Preparing for a wedding

Many months ago when I first took the reservation for this weekend's wedding, I knew it would take extra preparation. We are going to be in Gloucester, and will cross the bridge from the boulevard over to Stage Fort Park for the ceremony. Locals will know that means crossing the drawbridge called "the cut", a place where pleasure boats come through from the Annisquam side of town and head out past the Eastern Point light into the ocean. I have been to the bridge now several times with Curley, once parked there so he could listen to the sound of the tires on the metal grid bridge while eating treats, and another time to actually walk him across. You can see the water through the grid below. I expect we will be fine with our helper, Wendy, at Curley's head as she was during our prep visit.
The carriage is clean, the harness has been polished, the decorations attached t the carriage, our dress shoes polished. There still remains the time consuming task of cleaning Curley, which we have to wait to do on Saturday, along with loading everything onto the trailer. I am excited!!

This evening I did a beautiful lantern lit ride for a couple who were celebrating their anniversary. Although it was a very hot day, and there is a law prohibiting working when the temp is over 90, I knew we would be okay doing the after dinner, 8:30 ride. My timing for the evening, which was standard for a ride in Salem, went like this:
4:30, drive to the farm, hitch the trailer onto the truck and set up the snacks for Curley's rolling feast.
5:00, walk down the lane to the pasture, fetch Curley, and walk back to the farm, grazing a bit along the way.
5:40 shower my very hot and dirty horse- he will blow dry on the way to Salem in the trailer.
6:30 arrive in Salem, park at Crombie Street and walk around to my garage to open and set up the carriage while Curley waits in the trailer. Walk him around to the garage and stop to visit the people who are so happy to have a horse walking past their house, pose for photos.
7:00 begin harnessing and putting on Curley's boots for work, dress myself in driver's attire.
8:00 Hitch to the carriage, begin the trip to Pickering Wharf for my pick up.
8:30 meet my couple and share a pleasant hour's ride in the peaceful evening streets.
9:45, arrive back at the garage, unhitch and push the carriage back into its bay. Take harness off Curley and wipe it down with saddle soap as it gets put away.
10:20 back to the trailer for the trip home
11:10 arrive back in Rockport, walk Curley back down the lane to his field, walk (it's a half mile) back to the truck in the moonlight and stillness of the night. Park trailer in its spot, unhitch from the truck.
12:00 home to the apartment.
This is why a reservation costs $150. I love doing all these steps, but not enough to put in close to six hours work for less than that.
I am so grateful to the Ferrys, who chose to celebrate their 10th anniversary with dinner out and a carriage ride.