Another energy came in and graced us for the entire four-day celebration that was Kara and Micah’s wedding—and not just the one that kept the rain at bay. Everyone felt that we were witnessing something bigger, better and more beautiful than we could’ve ever imagined.

As the mother of the bride, and one of many working behind the scenes, I experienced another kind of grace in the days leading up to the event. I was visited by many angels exactly when I needed them. They came bearing hammers, blow dryers and big bowls of panzanella and added another layer of love and magic to the entire experience.

On Thursday morning, I realized I’d forgotten to plan lunch for the bridesmaids before the wedding. So I called Hilary White, executive chef at The Hil, and asked if she could put together a luncheon in less than 48 hours. She replied, “Marie, I’ll take care of it. What time would you like it on Saturday?”

The food was Hilary at her best: beautiful, simple and full of the best ingredients. She sent a platter of grilled vegetables and chicken breasts, green salad with vinaigrette, two bowls of the most delicious panzanella I’ve ever eaten and fresh handmade apple turnovers. She truly went above and beyond.

***

 On Saturday, my house was Bridesmaid Central. Candy Shaw Codner from Jamison Shaw Hairdressers arrived at 11 a.m. with four assistants and set up three hair stations and two make-up stations complete with lighted mirrors and rollers in hotel pans. When Kara approached her about payment for her services, Candy—whose father did my wedding party’s hair and makeup years ago—said, “You can pay my assistants, but my time here is a gift to you and your family, all of whom have meant so much to me and my family over the years.”

***

When I ran the Farmhouse, Lori Corley and Joy Belyeu were my kitchen supervisors and the heart and soul of the operation. After years of working together, we got to that wonderful point where we understood each other’s needs and methods so well that we barely needed to speak. When 80 family members and the bridal party came to our house for dinner on that Thursday night, Lori and Joy completely took over. All they said was, tell us what you want then stay out of the kitchen and enjoy your party.

***

In the midst of all the planning, Quinn, Garnie and I were still dealing with Inn construction. On Thursday afternoon, Steve turned to me and said, “When are you putting up the art in the bar?” And I said, well, not tonight because we’re having 80 for dinner.

So I called Serenbe resident, and my best buddy Karen Fitzgerald first thing Friday morning and said, can you meet me at the Farmhouse in 5 minutes? She came on the run. I also rerouted a few workmen who were on their way out the door for the Labor Day weekend and we all spent the day hanging art.

Two more blessings

We host hundreds of weddings at Serenbe ever year and I always counsel brides to hire a wedding planner so that, when wedding day comes, they can take over so the bride can be the bride. Kerri was Kara’s lead person—her general in charge. On Thursday, a group text came in about some wedding detail and we all got a reply from Kara saying, I’ve handed everything over to Kerri. If you have any questions, please contact her. Thank you.

I just sat back and said wow. There’s a woman who has it all under control and has declared that she’s going to enjoy her wedding. And she did. Every second.

***

When we asked Kristin Genet, Serenbe resident and former set designer, to design Kara’s wedding, she cried. She was grateful that we trusted and had faith in her—and we were grateful to have her talented hands style the celebration.

When the wedding began, Steve and Kara walked through the woods and paused under the heart Kristin had made from recycled wood and hung. In that moment, the clouds opened up and the shone down directly on Kara. Everyone gasped.

There’s magic you can create and magic you can’t—and when the two come together it is, at least for this mama, the beautiful thing in the world.