//------------------------------//
// Happily Ever After, Checklist Never Ending, Part 1 
// Story: The Rustic and The Romantic 
// by TheLastBrunnenG 
//------------------------------//

Wedding Planner’s Journal, Volume 1, Phases I, II, and III

HRH/PC T. Sparkle, coordinator.

Phase I, T minus 9 months

BUDGET. The budget for this event is to be flexible. Traditionally the bride’s father pays for the wedding, while the groom’s family handles the reception plus attire for the groom and groomscolts. In this case the bride’s father is of modest means while Rarity herself is somewhat wealthy though highly (and quietly) generous with her funds. The main complicating factor is the fact that there are two brides and no groom, although the Applejack’s Mare of Honor insists that “we all know Applejack is the husband here.”

DATE AND VENUE. Applejack has volunteered Sweet Apple Acres as a venue and Rarity has agreed, though the ceremony will take place in the open field surrounding the South Orchard and not within the orchard itself; AJ insists that her family would not be tempted to skip the ceremony and start Applebuck Season early but Rarity disagreed. AJ relented. Date is to be two weeks prior to Hearth's Warming Eve to coincide with other family gatherings.

GUEST LIST. A preliminary guest list has been submitted to both parties. The Apple side has notably more members in its extended family; Rarity has invited a number of Canterlot and Manehattan colleagues and business associates to balance the list. Note to self: certain of her invitees may attract paparazzi; post security at the orchard gates.

OFFICIANT. Luna has volunteered to officiate. Celestia also volunteered, given that the wedding will feature all six bearers of the Elements of Harmony in one place. However, she deferred to Luna in the end, noting that the experience would help reacquaint her sister with certain Royal duties. Privately she confided to me, “Luna hasn’t done this in about three thousand years. This should be fun!”

WEDDING PARTY. Applejack’s Mare of Honor (she demands I call her “Best Mare”) will be Rainbow Dash. Her bridesmare will be Applebloom. Rarity’s Mare of Honor will be Fluttershy and her bridesmare will be Sweetie Belle. Both of the brides declined to select additional bridesmaids. Rarity’s father will give her away and Big Mac will do the same for Applejack. Scootaloo and Babs Seed will serve as flowergirls. Pinkie Pie will probably be tapped for catering and party planning while Fluttershy will handle the music arrangements. Shining Armor and Cadance were invited but could not attend because of prior commitments in the Crystal Empire. They sent their sincerest regrets; Shining promised that their wedding gift would be “out of this world.”

CO-ORDINATOR. That would be me! This was my suggestion, actually. Rarity and AJ each invited me to be a bridesmare, but as Luna would otherwise be occupied, and because rationally there was no pony better suited to the job, I volunteered to direct the event instead. With my expertise in planning and list-making, what could possibly go wrong?

Phase II, T minus 6 months

ATTIRE. Rarity has volunteered to make all the bridal wear. She says she’s had her own dress made since she was twelve.

GIFT REGISTRY. I expect many guests will bring presents, especially those from out of town, but Rarity and Applejack requested that donations be made to charity in lieu of gifts. Fancy Pants heard about the wedding third-hand and has already contacted me about his gift plans; his donation alone will probably set records, though he asked that I arrange the transfer anonymously. “It’s what Rarity would do in my place,” he told me, and he’s absolutely correct.

TRANSPORTATION. As Celestia will not be attending, she offered the use of a Royal carriage with a team of her personal guards. They will also serve as gate guards at the reception and ceremony. Luna offered the use of a squad of Night Guards and her personal carriage, which was last seen in Ponyville on Nightmare Night. I declined on the couple’s behalf, as “bat-winged terrors” didn’t seem to match the decor. Luna seemed genuinely insulted and it was all I could do to calm her down; I apologized but I suspect it’ll take more than kind words to wring forgiveness out of her. Could be painful. Could be fun. Hopefully both.

HONEYMOON PLAN. We’ve already had offers from both princesses to use various Royal properties, as well as from Cadance and Shining. Speaking of Fancy Pants, though, his “companion” Fleur offered Rarity and AJ use of her chateau for a week. She barely knows them, except distantly through Fancy, so I wonder what drove the offer? In any event, Rarity accepted; AJ relented despite the word ‘chateau’ alone sounding too frou-frou for her tastes, though I suspect she’ll change her mind when she sees the wine country hills of Prance in the late Autumn.

ENTERTAINMENT AND SERVICES. Fluttershy will co-ordinate the music and will provide her usual superb avian chorus. Pinkie volunteered Vinyl Scratch for DJ duties but AJ and Rarity politely declined. Vinyl offered to “hook us up” with Octavia Philharmonica instead, assuming Octavia has forgiven us for the Grand Galloping Gala incident(s). Several of Applejack’s relatives have volunteered to play as well, and Rarity reluctantly agreed, on the condition that fiddles and banjos not be allowed to play during the ceremony. 

CATERING. Pinkie Pie accepted the couple’s invitation to be party planner and co-caterer, backed by the Cakes. Catering duties will be shared with the Apple clan. The Apples will handle the reception and the sit-down meal while Pinkie and the Cakes will supply the cake, desserts, and appetizers. Pinkie says she’s already done planning since she’s been expecting this wedding for at least three years. Can ‘Pinkie Sense’ even do that?

Phase III, T minus 4 months

GUEST LIST. The Apples from Manehattan have all RSVP’d positively but the Oranges haven’t replied at all. I sent letters, invitations, I even couriered a package to them, and still there’s no response. They’re there, it’s just… Applejack specifically asked me to get them to attend, and if I can’t, she’ll be crushed.

INVITATION SELECTION. Rarity demanded lace inserts and hoof-written calligraphy. AJ relented only after several mugs of hard cider.

MEET WITH OFFICIANT. This could have gone worse. AJ and Rarity are more nervous now than ever! I do credit my wife a great deal, however. Luna has been dutifully studying modern Equestrian customs, and I’m so proud of how far she’s come. I only wish she’d read a little about performing mare-mare weddings, which is odd given that she’s married to a mare. I don’t blame her; our ceremony was a blur to me too. Still, Celestia’s probably laughing her flank off at the thought of Luna handling pre-marital counseling!

Phase IV, T minus 2 months – see Wedding Planner’s Journal, Volume 2.