Usually a Bridesmaid, Finally a Bride

It's really been a crazy month. At the end of December, one of my dearest and oldest girlfriends announced her engagement. But, instead of doing it how most girls plan their dream wedding to be, she told us she was headed to Vegas. I was very happy about this because she had told me a while back that if she got pregnant, they would just run off to Vegas and get married. So I am half thinking baby, but the smarter side of me said no baby just wedding. Wedding is just fine with me anyway. We were also told that we couldn't go. This was to be private, just for the two of them, but we would get to watch the wedding on the web by a camera in the church at the Chapel. On the one hand I was very upset, but on the other hand I was relieved of wedding duties, such as being a bridesmaid. I have done this Three times and it wasn't all I thought is was cracked up to be. It is so much easier to be a guest.
I remember the first wedding I was in. It was my husband's brothers wedding. I was never in a wedding before and thought it would be a lot of fun. So when Pat's brother Sean told me the girl he was dating,Erin, was the one, I started working on Erin to make sure I would have a spot in the wedding. This was going to be tough because Erin had about a zillion sisters. Not to mention that Patra, Pat's sister, was a definate shoe in because she was the only sister Pat and Sean had. I was going to have to work for my spot. Work I did. I would make little comments to Erin in a Joking but serious way "You know if you and Sean decide to get married I will be available to be a bridesmaid" She always thought it was funny. I continued to make my comments for about a year. Guess what? I got a spot! I was the last one in the line-up, but I didn't really care. I did it. I deserved it after all the effort I put into it.
The next wedding I was in was my brother Patrick's wedding. I didn't have to work hard at that one because I was the only sister. Thank God because I don't think I would have had the same energy to needle Devon about being a bridesmaid as I did for Erin. Why am I saying thank God? Its a lot of work being a bridesmaid. Quite frankly, I don't think I am the bridesmaid type. At this point too, I am getting older and it just looks stupid. After it was over, I was happy to have been given the honor to be in the wedding. I was also happy it was over.
The last wedding I was in was my youngest Brother Michael's wedding. Again, I am the only sister. Now that I'm thinking about it, I am glad I only have two brothers because this could have gone on forever! Michael and Michelle had a beautiful wedding also. Regan was in this wedding too. I remember Michelle told Regan she could wear whatever bridesmaid dress she wanted, but the only stipulation was the color had to match her dress. Regan went nuts. She tryed on at least 10 dresses. The one she really wanted, I said no to. Not only was the price very high, it was fancier than the brides dress. Michelle is very simple. Regan is not. The more hoochy and glamarous and sparkly, the better the outfit in Regan's eyes. It's funny because Regan is more about comfort and active wear, but when it comes to dressing up, she is all about the hooch. Needless to say, we got the simple dress for Regan.
My 3 sister-in-laws had these fancy weddings and receptions and my girlfriend Missy had a very simple wedding. You know what? I think I lean toward the simple myself. My wedding should have been an indication of that. Although I didn't really have a choice. Pat and I did everything sort of backwards. We lived in sin for quite a while before both families put the pressure on to get married. I was too busy to plan a wedding. I was in school for Radiology and my schedule was horrible. I didn't have time to plan a wedding. I was immune to the parental pressure. Pat wasn't. He kept pushing me to plan this big wedding. I really wanted no part of it. Honestly, I wasn't even really sure if we should get married. This went on for a few months and finally Pat came home and said "If you don't plan it, I'm going to." I thought to myself "Yeah, right." Of course, planning a wedding was the last thing on my mind. A few weeks later, Pat walked through the door and said "We are getting married on Thursday at the courthouse. If your not there, it's over." It went something like that. I guess I was in a little bit of shock. Now I have to get a damn dress withing 3 days. (To be cont..........)