senseis courtesy of Rachel. One for Judo, and one that was black belted in many disciplines including eskirma and kendo that was willing to teach Harry his cross disciplines style. He didn't know if he was really ready to be mostly self reliant or not but he was going to give it his best shot. Besides he would come home every weekend.
He had come to the appointment with Bonnie because he knew he would soon be to busy with school to help much and he wanted to feel like he was actively involved with the formation of his family. Sirius, Beth, and Harry had discussed menus and clothes for the wedding. He had persuaded them to use the engagement photo and an oversized photo mat instead of a guest book. They brought it with them to show Bonnie. He also had brought a some wallet prints to go out with the press announcements. He had two ideas for touches of whimsical but didn't know if they would work and he hoped that being at the meeting would spark one or two more. Beth had taken the day off and after the discussions were over they were going to go to Oliver & Company while Sirius stayed and transfigured stuff.
Bonnie was pleased, when Sirius walked into the office with Beth on his arm and Harry on his heels. "Great we can get started, I've got really good news on the photographer hunt. I got in touch with Felkamp Photography, They are very expensive but they are also the best they usually only commit to twenty weddings a year they like to get to know the couples and they commit all of themselves to the weddings they do they do a lot more fashion and advertising photography but I worked with them two years ago on a wedding when I was an intern and it was a marvelous experience for everyone. Anyway I called them hoping against hope they weren't booked for something. We got so lucky they had a fashion shoot but the designer got in a car accident and is in traction for four months so the shoot got cancelled. I begged and bribed and they said they'll do your wedding. Clara is flying down next week to do engagement shots and the bride's portrait. Connie wants us to go by her place so she can show us some mockups of centerpieces and bouquets. I've got favor catalogs for you to go through. Rob wants to know your tentative food choices for organizing a taste test dinner this week, Tuesday by preference. Cakes I have information sheets on the various bakeries I've worked and been satisfied with. Anyway right now I need to show you my ideas for décor. Let's start with the wedding itself. I was thinking Sirius you mentioned magical traditions of a circle and using a sash. I thought we could use columns to define the circle. Obviously flowers and candelabras,"
"Whoa slow down Bonnie. It's great about the photographer but our engagement shots are already done. How about we deal with the table stuff and Beth and I have already looked at menu stuff and faxed it off to Rob yesterday we will want to look at other bakeries because we want more out their flavors for cake. Uptown is going to be providing fruit tarts and cheesecake diamonds, in addition to the salad, soup, intermezzo, and entree. Let's focus on finishing the details of the reception. Linens and what not."
"Right." Bonnie paused and took a breath. "Okay good point. I pulled all the table cloths that fit your colors. I've borrowed a set of each china pattern Rob has and I've got my own sets of dishes that I can get from the rental agencies. So lets get to picking."
Thirty minutes later a plush and shimmery set of linens had been selected for the reception the tables would be covered in alternating satin and velvet table cloths in rich dark chocolate the chairs and napkins would be a light blue satin tied by chocolate satin sashes with rhinestone clasps. The dishes were a Chantilly charger, Magnificence china, Park lane crystal, and King Arthur gold flatware. Bonnie decided the napkins would be folded into fleur de lis. She then asked, "Did you plan on assigned seating?"
"Yes, we feel it will make conversations easier by making it magical versus non-magical not that there won't be some mingling anyway but if we segregate based in comfort between magical and muggle it will be less likely to result in an incident." Beth said.
"Okay that will mean card holders and table numbers I have some table number holders." She pulled out a fleur de lis table number holder.
Harry frowned. "That's boring." His face suddenly brightened. " What if we had statues of different magical animals to hold the table number cards, like dragons, griffins, unicorns, pegasi, and that sort of thing?"
Sirius and Beth both smiled. "That is definitely a touch of the whimsical."
"Right I'll see what I can do. Okay we have our base so lets take it to Connie's. Oh wait do you want the cake table the gift table and the card holder table to be the same or different?"
"Different maybe a base of light blue and a gathered overlay that incorporates the chocolate brown and the light blue."
"Right. Ceremony ideas?"
Beth said "White chair covers rows alternating light blue and dark brown sparkle organza sashes."
