I hate comparing non running things to marathons and marathon training. It makes even less sense these days because I’m not running (like, at all).

The days leading up to the wedding are the opposite of the taper. Rather than spend less time on the wedding prep, I’m spending more. There’s calls, itineraries to tweak, appointments to make, vendors to confirm details and arrival times with, items to pick up from Costco and Smart & Final, etc. Granted, I’m not doing any of these things alone thanks to our amazing family, friends and Carmen, our wedding coordinator.

Still, like with an actual taper, I find I have more free time — mainly because I’m on vacation. Yesterday I spent a good chunk of the afternoon after I got my nails done (and messed up while trying to get lunch together) reading Junot Díaz’s new collection of stories, This Is How You Lose Her. There’s some irony there, I think. But damn, Díaz is an amazing writer. I stopped reading because I didn’t want to finish it all in one sitting. I felt like I should be doing something but things are checked off on our to-do list.

More similarities:

• Getting a massage on the Thursday before.
• Trying to eat well and get more rest.
• Staying off my feet and staying hydrated.
• Lots of hand sanitizer and other precautions to avoid catching a late summer cold.
• Getting my day-of clothes and food sorted out beforehand.
• Reading recaps for some inspiration, ideas and tips.
• Freaking out about the weather.
• Lots of prep and waiting around before the actual show begins.
• Thinking a lot about the music I want to listen to on the day-of.
• Rehearsal is like an expo, right?

Differences:

• I’ll be wearing a totally new outfit.
• I’ll have much better photos.
• No awful tanlines.

Okay, I need to run some errands and try and stay cool.

There’s a few things we’re second guessing these days.

The first is doing a sorta DIY wedding. Our venue is bring-your-own with pretty much everything except tables, chairs and ice. This was a big plus for us, especially when it came to alcohol. Buying beer and wine ourselves and hiring our own bartender was much more budget friendly than going with an in-house service. Fast forward 14 months and we’re grumbling about loading up boxes of wine, cases of water and soda, and picking up kegs. Now we know why they charge so much more… convenience! Duh. Oh well, at least we gave ourselves time to plan this out and have help.

The second is a wedding in September. Last summer was nice and mild. I barely needed to use my fan. I even wrote about the weather making training for an October marathon much easier. That was last year and 2010 as well. This summer has been so much hotter and humid with a thunderstorm every other week.

The highs in Palms and Westwood for the past seven weeks — maybe more — have been in the upper 80s and 90s. It’s worse farther east in Hacienda Heights and Brea, the ceremony and reception locations. I’m worried a high of 97 degrees (!) will kill the party mood. I’ve been to summer weddings where I didn’t feel like dancing because it was too hot. Then I was wearing a short dress. I’m not sure how comfortable I’ll be in a long wedding gown. Ugh. I know how I get in the heat. I get cranky and sweat a lot. I’m not one of those women who “glows.” I sweat just putting on my wedding dress indoors. I am glad we didn’t choose a park location for post ceremony photos and that there is air conditioning at both locations.

While Hacienda Heights will be hot on the 15th, I’m still very happy to be getting married there. It wasn’t enough to be listed in Sunday’s church bulletin. During the announcements, Father Ricky asked the assembly to say a blessing for us in our final days of preparation. I couldn’t help but cry as he recounted the first meeting back in July. “Cindy told me she wanted to get married here despite the fire because it was her home. I was really touched by that,” he said. I meant it then. SJV has always felt like home with so many familiar faces. I definitely felt that sense of community with so many people praying for us in our home for now, the interim tent church.

And yeah, it is air conditioned.

I’ve been hearing the following questions from friends, family members, co-workers.

Are you excited?
Yes, but more nervous.

Why are you not freaking out?!
‘Cause I’m freaking out about work. (This was more the case two weeks ago as there was a lot to do in the last week of the summer programs.)

Are you freaking out?
Actually, no one asks me this. Sean gets this question.

Do you have everything ready?
No. All the “big stuff” is generally done, but there are still plenty of things on the to-do list. Fortunately, we have plenty of people to help and enough time. I thought I’d want to take the whole week off from work, but went in on Monday.

Do you have your dress?
Of course. I’ve had it since early June.

I don’t remember exactly when we came up with the bet. I might have been talking about walking down the aisle.

“You’re totally going to cry when you see me.”

He disagreed.

I argued again. “Nope, I won’t cry. It’ll mess up my makeup!”

Again, he shook his head thinking he wouldn’t need to use the handkerchief in his pocket all day unless it was to dab away sweat.

Since we’re both a bit competitive, we decided to bet on it. The winner gets bragging rights and something else to be decided.

The rules:
Tears caught when we’re getting ready (e.g. reading a note) don’t count
We must both be present

The outlook:
Sean thinks he has an edge being a guy and all. Plus, he knows I get emotional rather easily (see: Toy Story 3) and am not afraid to show tears in public. The site of our wedding is particularly meaningful to me as I grew up in the church and will be surrounded by people I’ve known my entire life, many whom attended my parents’ wedding 35 years ago. I also have to contend with my parents. If they cry — and they will, I know it — I’ll lose it.

Then there’s music, my emotional weakness. There are songs I can’t get through without crying. The music director/organist suggested one of those songs (“Pescador de Hombres”) for Communion during the Mass. I vetoed it immediately. I love the song, but I associate it with Grandpa Bartolo’s passing. A few months after he died, my dad told me Grandpa requested the song on his deathbed. Dad and my tío Johnny sang it for him. I’m blinking back tears as I write this. See!

I can control the tears if it’s about vanity (messing up my makeup) or I have greater concerns. I did it during the final miles of my first LA Marathon. I remembered my sister’s words when I got emotional thinking of my uncle and grandparents. I knew tears and a runny nose would affect my breathing, slow me down and be an unnecessary distraction. If I concentrate on my makeup and the bet I can win.

If Sean can hold back until the father/daughter dance, he’ll likely win. Maybe I should change the song or follow Grandpa Bartolo’s lead. He wore dark shades at his sons’ and daughters’ weddings.