My wedding day

Such excitement! My wedding day is finally here. After all the months of planning, I will become Mrs. Brittany Jacobs. Oh, how I love the sound of that. But there is still so much to do. I glance at the clock and mentally go over my checklist. The cake will be delivered in two hours. The caterers should be arriving at the site within the next thirty minutes.

I carefully lay my dress on the backseat of Jassica’s car, setting my bag on the floor at my feet. We giggle like schoolgirls on our drive to the grove. Since neither I nor Bill are religious, we’ve decided on an outdoor wedding in the forest.

We arrive and see that my family and some friends are already busy with decorating. Nothing too fussy. Some fairy lights and flowers tied with pretty bows. The forest has its own beauty.

I greet my parents and aunts. Hugs for my friends Emily, Lynn and Esther. They are also my bridesmaids. The five of us have been friends since middle school. Lynn introduced me to her cousin Bill two years ago. It truly was love at first site for both of us. We agreed to wait until Bill finished his degree to get married.

I see that the caterers have arrived and have started setting up. This magical grove was made for weddings. There are electric outlets hidden among the towering trees with tables and stands conveniently set up to reduce the chance of tripping over cords. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I love the scent of the forest. The damp mustiness and fresh leaves makes my heart sing.

Emily takes my arm to drag me off to the small nearby house to start getting ready. First up, hair and makeup. Esther has the flat and curling irons already heating as we enter. She eyes my hair critically. Shoulder length, curly and red as a copper penny. Esther always dreamed of being a cosmetologist and she’s good at what she does. Even before she started school, I was always one of her favorites to practice on. She knows my hair better than I do. Esther gets to work while Emily talks a mile a minute about everything and nothing at the same time. She pours all of us champagne and makes us toast to a dozen different things, including the singing birds in the trees. Really, Emily? Are you drunk already?

My mother and the aunts have all wondered in and out of the little cottage numerous times. Aunt Josephine just had to make sure I have my Somethings: A necklace passed down from my Grandmother, is the Old. My satin, light green, knee length dress, because, according to everybody “looks so lovely against that red hair and will make you look right at home in the forest,” is the New. Jassica loaned me a lovely emerald bracelet for the Borrowed. My mother, bless her, brought me a blue garter for “your new husband to remove at the appropriate time.” This set off another round of giggles.

Aunt Betty very ceremoniously placed a pure silver quarter in my hand and instructed me to be sure to place it in my shoe for luck. “Britt, without this quarter, you’ll not go into this marriage with the proper protections. This is very important. Do not forget it.”

I assured Aunt Betty that the quarter would not be forgotten and placed it in my bra for safe keeping. Satisfied that she had warned me properly, Aunt Betty took her own glass of champagne, and we all toasted again.

Esther finishes taming my wild tangle of hair into a long, pulled-back arrangement with an appropriate amount of curl. Jassica jumps into action and begins applying makeup. She is a genius at doing a natural looking smokey eye. I’d be a mess without these two.

Aunt Marva comes in to inform us that the cake has arrived and is “absolutely stunning!” I glance at my watch. Thirty minutes to show time. Oh wow! This is really happening. Butterflies have taken over my tummy. My hands are shaking as I try to undress. My mother swats my hands away from the buttons of my blouse and finishes the job for me.

I’m being turned this way and that while my dress is placed over my head and straightened. Instead of a veil, I’ve chosen a circlet of flowers to match my bouquet. Phones come out to take pictures. My tummy is turning somersaults. I’m afraid of being sick now.

I shoo everyone out so my bridesmaids can all finish dressing. They do their own hair and makeup while trying to keep me calm.

My father knocks on the door. “Is everyone decent?” he asks. This causes a new fit of giggles. “Nobody here is decent” Lynn replies as she opens the door for him.

“It’s time to go, Britt” he says. “Your future awaits.”

A couple of deep, calming breaths and we all file out the door.

None of us see the silver quarter lying on the floor.

We walk toward the sea of faces looking expectantly. Family and friends that I’ve known all my life. Smiling for my happiness.

I look at my father and loop my arm through his and we begin our walk towards Bill.

Bill, standing there looking all handsome in new denims with a light green shirt and black dress jacket. His neatly trimmed beard is slightly darker than his light brown hair that just skims his collar. His beautiful blue eyes are what first attracted me. He is tall and slim with just the right amount of muscle. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world as my father kisses my cheek and places my hand in Bills. We smile into each other’s eyes then turn to Uncle Greg, who is officiating.

“Brittany” I hear my mother say. Confused, I turn to look at her. “Time to wake up.”

“What?” I ask. No, bring back my dream.

“Time to wake up. You’re getting married today.” She doesn’t sound happy or proud.

I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. Oh yeah. I’m getting married. It’s not going to be the idyllic scene I just dreamed. Bill won’t be there. He married my younger cousin, Beth. Not me. A tear runs down my cheek.

“No time for tears. You agreed to this.” My mother reminds me.

“Yes. Marry Thomas to keep father from going to prison. I remember.”