here comes the bride

so i went shopping for wedding dresses yesterday with my soon-to-be hubby's maternal cousin-- she's one of my bridesmaids. she's really funny, sweet, but also has a sharp tongue that keeps me in stitches. since my dearest is an only child, she's practically a sister to him.

we headed out in the afternoon, hit the store and combed through the racks, picking up dresses by the armful. there's nothing like shopping for clothes, a dress in particular, that makes every woman confront her self-decided not-so-stellar parts of her body. i had ruled out strapless dress outright for that very reason, but with her urging, i ended up trying on a bunch of styles, including strapless, and i was pleasantly surprised.

a couple of things, if you don't normally go shopping for wedding dresses every day. not every dress is pretty. in fact, wedding dresses are just like any other piece of clothing in that there are some hideous, hideous fashions out there.

but i actually had FUN on this excursion. and even when she asked me about where we planned to register and other wedding details, i didn't get that pit of the stomach feeling like i usually do--the way i feel when women drone on about where they bought their shoes or weigh how serious the rule is of not wearing white after Labor Day (bor-ring!).

the truth is, when you're a woman and you get married, you're queen for a day. you get to wear a gorgeous dress and have all eyes on you. oh, and by the way, i'm completely enchanted with veils. i'd like to get a really long one. i figured that out from a bridal show that me and my friend went to last month. (below)




this was at a downtown hotel and they gave out little VIB stickers-- very important bride-- and a basement ballroom was packed with bride-to-be's trying to stock up on free stuff. i'm still suspect of the wedding industrial complex, but that bridal show has lots of good information, and a fashion show that gave me some helpful ideas. and then yesterday, when i found a couple of dresses that looked kind of ok, possibly even flattering (but not blown away, THE dress is still out there) i kinda thought this is what it's all about. this is the fun part. i'm here, shopping for dresses b/c i'm getting MARRIED. not everyone does this.

and even though there were other brides in the store, that didn't matter. it hit me that i was doing something extraordinary that had nothing to do with my job, or school, the usual levers of success. this is the reward for falling in love. i'll take my crown now, please.