An Engaged Wedding Guest

This post is partially about my own wedding preparations, but it's actually about a different wedding. This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the marriage of my fiance's cousin! It was a beautiful affair, and definitely a fun night, but it also made me realize how different it is attending a wedding when you're engaged compared to attending a wedding when you're not planning to get married yourself.

First, when you're a guest at a wedding and a bride to be, you cry more. As the bride walks down the aisle and as the officiant talks about the meaning of love, you stroke your fiance's hand and look at him. You're both thinking the same thing: this will be us. You both feel that same love. You both imagine saying those same words. You both know yours is going to be forever too.

During the reception, you take pictures of everything--from the guestbook table sign to the macaron party favors. You think, "I love that idea of having facts about the bride and groom printed on napkins!" You think, "Oh good, two favors should be enough for my wedding because they have two."

You listen to their song choices for the events or dances and sigh with relief that they're different than yours. You don't want your fiance's family to think you're copying.

You watch their choreographed dance in amazement and sigh with regret that your fiance probably can't lift you over his head. But maybe he can dip you.

You'll notice that they have salmon, beef, and chicken all on the same plate rather than asking the guests to choose and you sigh again--how much more convenient that would have been for your dinner!

You take in the beautiful view of the bride and groom and just sigh in awe.... There's a lot of sighing.

As an engaged guest, you think of the things you'll do the same--just the right amount of speeches, changing dresses at the right moment, taking pictures with different groups of guests.

You think of the things you'll do different--maybe a bigger dance floor, and more songs from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Oh, and you don't have to feel awkward going up on stage for the bouquet toss anymore! First of all, you're already taken--you don't have to go up at all! But second, wedding tradition dictates that whichever guest catches the bride's bouquet is fated to be married next. Too late! Our wedding is next already--less than three months away!

I'm glad I had the opportunity to attend a wedding as a bride-to-be at least once. Now I feel even more prepared to be a bride!