Dearest Bridgebeat Fans,
Thank you for being patient with me as I went on a writing hiatus to prepare for my journey through the portal of marriage. I welcome you back. I welcome myself back. Back to my old identity of Bridge: the writer, the goof, the shameless lady who wears her heart on her url address. It’s good to be back folks.
There is so much to say in this post that I don’t know where to begin. I’ll start with this exclamation, WHOA (dude)! I’m flippin’ married. The concept is still hard for me to believe. I haven’t called myself a wife yet. I feel like the title “wife” is shared with an image of country prints, poofy-shoulder-dresses and buns. I still lean on the term, marital girlfriend. We’ll see if it sticks. I tried changing the term “bridesmaid” to “wedding ambassador” to make it sound less matronly. It got a laugh but not the loft. I also haven’t changed my name yet. Old habits die hard, like the habit of writing your name the same way since the time you could hold a crayon. (Does this mean I’ll have to learn how to pee differently as well?)
In brief, the whole experience was, as many people say, surreal. To plan something for 13 months and then have it be over with in a mere few hours seems unfair. I wish I could relive it for just one more day. I didn’t cry much at all during our wedding day. I cried when I got home the next day and saw the google icon on my computer which had been counting down the days to our wedding for months say, “Congratulations!” It wasn’t the outpouring of love and generosity from family and friends that made me cry. It wasn’t the overwhelming feeling of love as I walked down the aisle with my adorable dad that made me cry. It wasn’t the fact that my husband shook my hand instead of taking my arm when my dad gave me away that made me cry. It was a google icon, folks. (Who knew?) Anyway, it was done. Over. Completed. Terminated.
So as a woman who will find a way to get what she wants, I have been able to relive it in different ways. FACEBOOK. A post-wedding bride is more narcissistic than a pre-wedding bride, I’ve discovered. I’ve managed to look at posted pics from my wedding a few more times than what someone may deem as “healthy”. Especially when I look and then start to cry (again). I know, I know, it’s so not like me to cry. That’s the Ada gene. But I’ve managed to dilute the gene pool a bit and have soft spots that I hit everyone once in awhile. But mostly, I have been able to relive it through the fun memories I have from that day. Below is a list of some of my favorite:
1.) Directly after the ceremony my 7-year-old nephew, Wil, comes up to me (he is the first person I talk to other than Matt afterwards) and says, “Aunt Bridget.” “Yes, Wil?” “You did a really good job out there.” Oh! It made me melt!
2.) The day after, I asked my littlest nephew, Tommy (who is 5), what was his favorite part of the wedding day. He replied, “The chicken nuggets.” Then he sheepishly looks at me, blushes and says, “and your dress.”
3.) Telling my niece who wouldn’t stop commanding me about limo rides, her hair, her dress, the song she wanted to dance to, “Honey, today is MY special day.” Yes, I did go there. I told you… shameless.
4.) My mom finally getting dressed 2 minutes before the photographer leaves. Just in the knick of time to fake a smile and some love for the camera.
5.) Ada telling me not to smile too big for the camera because it shows too much of my gums and that just doesn’t look very good, Bridget.
6.) Friends who are late 90-95% of the time, showing up late and trying to open the locked doors on the side of the church as they peer in through the glass while the ceremony is in progress.
7.) My high school nephews developing crushes on my friends and befriending them on facebook but have not befriended me yet.
8.) The impromptu Thriller Dance at the reception.
9.) (As previously mentioned) My husband shaking my hand when my dad gives me away. He was nervous. It was cute.
10.) Kissing Matt for the first time ever since we can now that we’re married.
11.) Watching family I’ve never seen move beyond a saunter, bust a move on the dance floor. Yeah Tony and Uncle C!! The elbow dancing that night was outta control!
12.) Knowing everyone I love and cared about was in the same room at the same time. Oh man, what an amazing experience.
Do you have some favorite memories from that day? Please share. I would love to hear how everyone else enjoyed MY special day.
