Chronicles of a Naked Sushi Model - Part II

We had 10 minutes to get me airbrushed, full make up on, ti leaves and flowers glued to my body, and sushi in place! With Alexia runway trained, I knew we could do it. I flung off my new dress I had purchased just for the reception (with matching colors!), and Alexia airbrushed my legs and arms with the reception design, whipped up my stage face, and I was out the dressing room door with a sheet wrapped around me by 7:48.

I laid down on the sushi table, the ti leaves and flowers were glued to my white body and over my lady parts, mass amounts of glitter were sprinkled on me, and the sushi was in place by 7:52. As I lay there with the air conditioning blowing directly down on my sushi covered body, I finally had a minute to realize...Am I really doing this? I cannot believe I’m doing this. I cannot believe I’m doing this. I have to do this! The bride is going to get her sushi model!

My bare feet faced the windows where the guests were to enter the reception area. Thoughts running through my head. Did I have a pedicure? Yes. Were my nails done? Check. Burr, it was cold! Don’t move-the sushi will fall.

As the guests lined up to enter the reception, I was their welcoming committee of sushi, plus one. I tried so hard to keep a straight face and not shiver so as to knock the carefully placed sushi off of my body. Whispers of, “Is she naked?” and “She’s not wearing any clothes!” were heard from various guests as they entered and I tried to maintain a straight face while looking at the ceiling. Everyone walked right past me.

The first brave guest came up to me after placing her belongings at her table. “Can we eat this?” she asked. That was when the Nyotaimori became interactive.

More guests began flocking around me, carefully plucking sushi from the ti leaves on my cold body with their chopsticks and fingers, for those not as skilled with their chopsticks. Flashes from the photographer above, “Look up here!” and from guests who politely stood back flashing away on their Blackberries, iPhones, and digital cameras. “I’m going to post this to my Facebook right now!” I hear. I think to myself, “Self, you are going to be all over the Internet and in the bride and groom’s wedding album they will cherish for the rest of their lives.” Wow. I cannot believe I’m doing this. But, the bride was going to get her model!

Women ask, “Have you done this before?” “No! My model was not going to get here on time, so I had to step in!” I reply. “Aren’t you cold?” “Yes!” I reply. “This is so great!” they say. “I’m so glad you like it!” I respond.

Men tentatively come up and carefully select their sushi bites. “Enjoy!” I say.

Wives take photos of their husbands plucking sushi from the ti leaves.

All the while, I am smiling, chit chatting, and relishing in my position as the guests are genuinely and thoroughly enjoying the wedding surprise. Flash, flash, flash go the cameras…