Kids, Cake, and Candles

While being a wedding DJ, the stories grow quickly. This is one about an outdoor wedding with some under-fed over zealous children.

On a sunny Saturday, late afternoon, I was set up as guests arrived. I was working with a familiar crew at Affordable Katering from Orange, CA. (A classy and professional outfit.) The crowd was arriving, bringing with them a slightly above average number of children in the 2-7 year old range. The flowers were in bloom, and this house converted into an outdoor wedding garden type facility was decorated to the hilt, but still tastefully.

The children, recognizing the tuxedo I was wearing and the similar attire of the Katering team kept approaching us asking when we were going to eat. The kids were led by the same 6 year old boy each time, travelling in their "pack." He kept asking, "When are we gonna eat?" The answer from the Katerer was "Soon." Ten minutes later he'd ask again, "When are we gonna eat?" The reply was again, "Soon." After the third asking, the Katerer's frustration was showing with her reply, "We may not eat if you keep asking." At this response, the child's reaction turned from concern for his own survival to a look of opportunity.

Within 5 minutes we spotted him over at the cake table. He was standing in front of the table with his hands fumbling around his pockets and then around each other. As fast as a 6 year old could move, he spun around, planted his hands on the cake table, and pushed himself up off the ground applying his whole weight onto his hands. This propelled him off the ground and in the direction of the cake topper. He opened his jaws, and in a second motion took a bite out of the second tier of the cake, landed, and was off running away to digest his mouth load of sugary delight.

Now, the Katerer and I were the only two people in tune to the actions prior to this, and the act itself. We casually slipped over to the cake table, and rotated the entire cake so none of the guests would see the carnage left behind by the cake demon of 6 years. The rest of the food service went unscathed by this child or any, but the decorations weren't so lucky.

In this outdoor garden, consisting of a gazebo and two picnic like shelters, there were numerous elevated gardens surrounded by benches made of decorative stone. The Katerers were in charge of lighting the votive candles that led from the different structures to the reception area and over to the dance floor. As the one tuxedo clad, ignitor bearing staffer moved along lighting the votives, there was a small child about 4 steps behind, practicing for their next birthday. Because, that's what you do on your birthday, is blow out candles.

Regards,

Mr. Plaid.