That Wedding (21 page)

And here's another wedding statistic for you.

Most brides are engaged for fifteen months!

Fifteen months!!!!!

And we want to do this in like
three
months?

Is that even possible?

I called a bunch of hotels this morning. Asked about a Saturday in December or January. I got a whole lot of
we're booked
.

Maybe we should just run off to Vegas and get married by a fake Elvis. I'll wear a tacky cheap gown that I can wear on the roller coaster later.

No, that's not what I want. I remember my mom telling me she spent way too much on her wedding dress.
JJ, that is something you should never skimp on
.

I know her rhinestones, bling, and love of leopard used to bug me, but it was so her.

I feel like I shouldn't be planning my wedding without her. I also know she'd be pissed to hear me say that. She'd want me to have fun with it.

Then I think, my mom's dress! Maybe I could wear it!

I crawl up to the top shelf in my closet, pull the big box down, and try it on.

And laugh.

And laugh some more.

Oh my. This dress is so eighties, it's almost comical. It has huge puffy shoulders, full length mutton sleeves, and is covered with lace and iridescent sequins. I look closer at the fabric, wonder if I could have the dress remade. I really don't love the lace, so probably not. I'm a little surprised at myself though. I kinda like the sparkle. The little sequins. I bet they looked really pretty when she moved. They kinda remind me of the dress Phillip got me for our engagement party. It was beautiful. I've been telling the ladies at the bridal shop that I hate bling, but some of the dresses I've tried on have seemed too plain. Maybe I need a little bling.

I'm pretty sure my mom would like that.

I call Lori again and tell her to Skype me. I want her to see that I'm actually miserable and not just faking it.

"Lori, wedding planning sucks. I have no dress. All the places I thought about having the reception are booked, and I can't decide on a color scheme. I think I'm going insane and crazy at the same time."

"You just need a different approach. Don't look at this as something you have to do, have to get done…look at this as, um, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. You're taking this incredible trip to Bridalville, and you get to shop, no wait…SEARCH, for the coolest thing from each town to bring back to show your friends. You know, the greatest cake, the most gorgeous dress, the funkiest favors, the yummiest food, the coolest cocktail. Whatever YOU want. How fun is that????"

"Well, that does sound fun," I say cautiously. "A new approach. Maybe that's what I need." I look at her with a shrewd eye. "You're using this shit on Danny, aren't you? Is Danny going to Babyville?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." She gets a smug look on her face.

"You've gotten really good," I say, complimenting her manipulative skills.

And well, the conversation worked.

I've decided to take a new approach.

Screw the theme.

Screw the colors.

I'm going on a search for what I like best, and that's what I'm going to use.

We'll throw caution to the wind, say
what the hell
, and just let it fall into place.

We have a new theme for the wedding, and that theme is ME!

Say it with me now!!!

It's all about me!!

Okay, so it's about Phillip too, but you know what I mean.

Then I realize that's what is missing! I need Phillip. I want his input on all of this. I shouldn't decide it myself. We should do it together. Although lately, it seems like every time we talk about anything wedding related, we end up in bed, or well, somewhere, you know, having a little fun.

Tonight, I'll take Phillip out for some pizza, and we'll look through wedding ideas.

Shoot.

That won't work. I don't want to drag my laptop and all the crap I've torn out of magazines to dinner.

We'll just order in pizza.

But if we're at home, I know what'll happen. And what will happen will have nothing to do with the wedding. Well, I take that back, Phillip keeps telling me we're having "rehearsals" for the honeymoon. The honeymoon he's planning but won't tell me about.

So I text that boy.

I thought he was serious until I saw the little winky face.

When Phillip got home, he caught me staring into my jewelry box.

"What are you looking at?"

"Just my mom and dad's wedding rings. I feel bad they just sit there. It's kinda sad."

I get little tears in my eyes, but I push them back. I'm good at pushing back tears. Well, I used to be. It's gotten harder to do lately.

Phillip wraps me in his arms, and I forget about being sad, especially when he kisses me.

I drag him out to the couch, where we chow on pizza and drink beer. I click through picture after picture of wedding ideas. Phillip thought if we saw something we both liked, we should save it. So we did. We found a cool menu card we both really like. It's black and white damask and has accents of either teal or purple. Which depending on which color I pick, would work either way. We both love a huge white tree centerpiece that is dripping with lights, candles, crystals, and flowers. There's an all white place setting with a really cute snowflake ornament sitting on top. Since we're getting married in the winter, we both think something like that might be cool. We also save a photo of something I get really excited about. It's the cutest cocktail table that's covered in a black and white damask print tablecloth and tied with black ribbon at the base. It has a small purple floral arrangement and votive candles on top of it.

"Let's click back through everything we've saved," Philip says.

I click back through. "Well, we seem to really like black and white. Should we do that, and then I'll accent with either purple or teal?"

"That sounds like a plan," he says.

"I was thinking I'd like to have everything all in one place. I'd like to go from ceremony, to cocktail hour, to reception, to after party, without having to drive."

"Would that mean we wouldn't get married at the church?"

"Yeah," I say sneakily. That way I don't have to worry about Pastor John. We'll just find someone random off the internet or something. Or invite a judge. I bet Mr. Diamond knows a judge. He's an attorney, he should. "Especially since it'll probably be snowy and cold. If we can do it all at the hotel, I think it would be nicer. I mean, if I can find a hotel. I haven't had much luck with that yet."

Philip closes my laptop, sets it on the coffee table, and kisses me. "You're lucky. We'll find somewhere."

"Speaking of getting lucky," I say with a smirk.

Phillip smacks my butt as he follows me into the bedroom.

Phillip and I didn't talk about when exactly he'd make the big announcement today. It's been really hard for me to keep my mouth shut. After my meeting with Pastor, I'd really like to give Mrs. Mac a piece of my mind, my middle finger, and then say something like,
There's no way in hell that Pastor John is marrying us, so there
. I'd even stick out my tongue for good measure.

But then I remember I'm an adult.

Darn.

Finally during dessert, Phillip turns to his dad and says, "Dad, I have some good news."

His dad says, "Does that mean you finally asked her?"

Mrs. Mac says, "Asked her what?"

Phillip turns to his mom. "I know Dad told you all about us building in Kansas City."

She nods.

Phillip continues. "The good news is we offered Jadyn the opportunity to design it, and she's accepted."

Mrs. Mac smiles and starts to say something, but Phillip keeps talking. "And there's more."

"More?" Mr. Mac says with a confused look.

"A lot more. We've decided to start looking for a house in KC right away. We've also decided to get married right away."

"Why?" Mrs. Mac says. The she turns to me with an accusatory look. "Are you pregnant?"

This is the same woman that told me just a few weeks ago that I should get pregnant and make Phillip marry me. Now, she's pissed.

Phillip says, "She's not pregnant." He covers my hand with his. "Although that would be amazing."

I melt. Phillip just makes me melt. Always.

I went from feeling like a cat with her back all hunched up and readying her claws, to a little puddle of mush.