Valerie (or Val, as we like to call her) is a lovely Irish lass. We’re almost the same age. Val was my stage manager for Little Shop of Horrors. We go skiing together every year. She moved down to Malaga this year to work in an event managment company. She has since moved back to Barcelona to set up her very own company. Tonight, Jan and I invited Val over for dinner and to talk weddings – Val is our wedding planner.
I had assumed I would plan the whole shabang myself – hey, if I can plan a major musical I should be able to plan a wedding, right? Well, in the next six months I will be simultaneously planning a wedding, the new play I’m directing, and a trip with another theatre company (as actor and producer) to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. So when Val told us that she was planning on moving back to Barcelona, I immediately knew she was the right gal for the job. I asked her if she would be interested in helping us and she jumped at the chance. Thank goodness!
This was our very first “meeting” and Val came prepared. She brought us detailed info and photos of dozens of beautiful wedding venues in and around Barcelona. I particularly liked the giant atrium restaurant in Parc de la Ciutadella and the country house in the mountains just 20 minutes up the coast with the large lawn and views of the sea.
Now that we’ve more or less got our budget determined, we’re going to start visiting all these wonderful places this week and hopefully have something booked (and a date set) in the next couple weeks. We all agree that once we have the venue and the catering sorted, the rest will be a piece of cake (pun intended).
Hey Josh- speaking of you directing things, I have a question. If one were a playwright, with a very good resume (Kennedy Center awards, etc), and some good plays, would you be interested in reading some scripts? (I have a friend who is this playwright and I thought I’d play middleman in the networking web. E-mail me if you want more info?)
I am always interested in reading new (and quality) plays. Send ’em my way! Who knows? They may just end up on the Barcelona stage next season.
marli-
meron, right?
josh-
good luck and i sure as hell hope the whole family can make it!
As one who likes weddings, I have always said that the best are those at which you know both the bride and groom (being extremely fond of them both is a plus as well). And the wedding planner too! Not to put you on the spot, but I just hope that I will be fortunate enough to witness some part of your assured to be glorious nuptials. Happy planning.
Please PLease PLease keep us all posted on the date ASAP so we can get our plane tickets at a good price.
Trust me: nobody wants to know the date more than we do. We’ll hopefully have it all set in the next week or two. That should give you a sweet 5.5 months to book a flight. No sweat.
Hey Josh, this is Val’s friend Gill(formerly of Barca now of Dublinium). Just want to wish you and Jan the best and most fabulous wedding/marriage/life. As you well know, it will be in excellent hands! Having known Val for nigh on 23(aargghhh!!!!) years I certainly know of her capability and kindness. You’ll have a blast.