I clink my champagne flute against hers gently. “I’m down with that. I’d rather no one except me saw him in his underwear ever again.”
Chelsea gives me a wink and a one-armed hug. “I’m so happy for you. I know it’s not easy for you to let people in, but you’re one of my best friends and I just want you to be as happy as I am.”
My lip feels a little wobbly as I hug her back. “Thank you, Chelsea. I’m happy for you too.”
“Good!” Chelsea wipes away a rogue tear before straightening her spine. “No more sappy stuff. Get ready and let’s go party.”
It takes forever but finally my long hair is curled, pinned, tucked, and sprayed into a style that I couldn’t hope to recreate in my lifetime. My stylist tucks a floral hairpiece with eucalyptus and roses into the design before declaring me done.
The makeup artists give all the bridesmaids soft smokey eyes and way too much foundation, blush, and bronzer to be healthy. The false eyelashes they put on us look amazing, but they are already starting to bug the hell out of me. Luckily, I manage to talk my makeup artist down on the contouring. She was coming at me with a contour stick like a woman on a mission and I was afraid Brooks was going to have a hard time recognizing me if she got her way.
We finally get to put on our dresses and help Chelsea into her wedding dress. She found a Maggie Sottero ivory silk gown with a sheer overlay covered in Art Deco style crystal beading. It’s 1920s princess in the front, but the open back screams sex appeal.
It’s perfect. It makes me wonder if Brooks and I will have a wedding like this. What would it be like to walk down the aisle and see him waiting for me?
The champagne is clearly going to my head. Shaking off the yearning thoughts, I slip into my bridesmaid dress. Thank god Chelsea has amazing taste. A less thoughtful bride might have frumped up her bridesmaids but Chelsea is nothing if not kind to her friends. She had Sally order each of us a forest green silk gown that is nothing short of sexy. The plunging neckline takes a little creative arranging but oh my god, is it worth it.
When it’s finally time to go downstairs, we collect our bouquets and follow Chelsea. We keep having to remind her to slow down because she’s so excited to get downstairs to Matt. It’s equal parts sweet and annoying because we are all terrified she’s going to trip on her dress and end up face first on the hotel floor. Sally and I end up hooking elbows on each side of her to keep her safe.
I can’t blame her for being so antsy. I’m dying to get back to Brooks and it’s not even my wedding. I’ve become so used to being near him all day. Now it sucks to be apart for so long.
The ballroom is set up for one hell of a party. Matt and Chelsea opted to have a quick ceremony at the beginning and just jump straight into the reception. Guests are already seated at their tables by the time we get downstairs.
We line up right outside the door, shepherded around by the wedding planner/ border collie in human form. One by one we walk up the aisle to the music, smiling at guests while focusing on the most important tasks: never lock your knees, and don’t faceplant in the aisle.
The ballroom is lit up with thousands of white Christmas lights. Fir trees are spread along the walls, decorated with more white lights and white and silver ornaments. The four bars are prepared with festive cocktails and there’s even a hot chocolate bar with every topping and stir in we could come up with. (Marshmallows made by yours truly.)
Brooks catches my eye as soon as I walk into the room, grinning at me from a table near the front. I smile back, and make sure my next step is long enough to show him the way the dress is slit up my left thigh. I think I can hear him audibly groan from 20 feet away and I smile even harder.
The flower girl, Matt’s little cousin, takes one look at the crowd, throws her basket of fake flower petals in the air and bolts for her mommy. Chelsea and Matt spend the entire ceremony smiling so hard that I’m afraid one of them is going to get a cheek cramp.
I try hard to focus on the ceremony, but the sight of Brooks seated just a little way away is too hard to resist. Even when I look away, I can feel him watching me. I can feel how much he wants me, feel the places he put his mouth all over my body this morning.
We finally make it through the ceremony and the wedding party walks back down the aisle to go take pictures. What I really want to do is run and jump into Brooks’ lap. Not that he would mind, but the wedding planner might stab me with a faux icicle if I don’t show enough decorum. So I blow him a kiss as we head back out to take pictures.
Luckily, Chelsea puts her foot down after 15 minutes and demands that we all go back in and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Bride of the year over here.