Hi, my name’s Kate Ludlow. I’m a wedding planner in my hometown of Eastbury, Connecticut. I grew up here and love this little town. I live with my daughter, Ellis and my little dachshund, Chloe. Ellis’ dad, my ex, lives in California, but there are rumors he’s transferring for a job promotion back east. Nice for Ellis, not so much for me.

There is no such thing as a typical day for me – I think that’s why I love wedding planning. Every day offers something fun, unusual, or challenging. Today is a wedding day. This means I will be on my feet twelve plus hours; fix problems I didn’t see coming, no matter how extensively I planned, enjoy a delicious meal, and visit with my vendor friends. Oh, and pull off a perfect wedding.

I set my alarm for 5:00 AM and stumble down the stairs of my historic home in search of the nectar of the gods, coffee. I dress in a pair of chinos, a polo with my company’s logo embordered on the front and a pair of All Bird sneakers. Don’t worry, I’ll change into a proper dress before the ceremony.

I usually work alone in the orchestrating of an event, unless the guest list is over two hundred, then I hire an assistant. I have a two-hour drive today, so I stash my ‘bride bag’ read ‘a bag which contains everything for a wedding emergency in it except a new wedding dress,’ and my lunch into my trusty suburban.

While I drive to the venue, luckily both ceremony and reception are in the same location, no separate church wedding today, I field calls from everyone including a nervous bride when her hair and make-up people were five minutes late. It’s going to be a long day.

I finally arrive at the venue and am met in the parking lot by a frenzied caterer. She was on site at 5:00 AM this morning to put the barbeque on the smoker. Yes, today’s event has a country theme. I like to arrive a half hour before my first vendor’s arrival, but not when they begin at 5:00 AM! The bakery has delivered the cake early and it now needs to be refrigerated. She had originally agreed to deliver the cake thirty minutes before the ceremony. The baker must have a delivery issue…someone called in sick?

I told Bess, the caterer, to take a breath. I’d re-organize the industrial size refrigerator so the cake will fit. Could I? Well, I actually wasn’t sure. But the most important thing about being a wedding planner was to calm nerves and instill confidence in everyone from the bride to the family to the vendors.

I had just made the space in the frig for the cake, when I got a frantic text from the bride that she had forgotten the groom’s wedding ring at the hotel where they were staying for the weekend.

No worries I texted. I’d look through my wedding VIP contacts and send a groomsman to get it. What else could go wrong today? I took a deep breath of my own. At least I haven’t found a dead body like I had at the last wedding, I thought.

The groomsman was dispatched for the ring when I got a text from my daughter, Ellis.

Mooooommmm! I think Jake is going to ask Penelope to the prom and not me!

Oh, boy. This was not good… We will talk when I get home tonight. I responded.

Wedding Day or not, I was always a mother.

Wedding Bride And Doom, A Wedding Planner Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: August 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

California wedding planner, Kate Ludlow, moves back home to New England after her marriage implodes. In tow is her teen daughter Ellis, unhappy and nervous about the move. Suddenly, Kate’s responsible for turning her part-time wedding planner gig into a full-time business. Kate’s off to a good start, too, when she books the society wedding of the year. The prosperity of her business is dependent on the success of Marcy Simpson’s wedding. The joy of an unlimited wedding business is intoxicating. But when Kate’s best florist is murdered, her focus changes from pulling off the year’s most glamourous wedding, to saving her own skin—for Kate’s suspect number one for the murder. Further complicating her life, Kate’s old high school flame, Brian McAllister, is the police detective assigned to the murder case. The spark is definitely not gone from their connection, as they have unfinished feelings. Throw in a scavenger hunt for an antique missing family ring, the job transfer of Kate’s ex to New England, and quirky and endearing townsfolk, Kate has more than she can handle—almost.

Meet the author
Mary Karnes, a college English major and former teacher, is the mother of four who raised her family though six corporate moves. She always dreamed of being an author and dabbled with writing throughout the years. Once the children were grown and out of the house, she started a wedding planning business, while simultaneously chasing her dream of being a traditionally published author. Her ‘Wedding Planner Mystery Series’ was born, with her business providing delicious subject matter for her books.

Mary resides in New England with her husband, Ken, and her mini-dachshund, Lucky. Her door is a revolving one with her children and grandchildren visiting frequently.

All comments are welcomed.