That Wedding

It's perfect.

I'm dabbing the little tears from my eyes when Hillary says, "Finally, the tears. So what does everyone think?"

I pry my eyes away from the gorgeous bride in the mirror, I mean, me, and look back to see their reactions. They're all in tears too.

Da

I cover my mouth with my hand. I can't hold back the tears anymore. Just hearing that my mom would love my dress makes them flow down my face.

Hillary hands out tissues because we're all bawling.

"So is the fact that we're all blithering idiots over this dress mean it's the one?" Lori asks.

"Yes," I say. "This is definitely the one."

Mrs. Mac says, "You look a little like a princess," as she dabs her eyes.

Like Phillip's princess, I think.

"I'll take it," I say.

Then I stare at the bride in the mirror some more.

I can't wait for Phillip to see me in this dress.

This past weekend, Lori gave me a book that was written by both a mom and daughter about pla

But I got more out of the book than I expected.

I realized that I've been kinda selfish. This wedding is not just about me and Phillip. It's really the merging together of families, and those families have dreams of their own.

So if you're pla

And notice that I'm giving this advice before I put my plan into action, so that way if this all ends up with me screaming in a bathroom, What the hell was I thinking, you will do it regardless of my outcome.

I thought back to when we were doing the guest list. Mrs. Mac asked me a question about our plans, and I sort of shut her down and told her that we'd tell her when we figured it out. Like she was just a guest. I realized that Phillip's mom has probably been both dreaming about and dreading the day her precious son will get married. She's inviting her friends, and I'm sure she has something pictured in her mind about how it should be.

So now that Phillip and I have a lot of the basics pla

Who knows, they may have some amazing ideas.

This morning, I met Phillip's mom at the Diamond's for Mrs. D's wonderful ci

I took my idea board and inspiration powerpoint. I told them about all the food Phillip and I picked out, about the rooftop ballroom, and how I wanted it to be romantic. I also told them that Phillip has had about all the wedding pla

After that, I go in the study to talk to Mr. D.

I ask for his opinion. Ask if there's anything he'd like to see happen at the wedding.

He thinks about it for a minute. "I know alcohol is one of the most expensive parts of a wedding, but it would be nice if there was a secret stash of good scotch for us old guys to enjoy. I'd also love to smoke a cigar in your dad's honor."

Phillip had mentioned that a scotch and cigar bar would be so cool. Plus, I'm getting him an engraved humidor as his wedding gift, so it would be perfect.

And then it hits me. I never asked Mr. Diamond to walk me down the aisle. I was go

But I look at him. The man who's helped me though every major crisis, from financial to what to major in. Who has gently guided me down the path to adulthood. Who has done way more than I'm sure my parents ever imagined he would when they named him executor of my trust. He treats me like his daughter. And he wants to toast my dad at my wedding?

He sees that my eyes are filling up with tears and says, "Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't want to upset you. I know it's very hard on you not having him here. Maybe it's a bad idea."

"You didn't upset me. I think it's a wonderful idea. I got tears in my eyes because I have a big favor to ask you, and it seems like I all I ever do is ask you for favors."

"Don't be silly," he says. "I loved your parents, and you know you're like a daughter to me. I'll always do anything in my power to help you in whatever way you need."

I smile at him through crocodile tears. "So does that mean you'd consider walking me down the aisle? Standing in for my dad?"

He sits there for a minute, which I have to say I appreciate. He understands the gravity of this to me. He's even a little choked up when he replies, "I'd be extremely honored."

Phillip walks in the door with beer under his arm and a magazine in his hand. "Look, I found a wedding magazine we haven't looked at yet! This one looks cool too. It has spreads on real weddings."

We sit at the kitchen table, drink a beer, and flip through the pages. We're halfway through when Phillip stumbles upon an idea that hits his hot button.

"Look at this!! They had custom Nikes made as gifts for the groomsmen! Look, they put their names and the wedding date on the shoes too. That is THE coolest wedding thing I have ever seen! I'm doing them. We'll do black shoes with a dark purple swoosh!"

Phillip is really excited, and I don't want to like burst his bubble or anything, but te

Um, no.

No freaking way.

"Uh, Phillip, our wedding is formal. I don't think you can wear Nikes."

He raises his eyebrows and gives me a little smirk. "It's my wedding. I can do whatever I want. Plus, you got purple shoes. You showed me them."

"Phillip, I got purple satin Badgley Mischka heels with crystal detailing. They aren't black leather Nike te

He looks at me for a beat then strips off his shirt.

Which totally make me laugh. "That's not the kind of convincing I meant, Phillip. Look at these pictures. Their wedding was outside, and they're wearing khakis. It was very informal."

"I don't care. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging me to wear these shoes."

I'll admit, Phillip with no shirt is already pretty convincing, but I say, "I see you shirtless every day. I don't think that's go

He picks me up and moves me to the couch. Takes off my sweater. Kisses my entire upper half.

Every. single. inch.

My collar bone, down my arms, my neck, my chest, my stomach. When he gets to my stomach, I'm about to tell him he can have whatever he wants, please just take off my skirt.

He takes off my shoes instead. He gently massages my feet, kisses up my legs, and then finally pulls off my skirt.