The morning started like any other—chaotic. Avery, now fully mobile and increasingly curious, was crawling around the living room while Alessia attempted to juggle wedding planning and entertaining her daughter. Swatches of fabric, invitation samples, and a wedding binder were spread across the coffee table. Avery, however, had no interest in the carefully arranged items.
“Sweetheart, no,” Alessia said, scooping Avery up just as she reached for a stack of RSVP cards. “These are not toys.”
Avery giggled, her tiny hands clapping as if she found her mother’s distress amusing. Alessia sighed, setting her daughter down with a sippy cup of milk and some soft toys to distract her.
“Okay, where was I?” she muttered to herself, flipping through the binder. “Catering, flowers, seating charts—oh God, the seating charts.”
She was deep in thought when a sudden splash and giggle broke her focus. Turning around, her eyes widened in horror as she saw Avery gleefully tipping her sippy cup over, milk spilling onto the rug and pooling around the coffee table legs.
“Avery!” Alessia exclaimed, rushing to grab the cup. Avery simply giggled, looking up at her mom with an innocent grin.
At that moment, Theo walked into the room, carrying two cups of coffee. He stopped mid-step, taking in the scene: Avery sitting in a puddle of milk, Alessia frantically dabbing at the rug with a kitchen towel, and wedding chaos strewn everywhere.
“Well,” he said, setting the coffees down, “it looks like a tornado hit.”
Alessia shot him a look. “Very funny, Theo. You try planning a wedding with a baby crawling around.”
Theo crouched down to pick up Avery, who immediately reached for his face. “Hey, princess,” he said, lifting her into the air. “Are you giving your mom a hard time?”
“She thinks spilling milk is the funniest thing ever,” Alessia muttered, throwing the soaked towel into the laundry basket. “Meanwhile, I’m drowning in to-do lists and deadlines. I can’t keep up with everything, Theo. It’s impossible.”
Theo straightened, balancing Avery on his hip as he walked over to Alessia. “Okay,” he said, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. “It’s clear you need help.”
“I don’t need help,” Alessia protested, though her voice lacked conviction. “I just need more hours in the day.”
Theo raised an eyebrow. “Alessia, you’re trying to manage wedding planning, take care of Avery, and still keep the house running. You’re a superhero, but even superheroes need a sidekick.”
She sighed, leaning back against the couch. “So what’s your brilliant idea, then?”
“I’m hiring a wedding planner,” Theo said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Alessia blinked. “A wedding planner?”
“Yes,” Theo replied. “Someone who can take all this off your plate. You’ll still have the final say on everything, but they’ll handle the logistics.”
“I don’t know,” Alessia said hesitantly. “It feels like admitting defeat.”
“It’s not defeat,” Theo said, sitting beside her and placing a hand on her knee. “It’s making sure you get to actually enjoy this process. You deserve that, Alessia.”
Avery chose that moment to babble loudly, as if agreeing with her dad. Alessia laughed despite herself, looking at Theo’s hopeful expression. “Alright,” she said finally. “You win. Let’s get a wedding planner.”
Two days later, Theo introduced Alessia to the wedding planner he’d hired—a chic, energetic woman named Claire, who arrived with a tablet in one hand and a notebook in the other.
“Alessia, it’s so nice to meet you,” Claire said, extending a hand. “Theo has told me all about your vision, and I’m here to make it a reality.”
Alessia shook her hand, feeling a mix of relief and skepticism. “Thanks for coming, Claire. I hope you’re ready for a challenge.”
Claire smiled confidently. “Challenges are my specialty.”
They sat at the dining table, where Alessia laid out her chaotic binder and began explaining her ideas. Claire listened intently, nodding and taking notes as Alessia spoke.
“So, a romantic, elegant theme with a touch of whimsy,” Claire summarized. “Pastel colors, fairy lights, and lots of fresh flowers. Got it.”
“Exactly,” Alessia said, feeling a spark of excitement. “But I also want it to feel intimate, not too over-the-top.”
“Leave it to me,” Claire said, tapping her tablet. “I’ll handle the vendors, timelines, and details. All you need to do is say yes or no.”
By the end of their first meeting, Alessia already felt lighter. Claire had set up consultations with florists, caterers, and even a decorator specializing in whimsical backdrops.
As Claire packed up to leave, she turned to Alessia. “One last thing—take some time for yourself. The stress will melt away once you let me handle the heavy lifting.”
After Claire left, Alessia turned to Theo, who was playing peek-a-boo with Avery on the living room floor. “Okay,” she admitted, “hiring her was a good idea.”
Theo grinned, scooping up Avery and walking over to Alessia. “Told you. Now you can focus on enjoying the process—and maybe get some sleep.”