I'm sorry but I have to interrupt the proceedings to share something I stumbled across fleetingly...
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-big-fat-gypsy-wedding
I don't really know what to say about this, but somehow, being dragged from a horse-drawn carriage as my dress makes it impossible for me move under my own steam, is not how I envisage starting my wedding day. Hey hey, I guess it takes all sorts.....
So, there we were standing in a Jaipur Jewellers (yep, a real jewellers in India, not a posh curry house in Hampstead) when The Boy sees my eyes light up at the pretty sparkly things.
Him: anything you like?
Me: everything!!
Him: Seriously, pick something, I said I wanted to get you nice jewellery for Christmas.
Okay, time out. I saw the dollar signs on these rocks and thought 'honey, you're getting socks and the new Muse cd for Christmas!', closely followed by 'who died and gave you all their money?' and then 'no-one spends that much on a ring unless......OH MY GOD!!!'
Was I standing there, unwittingly choosing my engagement ring? Or was it really just a generous Chrimbo gift? What would you do? I may as well pick something I like but, what if...? I mean, it's a lot of money... Meanwhile the rest of our group looked on curiously wondering if they were witnessing something very special. I heard whispers of 'engagement' and 'proposed' but The Boy quietly laughed those off.
The assistant sussed my reluctance at such an extravagent purchase and took my demeanor as an elaborate haggling technique and kept knocking the price down on something I was clearly very keen on. The Boy got more interested at this point and pressed me further to see if i really liked it. I ummed and ahhhhed for a bit and the assistant took some more off. I walked away and told him he couldn't spend that much on a Christmas pressie. The assistant went to see his manager and knocked yet more cash off! What's a girl to do? I relented. The ring was beautiful. Engagement ring or really expensive present, what did I care? The Boyf parted with his credit card and tucked the little box into his rucksack.
Naturally, back on the coach, the rest of the girls wanted a closer look. The box reappeared and I was surrounded by a bunch of envious females all looking daggers at their partners. There were a few nudges about it's purpose, but I batted those away. How can you be sure? Had there been any warning signs? Well, if the truth be told, there were one or two. Two girlfriends who had been pressing for info on whether we would be getting married any time soon had mysteriously shut up about 3 weeks before The Boy and I went on holiday. I had also overheard The Boy's best mate whispering 'good luck' 2 days before we jetted off. But that could be anything right?
Anyway, I'm in India, I should be enjoying the sights and sounds and smells not pondering something that may never be. So enjoy it, I did!
I wanted to start writing a blog as soon as I got engaged but anyone who has ever been involved in wedding planning will tell you that you just don't have time to blink! It's now been almost 4 months since The Boy stepped up the plate and turned me into a sobbing, dribbling mess. Seriously, I was that bad. Onlookers must have been convinced he'd just dumped me or told me of impending death or something.
So, I'll try to recount my thoughts to this little blog in a sensible order. If not for your sake, then for mine. I want to remember everything about this experience because hopefully I'll only be doing this once. Though, for the life of me, I'm not sure why I'd want to remember some of it. If you read this then you'll probably wonder that too. But hey, who needs boring and predictable?
