Chapter Text
A month before the wedding
You, Laura, Perry and Laf are sat around a table in front of the coffee hut, a binder labelled ‘Wedding’ is sat in front of Perry. It’s open at a To-Do list, the list has a lot of things on it and not a lot of ticks. Everything will be fine, or at least that’s what Perry keeps muttering under her breath. You hear a faint click of heels and you turn your head in the sound’s direction. Finally, Mattie. She’s wearing her signature heels, pencil skirt, blouse and blazer, dressed to kill. You look over to Laura beside you and she’s staring at Mattie with an open mouth.
“Alright” you mutter as you close Laura’s mouth for her.
“Sorry I’m late darlings! Millie!” You stand to embrace your sister. She kisses you on both cheeks, a habit you guess she has picked up from her years in Paris.
“It’s ok Mattie! I’m just glad you’re here. It’s been a nightmare, the flower suppliers was flooded last week and the caterer said they can’t get the food we want and…” Perry is stopped tracks by Laf’s hand on her shoulder.
“Perry dear, don’t worry about all that. I’m here now! I will sort everything, you just tell me what you want and I’ll get it.” Mattie sits down in the vacant chair at the table and folds one leg over the other. Mattie’s eyes flick over to Laura, who is still in awe of Mattie’s presence. Mattie had that effect on people, you think it’s quite funny.
“You. You’re the girl who my little Millie is infatuated with?” Laura blushes, looks up and smiles at you. You can’t help but smile back and take her hands in yours.
“Um, yeah. I’m Laura Hollis” Laura frees a hand from yours and offers it to Mattie.
“Charmed. I’m Matska Belmonde, wedding planner extraordinaire” Mattie shakes Laura’s hand.
“Right, now the pleasantries have been dealt with, let’s get organising” Mattie flips around the binder and starts to flick through its pages.
“As much as I am enjoying this little meeting, do you have anything else for us to do?” You raise your eyebrow along with your question.
“Laura, is this the sample place name cards for the tables?” Mattie asks holding up a small card with beautiful calligraphy saying “Example name”.
“Yeah, is it ok?”
“It’s actually quite wonderful.”
“Thank you!” Laura’s face lights up at the compliment.
“Well, you should get on with the rest of them! Only 100 to do!” The false enthusiasm seeping through Mattie’s words.
“Yes, I’d better get going. Carmilla would you care to join me?” Laura is stood offering her arm for you. You smile, because this dork is yours. You lean over a kiss Mattie on the cheek and rise to meet Laura.
A week before the wedding
You and Laura are exhausted. She’s been making some things for the wedding, the place names, the seating plan and the table decorations. You’ve had the mammoth task of keeping Laf calm. Laf has to be calm around Perry, otherwise it would freak her out. So when they need someone to freak out to, you’re their person. You’ve also been rushing around, making sure rings have been sized correctly and flowers have been prepared.
You have managed to whisk Laura away from her apartment for a walk in the park. The coffee hut is being run by some temp staff Perry hired for the time being. You guide a tired Laura your bench and hand her the hot cocoa. She greets the drink with a smile.
“I was going to suggest you bring your sketch pad, but I guess you’re a little tired of drawing?”
“I’m starting to get blisters” Laura says inspecting her hands. You pout at the thought of her in pain.
“But, it’s worth it. This wedding is going to be amazing! I can’t believe Perry’s parents managed to hire out the park!”
“Well, I mean. They have the funds…” As you trail off, you both chuckle at how much of an understatement that is.
You wrap your arms around Laura, you’ve only seen each other about 3 times in the last 2 weeks. And frankly, that is not acceptable. She snuggles into you and you smile. You’re happy and she’s happy. It doesn’t get better than this.
The day of the wedding
The chairs were set up, the flowers delivered, a beautifully decorated cake towers over a picture of Laf and Perry beaming at each other. Luckily the weather has held out, clouds that had been threatening rain in the morning, had soon cleared by the afternoon. Mattie was clicking around barking orders at some poor waiter who had brought her the wrong kind of wine glass. The aisle had been marked out by chairs and the park looked beautiful.
Once the guests started to arrive, Laf had started to look even more nervous than ever.
“You ready Laffy?”
