Spiderman's Sister

Wedding dress shopping

The next few weeks will be completely dedicated to planning our wedding. As if fate wanted us to get married, everything went smoothly. Nino was really excited when I asked him to put together a menu for our wedding. He started planning straight away and at the rehearsal dinner we had a few days ago, everything was simply perfect. And, although we won't have that many guests, thanks to Tony's help, we were able to book the Grand Ballroom at The Plaza Hotel in New York for our celebration for a reasonable price. Flower arrangements, decorations and a DJ have also already been planned and booked and all guests have already been invited and confirmed. So far all we're missing is the perfect dress for me and the perfect tuxedo for James. Today, four weeks before the wedding day, I'm finally going on a wedding dress hunt with the girls. Aria, Nat, Wanda and Pepper will accompany me to look at their dresses themselves. After all, the four of them are my bridesmaids. They will be led on my big day by my maid of honor Aria. Since I asked her to be my maid of honor, she has spent every free second helping me plan the wedding.

 
Aria and I are currently sitting on my porch waiting for Nat and the others to come pick us up. Right on time, Nat drives up in her car, Wanda and Pepper sitting in the back seat. As the two of us make our way to the car, Nat rolls down the window.

Nat: Let's go ladies! The wedding dresses are waiting for us. 

Victoria: Yes, let's go. I brought us something to drink. 

I take a bottle of champagne out of my bag and wave it around as I sit in the passenger seat.

Pepper: Oh God, I don't know if I'll survive the day if we start drinking now. 

Wanda: Well, you can still switch places with Nat and be our driver. Then Nat can get drunk with us.

Waiting, Nat looks at Pepper. Grinning, Pepper rolls her eyes and switches places with Nat. 

Aria: Ok, can we finally go now? I can't wait to see Vicky in one of these dresses.

During the ride we share champagne and talk about possible dresses for each other. Even though today is primarily about me, I have no idea what my wedding dress should look like. Somehow I want it to be simple, but somehow I don't. I just hope that I find a dress that totally flashes me and that I just know the moment I see it that it is the dress I want to marry the love of my life in. Almost half an hour later, we park in front of "The Rose", a small and rather inconspicuous bridal shop that has the best reputation in the whole city. Inside we are greeted by a little black-haired lady in her fifties. 

Saleswoman: Hello ladies. You're the 11:00 a.m. appointment for Miss Parker, right? 

Victoria: Yes, exactly. 

Saleswoman: My name is Melinda. Which of you is the future bride?

Victoria: That's me. 

She motions for us to come with her and leads us into a separate room. There are several changing rooms, sofas and tables. There are appetizers and lots of champagne and orange juice on one of the tables. 

Saleswoman: Here you and your friends can try on dresses in peace and quiet. Just go to the sales room and take the dresses you want to try on with you. You can hang the dresses you don't want to buy on the rack here and I'll put them away later. If you need more champagne or anything else, please let me know.

Aria: Okay, what do you want to do first? Should we look at your dress first? Or should we take care of our bridesmaid dresses first?

Now that we're here, I'm suddenly really nervous. What if I can't find a dress? Maybe we should have made this appointment much earlier so that I still have a buffer to check out other stores if I don't find anything here. When I don't say anything, Aria looks at me intently.