Never Again a Bridesmaid

Never Again a Bridesmaid

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride does not even begin to describe me. I have planned more weddings for friends in my hometown of Chicago, Illinois; I have lost count of them. I have somehow developed a reputation as the go to girl for wedding planning among my circle of friends. Truth be told, I kind of have it down to a science. Pick a theme and a color palette and you are off. From wedding flowers to the perfect wedding band, I have the whole thing wired. You want creative? I am your girl. Traditional is more your style? Look no further; I know just what to do. I grew very fond of my track record of beautifully planned weddings that went off flawlessly.

Then it happened, I finally met the guy, my own prince charming. What was even more amazing is that he asked me to marry him and I said yes. It was finally happening for me, I was going to be the bride and wear the pretty white dress and carry the best flowers. Of course my wedding would be perfect – after all, I had successfully planned so many weddings – some for true ‘bridezilla’s’ – that planning my own would be a snap. I bought a binder, a bunch of bridal magazines and set down to work.

That is where the trouble began. Each time I found a bridal gown or wedding cake I liked, I would realize I had used something similar in someone else’s wedding. I began to obsess about making my wedding unique. I could not use any of the DJ’s in town – they would play the same reception music that was played at all the wedding I had planned. My wedding reception venue could not be the same as anyone else’s. Even picking my dress became an ordeal as I realized just how similar bride’s dresses really are.

I could not believe it – I had turned into Bridzilla myself. My wedding plans were going nowhere – I had not even chosen my bridesmaids, let alone by bridesmaids’ dresses. How could I have sunk so low? I did not know what to do; I finally asked seven friends who I had helped plan particularly flawless weddings, for help.

With a pat on my hand and a “don’t you worry,” they were off. I had little to do with the wedding plans from that point on.  I was only asked to pick a bridal gown at a local bridal shop. My only other chore was to show up.

The wedding my friends planned for me was simply amazing. Each previous bride I had helped took responsibility for one of the following:   the wedding flowers, reception music, the wedding cake, bridesmaids’ dresses, the wedding reception venue, the wedding photography and the wedding band. What was neat is that they used the same idea or theme that I had used for their own wedding. You would think it would have ended up a mess, with themes ranging from beach weddings to Vegas, but somehow, they made it all work. I will never forget my beautiful not a bridesmaid wedding!