When Boyf and I got engaged I was determined that I wouldn’t turn into one of those Bridezilla-types and so far I think I’m doing okay.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’ve been to plenty of weddings to know what I would and wouldn’t like to have on ‘my special day’ … good god that phrase alone is enough to make a sane person want to hurl… but, I have discovered that planning a wedding is like walking through a minefield of choices.
Boyf and I often talk about what we’d like. Sorry, just realised I’m not allowed to call him Boyf anymore. The plethora of websites, magazines and wedding forums inform me that he is now to be referred to as H2B. Yes really. As in Husband-to-be. Anyone need a bucket yet? Good, then I’ll continue.
So H2B and I … nope, can’t do it. He’s Boyf and that’s how he’ll stay until he graduates to Husb.
Right, Boyf and I have discussed cakes, flowers, cars and all the usual stuff and you think you know what you’d like until you read a magazine or go to a wedding fair or log onto a brides' forum and find out that nooooooo, you can’t possibly want a beautiful simple wedding with tasteful décor and your favourite people all around you. You don’t really want a nice wedding ceremony with music that means something to you, followed by wine, food and dancing interspersed with your friends saying nice things about you both.
Apparently this is all wrong. What you really want is a wedding that people will talk about for centuries to come. A service with real passion and meaning, oh, and tears. Gotta have readings and speeches that induce tears. And vomit-inducing vows. What the hell is wrong with ‘for richer for poorer’ and all that? Okay, so I’m not so keen on the ‘obeying’ lark but I think they let you leave that out these days.
What you also really want is the releasing of doves (oh lord kill me now), chocolate fountains, photo booths (I kid you not) and colour co-ordinated EVERYTHING. Your invitations must match the reception décor, which must, in turn, match the shirts of the guys in the band. The favours should be meaningful, eco-friendly offerings made in a fair-trade commune on the Isle of Skye and delivered to you by carrier pigeon.
You will dance the first dance of your life in front of cheering friends and family, for which you will have spent a fortune receiving lessons from the camp/slutty/boisterous* one off Strictly Come Dancing (*delete as applicable depending on your budget) and whilst it seems great at the time, the wedding DVD will indicate that it was actually the most cringe worthy 3 minutes of your entire life… even if you live to be 100 years old.
But what worries me most is that all these magazines are making me believe that I should be doing all these things even though every bone in my body is screaming not to.
I’ve ordered a dress that I fell in love with the minute I saw it. It’s not your usual flowing billlowy princessy bridal dress. In fact, I don’t think I’ve been to a wedding and seen anything that similar. It’s a bit different and a bit quirky, still very weddingy but just a bit more suiting to my personality. I’ve tried on various veils as I’m not really a veil person so who knows what I'll end up with.
But 3 weeks after ordering the dress I’m being brainwashed into panicking that I’ve really screwed up quite badly. This is my chance to look like a princess, to wear something I’ll never wear like this again in my life. I’m supposed to ooze sophistication and class, and be trussed up tighter than I can possibly imagine rather than be comfortable and a bit different. I’m having a real crisis – I’m not sure if I like my dress and I’m damn sure I don’t like the jacket I’ve ordered. Why the hell did I do it? Apparently these are normal anxieties (according to the forums of mental brides I have trawled) but I didn’t sign up for normal!
And then there is my chosen scent for the day. The special scent I will remember forever to remind me of the day. What the heck?!?!? I’ve never heard of anything so bloody ridiculous. Yes ladies, according to the magazines (which are every bride’s bible over these coming months) you should have a special scent, a complete makeover, a hairstyle that will add 5 years onto your face and a groom so scared of looking scruffy he looks like he has a broom handle inserted somewhere the sun doesn’t shine.
I don’t want or have any of those things. I want to wear my usual perfume. The one I know smells good on me and not like some tart's boudoir. And our first song, well it’s just one we both really like. It may not necessarily be romantic and it certainly doesn’t appear on any ‘first dance’ list I’ve seen but it's what we want.
I don’t want to obsess about what colour napkins will match the centerpieces and I don’t want glittery curtains dangling behind the top table. So does that mean I’m not really into my wedding? Does that mean Boyf isn’t the one? What am I doing? Should I be getting married at all? If I’m not an obsessive Bridezilla then am I a proper bride ?
I guess I’d better log onto the forums and consult my bible to find out...
PS. Will I continue to buy the mags and read the forums if they wind me up this much?
HELL YES!!!! did you really need to ask?
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