"Aisle runner?"
"Yes." Beth said.
"I'll transfigure one to match the blue liner of the invitation." Sirius said.
"Good idea. Um, I want to hear your ideas for the ceremony decor."
"Well a lot depends on if we're on the boat or in the garden. If we're in the garden your pillar idea would probably be best, but on the boat I was thinking maybe a carpet and maybe some light blue organza draping of the windows for the ceremony..." Sirius said.
"With some small flower arrangements suspended at the window joints, hmm definitely has possibilities. Simple but elegant. Candelabra?" Bonnie showed them some pictures.
"One, the seven candle for both locations," Beth answered.
"Okay that gives me what I need for arrangements. Let's head to Connie's."
When they got to Connie's she showed them three ideas if flower centerpieces done in silks. They immediately vetoed the low centerpiece, but weren't sure if they liked the tall candelabra arrangement better or the tall vase. So they setup the table with the place setting. Beth looked at it
"I don't know, it needs something."
"Maybe it we used a mirror?" Sirius said.
When they put a mirror under it, it was obvious that they preferred the vase to the candelabra but it still needed something. "Maybe some lights and some hints of blue." Beth said."I saw some blue votive holders at a store with little half inch fleur de lis in a pattern maybe if we put those around the vase."
Sirius nodded.
Harry thought the time for one of his ideas had come, "What if we put butterflies blue ones on monofilament strands and had them in the bouquet of the centerpieces. The monofilament would be almost invisible and would be inclined to add a bit of movement as air currents go by too."
"Live butterflies?"Connie asked.
"Of course not but something, probably paper," Harry replied.
"Could work. Another touch of whimsy." Sirius said.
"Another thing I notice, in the vase you you use crystals to weight the bottom and thats fine but what if in half the vases you used seashells as weights." Harry said, bringing out the second of his ideas. He smiled inwardly at the smiles that suggestion brought forth from Beth and Sirius.
"Seashells huh? Connie said. She and Bonnie exchanged looks.
Bonnie started talking, "Okay the rest of what we'll need for the ceremony I'd like seven urns , a piece for a seven candle candelabra, and six small arrangements to hang for sure maybe more. Oh Beth Sirius I showed you the chair covers and sashes what if we put an orchid in the center of the rosette on the chair sashes?"
"Sounds elegant." Sirius said.
"Great, Connie that going to translate to between one hundred and twenty five and two hundred and forty orchids. When will you need a count?"
"Ten days before."
"Okay. That makes our RSVP date February two. Sirius we'll have to get those out today. Back to what we need. Bride's bouquet, maid of honor bouquet, two bride's maids, two flower girls, one mother corsage, one grandmother type corsage, two helper corsages one of which requires a wrist band for sure. One father, one grandfather, officiant, groom, best man, two groomsman, ushers, speaking of which you guys probably need to get a few, and ring bearer.
"We can pull my younger brothers for usher duty." Beth said. "Which would mean four boutonnieres heck probably should make that six that will get my other brothers."
"I think I'd like to get Andy a corsage as well. She and Nymph are my only family.
"So one more grandmother type corsage?" Connie asked. Sirius nodded. "Okay. What about the reception?"
We'll need an urn for the card table, flowers for the cake table and possibly the cake, between seventeen and twenty two vases. And the bridal party table, cocktail tables.."
"In other words a lot of flowers.," Sirius summed it up, "total budget for flowers is $35,000."
"I think that won't be a problem Mr. Black. Bonnie can you get me swatches so I can match the ribbons used as ties."
"Sure no problem.
"I can get the monofilament but you'll have to supply the butterflies. I should be able to get seashells too."
"Okay we're done here so, back to my office." On the way back to her office Bonnie said. "We'll listen to the demos and look over the playlists for you two to choose the band fortunately you only have to choose between three. We'll go over favors and then Sirius and I will see about the invitations."
Forty-five minutes later band and favors chosen. Harry had been glancing through a cake topper catalog and saw a motorcycle get away bride and groom cake topper, he unobtrusively marked the page with a note that Bonnie should include it in the cake design and put the catalog on Bonnie's desk. Beth and Harry left for their movie and Sirius got busy with his wand.