Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 115: The Night Before

The rest of their week seems to pass in a blur. Everything about the wedding goes through its final checks and confirmations, and meanwhile, they try to stay focussed on work and not looking at each other too much while they're filming. They have a late shoot on Friday evening, needing to push through a silly Pit game one of the writers had come up with before the weekend. It's pushing 6pm by the time they finish, Garret calling a wrap from his directing position behind the cameras.

"Hey, it's the weekend!" Ian calls, in response, as they all start filtering out of their studio, "wonder if anything's on this weekend?"

"Oh, shut up," Courtney laughs, reaching forward to flick his back as she settles into step beside Shayne.

"Nah, I'm kidding guys. Big weekend. You excited?" he asks.

"Um, yeah," Shayne shoots back, emphatically, arm reaching out to settle around Courtney's shoulders as they all step back into the main office and pause, forming a loose circle.

"Oh, hey, Ian?" Courtney asks, grabbing his attention, "make sure you're looking good after the ceremony, because we can't have a Smosh family wedding photo without Smosh-Dad Ian."

"Oh I can definitely do that," Ian replies, all teasing falling from his face as he smiles widely.

They all collect their things and say their goodbyes, but there's a tinge of excitement buzzing through the air as, instead of their usual "see you next week", everyone says a "see you on Sunday".

The excited buzz follows Courtney and Shayne as they move through their own evening at home and the following Saturday morning, although for the most part, their time is routine. They pack bags for their honeymoon, so they're ready to leave for their flight early Monday morning, and Courtney packs a bag for when she will be taken to her Dad's place – they had, reluctantly, accepted that they would do the traditional thing and sleep apart the night before the wedding.

Late Saturday afternoon is their rehearsal, but they'd chosen to keep it as low-key as possible. They travel to the venue together, and while they're dressed a little nicer than they might usually, it's far from where their outfits will be tomorrow.

"Shayne, Courtney, so great to see you!" Jessie, their wedding planner, greets them out the front of the venue to lead them both inside. Their vendors have started setting up the bare bones of the ceremony and reception spaces for the next day, and Jessie quickly physically and verbally walks them through how the Sunday will flow for each of them, their bridal and grooms' parties slowly joining them as they go, plus their parents and a handful of partners and children of anyone involved in the actual ceremony.

They practice the processional up the – at this point, not fully decorated – aisle, Shayne and Dianne walking up to the officiant at the back of the space first. Damien follows, as Shayne's best man, and he is followed by the groomsmen and bridesmaids, and then Kari. Nathan follows Kari as ring bearer, holding the cushion he will the following day although this time with nothing on it, and their nieces walk in pairs behind him – without flowers, for the rehearsal.

Roger walks Courtney up the aisle, armed linked through hers as it will be the following day. Much the same, just like they have planned for Sunday, Roger smiles at Shayne but he gives no other interaction, simply stepping to the side and over to his seat in the front row as Courtney steps into place opposite Shayne. There is no handing over – they were determined to avoid that blatantly sexist imagery.

"Well, this is the rehearsal so I won't do the full thing, but this is where I'd say some things about how wonderful it is to have everyone here to celebrate the marriage of Shayne and Courtney," the officiant starts, standing to their sides, "and I also won't take you through the standard vows and I do stuff this time, but after I go through that is when I'll give you an opportunity to say what you'd like to, or if you'd like to say anything now?"