“Ready than I’ll ever be”
“You’re gonna be great. Just don’t do a Ross and say the wrong name alright?” You nudge them in the ribs playfully. Laf just nods and looks in the mirror again adjusting their bow tie for the thousandth time. Suddenly Laura appears, looking absolutely stunning in a light teal dress.
“You ready Laf? Mattie says its go time”
Laf faces you with a concerned look on their face. You pull their blazer down, brush off their shoulders and give them a wink.
“Knock ‘em dead buddy”
You and Laf are the first to walk down the aisle, side by side. You catch Laura’s eye, you think she mouths ‘Hot Damn’, you just wink in return. Once you’re stood at the altar, you can see Laf’s hands shaking, but they soon stop when Laf sets their eyes on Perry. She opted for a dress, pristine white of course. Laced bodice and a train that just touched the floor. She was beautiful.
The ceremony was magical. You rarely tear up in front of people, but you can’t help yourself. Laf and Perry’s personal vows were nothing short of perfect. Throughout the ceremony, you can’t help glancing at Laura. God, you love Laura. One day, you hope to be standing up here with her. Not any day soon, but some day. Laura catches your eye again, she smiles at you and you smile back. Yeah, you’re gonna marry her.
Once the ceremony is over, the tables were set up quickly, as guests got caught up in conversations and drinks. Dinner is peppered with laughter, stories and talk of the future. After dinner, the tables and chairs were cleared to make room for dancing. Mattie had got a jazz band who played modern songs with a jazz twist, the guests loved it. Laura grabbed your hand and whirled you onto the dance floor. You and Laura laugh and dance together until your feet are aching.
“Laura, I’m glad I met you. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed myself at all if you weren’t here” You’re slow dancing to a bluesy slow version of ‘Crazy in Love’.
“I’m glad I’m here to. I love Laf and Perry, and of course I love you. It’s better than I could have ever imagined.” You lift your head off of her shoulder, kissing her on the cheek, you keep kissing her until you find her lips.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Mattie’s voice rings through the park. “If you’d all like to gather around, so I don’t have to shout as loud” There’s a light chuckle from the guests as they surround Mattie.
“I have a surprise for the happy couple!” Laf and Perry exchange a confused expression and look at Mattie with slight concern.
“It’s alright darlings, it’s nothing hideous” Mattie throws her hands up and laughs.
“Alright lack wits, grab a blanket from one of the waiting staff and make your way up the hill. Try and keep it a blanket per 2” You yell from the back of the group of people.
A low murmur spreads through the guests, as the mystery of the surprise hasn’t become clearer. They collected their blankets and followed you up the hill, the sun has just set, so you’re using a torch to find your way through the park.
Laf and Perry were last up the hill, wrapped together in a blanket, happy but still confused.
“Mattie what is going on?” Laf finally asks.
“What better way to end a wedding than fireworks?” Mattie raises an eyebrow as a firework flies up into the sky and lights up their faces in a rainbow of colour.
“WOOOW” the crowd collectively gape at the sky.
“You’re welcome” Mattie says winking at the newlyweds.
Once the fireworks are well under way you try and find Laura in the crowd. Once you spot her, you wrapping your arms around her waist and resting your chin on her shoulder. You feel her ease into your touch. This is it, you have to ask her. You know it’s way too early to even be considering this, but you when you know, you know.
“Laura, can I ask you something?” Dropping your arms from her waist. Laura turns to face you.
“Of course Carm” She says tucking strands of your hair behind your ear. You look down, breathe and look Laura in the eye.
“Will you marry me?”
Laura is surprised by the question and you feel like running down the hill and never looking back.
“Look. I don’t want to get married tomorrow, hell I don’t want to get married in a year. I just want to be engaged to you, I want to introduce you to people as my fiancé. You’re more than a girlfriend to me Laura, and I know it’s too soon to actually get married.”
“Carm, I’ll say yes on one condition” She hasn’t broken eye contact with you once. Her face has cracked into a smile.
“Anything”
“Move in with me?”
You laugh, that was maybe the next logical step before getting engaged. You’re an idiot.
“Of course I will.” You kiss her and it’s just as magical as your first. The fireworks are still exploding in the sky above you. They’re lighting up the sky and your faces as you kiss in electric colours. It’s perfect.