There is a reason why I say 2019 was one of the best years I've ever had. The year was filled with laughs, smiles and fun times. It was filled with moments I'll never forget and memories I replay in my head over and over until this very day. As I prepared to go from Ms. Jones to Mrs. Stiggers, every day felt like the best day ever. Here are some of the things I absolutely LOVED being about a bride-to-be.
For starters, there was a little somethin'-somethin' on my finger. I'll be honest, while I was pregnant, there were times when I'd find myself trying to hide my hand after I caught a woman in a grocery store look at my pregnant belly then immediately move her eyes to my (empty) finger. After noticing it the first time, I realized that it actually happened a lot. Well, the minute that ring was placed on my finger, you would've sworn I was left-handed because that hand began making an appearance in everything I did! Having the ring on that finger meant something. It meant I was about to be somebody's wife. And, I must admit, walking around with "bands" on my little finger provided a nice little ego boost every time I looked down at the diamonds.
I had no idea how much I would be spoiled! After choosing my bridesmaids, I asked those of them who lived in town to meet me at a restaurant so that I could officially propose and give them their gifts. Tell me why I ended up with MY dinner being paid for, AND I left with twenty dollars cash. I asked them what was going on and tried to give the money back, and they told me to "take the money and go," lol. At the time, my husband and my friend Amber worked for the same company. One day he came home with a bag with BRIDE written on it, a beer holder and wine glass with "soon-to-be Mrs." on the front and some other items that Amber had given him to give to me. Lets not get started on the gifts from my mother, my sister, other friends and family! Getting engaged felt like college graduation all over again. Milestones such as graduations and engagements are already a gift in itself, but times like those are when everything is given in abundance.
All women who have maintained steady friendships know that once one friend gets 'boo'd up', you don't always get to see each other as much as you'd like. Well, while I was engaged, I was able to spend a great deal of time with my friends. From having my group dinner to attending the Bridal Extravaganza, having a facial day at my house, dress fittings, competing against other bride squads at Bridal Wars, gatherings they threw etc., I was able to get in a lot of quality time with them. That's not all, however. The day-of was the icing on the cake. Getting my hair and makeup done with them, chit-chatting and laughing with them, taking photos with them, popping champagne and doing some dancing to loosen up before leaving to head to the venue with them... and then having them stand alongside me, cry with me and share happiness with me as I said my "I do." It's something that I never wanted to experience without them. These were all moments that I loved then and will continue to cherish forever. Every day I am grateful to always have the photos to look back on.
The parties were sooo much fun! What I loved and appreciated the most is that I actually did not have a hand in planning my bachelorette party or bridal shower. What I'm trying to say is... if you measured my bridesmaids' love for me based off everything they did, that love would be overflowing because they went above and beyond in their celebrations for me. Fun fact: I initially tried to plan my own bachelorette party, and it entailed going to a dance class, Discovery Green to ride the little trolley, and having a brunch. Thassit. "We're trying to make this thing special for ya" is what one of my bridesmaids told me. They started their own group chat and collaborated together to provide me with what they felt I deserved. I ended up in another city in an Air BnB that they had rented out with a pool, jacuzzi, tennis court and even a horse stable. Everything was planned down to the smallest detail such as the type of floats they purchased, the decorations, treats, signs, fake bridal tattoos, custom gifts, games, my bride bedroom, our activities for the weekend, and even the straws and cups they purchased for me to drink out of. As a mom, I can't just get up and go like that! I actually can't tell you that last time that I had been away from my husband and children, let alone for four days. Well, they had that taken care of as well. They communicated to my husband that they wanted to take me on a trip, and told me that I didn't need to do anything except bring myself and my clothes; I wasn't allowed to go into my purse/wallet to pay for anything. I received all of that love just because I was getting married.
At the end of the day, all of the above happened because my man saw fit to make me his wife, and that brings me to what I loved MOST about being a bride to be. Each day I knew I was waking up to my forever friend, my forever love. Knowing that I was so important to someone and that he valued me so much to the point where he was prepared to devote the rest of his life to me and profess his love in front of everyone. Knowing that he was choosing to put ME first, learn and grow with ME, create moments with ME and share a life with ME was enough to make me get over any bad work days or bad moments that year. There was (and still is) a peace and contentment--a feeling of safeness in knowing that no matter what happens, at the end of the day, you'll be laying your head next to the man who made those promises... and he'd still be there when you wake up tomorrow.
Written IN love,
S. S.