My First Bridal Expo

I am not getting married anytime soon. But yesterday I went to my first bridal expo to accompany some friends and I fell in love. With wedding planning. Obviously its easy for me to do. I’m not the one planning logistics and crunching the numbers. But I fell in love with the magic of weddings. It didn’t hurt that every vendor assumed that me and Justin were engaged and tried to sell us on low prices and good deals. Plus…swag. Here are some vendors we saw:

• A real estate agent. This was actually a useful connection even for me and Justin who are nowhere close to setting a date. But he is looking to move out and closer to me so he took her card. 

  
  

• A DJ. He was really personable and he seemed very impressed when we told him we all knew each other through poetry. I guess that might be a little uncommon. My friend even gave him a dose of one of his older poems. That’s how we roll.

  
  

• It is very surprising I hadn’t been thinking about food. That’s kind of my default mode. But it wasn’t on until I saw the two large trays of soft pretzel sticks and dips. I was in heaven for two seconds of honey mustard. The man who owned the company explained to the bride they would be a great snack for the afterparty. I really hope she takes him up on that offer. Me want  more pretzels.

  
  

• Jewelry. There were two jewelry booths. I kind of zoned out through both. I have never liked jewelry much. I have one of two necklaces and earrings I’ll wear (like my “anxiety” earrings) as more or  less statement pieces but I really am not interested in browsing jewelry. I like this about myself because I save me (and Justin) money. I swear when he proposes I’d be content with the keychain ring I always wear. None of this “rock” nonsense. I’m not extolling my virtues I’m just saying its not for me. 

  
  

• Photobooth. This was a fun one. We all took some pictures today. First just girls. We did the Charlie’s Angels pose and blew kisses. We invited the boys in and held up signs. I held up a sign saying “Open bar”. By the way there was a bar. Obviously I did not utilize but everyone else was downing Old Fashioneds and Dirty Martinis. Sometimes I do feel I am missing out. That I could be more uninhibited, more relaxed, less guarded. But I can’t so there’s no point thinking about it. 

  
  

• Makeup. I told Justin on the way home I didn’t think I would use hair  and makeup services on our wedding day. Justin said I might feel differently when the time comes. Maybe? I didn’t get my makeup done for senior prom but I did get my hair done and I think it was a great investment. I looked truly beautiful with an exquisite updo elegantly held together with 62 bobby pins. Wouldn’t I want to feel like a princess like that again? And on my wedding day of all times? I would love to feel beautiful like that again, if not for my sake then for Justin’s. 

I am so far away from my wedding day. But weddings are a learning experience and you don’t want to learn by having multiple snags in yours. I’m learning vicariously. And then one day when I am I will walk down the aisle.