"I will NOT trip down the aisle."
June seems to be Wedding Month. I say this because I was invited to four weddings in June, and every time I talk to a friend, they say something about the wedding they're attending that week. So since it's the last day of June, I'd like to give Wedding Month a proper farewell...by talking about a wedding.
At the start of Wedding Month, one of my best friends, Sydney, married Ben, her boyfriend of about 5 years. I was a bridesmaid.
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| Bridesmaids and Syd No one knew what type of "look" we were going for. |
I had never been a bridesmaid before, so I learned some interesting things, like baby-stepping down the aisle is difficult. This is in part because you have to walk (very, very slowly) to music, and I couldn't feel the beat if it stepped on my foot.
This is how walking down the aisle went in my head:
"Don't trip."
"Look straight ahead!"
"Smile!"
"OMG look! You know that person."
"Wait. No, don't look. Look straight ahead."
"Don't make a face. Remember what She's the Man says, and smile 'like you have a secret.' Or is that 'chew like you have a secret'? Whatever. Smile."
"No, really. Don't trip."
For a clumsy girl, it's a bit difficult. (Note: I did not fall. I found my spot up front without difficulty. I did not lock my knees and faint like a middle school choir kid.)
The thing about being a bridesmaid is that you have to remind yourself that this thing is NOT about you and that it's also not just about the wedding and the reception (though let's be honest, the reception is awesome). It's about being there for your friend as she joins her life with someone else's and makes a commitment before God.
As I stood up in front of the audience, I spent most of my time trying to figure out what to do with my face (smile, look solemn but happy, grin without appearing creepy?!?) and looking at Syd's face. She, of course, spent most of her time looking at the officiate and Ben, but every now and then she would glance at the bridesmaids and smile or laugh silently. It was in those moments that I realized how real the wedding was and how honored I was to be up there with her. Those moments made me keep smiling. (My sister claims that I smiled the whole time, which she found both impressive and weird.)
I'm not super into hugging, but I recently realized that I periodically hugged Sydney throughout the day: when I saw her in her dress before she left to take pictures with Ben, right before we lined up to walk down the aisle, in the photo booth at the reception, in a picture with our high school friends, etc.
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| The glare covers my face, but we're all super happy in the middle box. |
Hugging was my way to wordlessly say, "I love you, friend," "Good luck on your next big adventure," "Thanks for letting me stand by you," and "This is weird, BUT I'M SO HAPPY" all at the same time. I'm officially adding "watching one of your best friends get married" to my list of things that give me the Too-Much-Sugar feeling.
I hear so many people say they hate weddings, but I don't get it. As one of my friends says, "Marriage should be celebrated." Being a part of a wedding helped remind me of the importance and beauty of weddings and--more importantly--what they signify.
Congrats to everyone who got married in June! (And from all of the bridesmaids, thanks for letting us be involved!)
Best,
Haley
P.S. Walking back up the aisle is easier because you don't have to move at the speed of a snail, and everyone's so happy that the bride and groom just got married that no one really cares if you fall. Walking back up the aisle rocks.
