Guilty Pleasure

Page 113

We head down Mulholland Dr. to Melrose Ave to Monique Lhuillier's Bridal salon for my appointment. I've been searching for the perfect wedding dress but I've yet to find the one, I knew I ultimately wanted to wear one of her gowns down the aisle so I've been looking forward to this all week. We walk in to find Monique at work fitting a bride with her tulle ball gown, she hasn't changed much since our days at FIDM, still working hard and her attention to detail is still impressive to say the least. She looks up from her work and smiles big, back in college I wanted to be her. I dreamt of owning my own Bridal Salon and designing gowns for the stars, but fate had other plans for me. Halfway through my internship at a local fashion house I was fitting an aspiring actress marrying into the music industry, as fate would have it I had to do some last minute alterations on her gown, we were pressed for time so I met her at L490. After the fitting I took in my surroundings and fell in love, something in me knew this was where I was meant to be. I met Marcus that afternoon he came across a bit cocky but he was real chatty and told me all about how the bride and groom met, curiosity got the best of me and I asked him about the buisness, my excitement must've showed because he let me know there would be an opening in the coming weeks, he got me an interview and the rest is history.

Julie still mocks me over it but in a good way when we reminesce we think of how blessed we are, if I would've stayed in the bridal industry I would'nt of been at Dolce's that fateful morning and we would'nt be here and neither would our kids. I often think that I was meant to be there, I was meant to meet Shannon so I could find Jared. I can't see myself spending the rest of my life with anyone else but him. J:"I still can't beleive you went to school with the Monique Luihllier" Me:"She's just a regular human being like anyone else" J:"Yeah a famous human being" I can't help but giggle Monique finishes up with her bride and makes her way over to us M:"Nina! It's been much too long" Me:'Yes it has, you remember Julie?" M:"The Jewel of the Nile how could I forget she made a stunning Cleopatra in my costume" Julie blushes Me"Yes she did" J:"Oh God you two you never let me live it down" Me:"But you did look beautiful" J:"Thank you ladies" M:"You ready to find your dress" Me:"Absolutely" the butterflies in my stomach begin to flutter uncontrolably, this is really happening I'm really going to be Mrs. Jared Leto

I've tried 4 different gowns and while they are beautiful they don't call to me the way the one should M:"Not feeling it, huh? I have this other gown I've been working on, it did'nt make it into the spring colllection but I think it'll look stunning on you, and the silhouette is pretty much the same as what you've been trying on. Would you like me to bring it out for you?" Me:"Sure why not" J:"They are all so beautiful bug, I just couldn't decide" Me:"I know right?" Monique comes back a few minutes later with a large white garment bag, she opens it up and pulls out a trumpet silhouette gown with a lace bodice and semi-full skirt with a chapel lenth train. At the waist is a beautiful blush pink peau de soi silk belt with delicate beading and swarovski crystals scattered in between, it's absolutely beautiful. Me:"Monique it's absolutely stunning, I love it" I step into the dressing room and slip into it M:"You ready to see it?" Me:"Yes" I step out and onto the pedestal, Julie tears up and so do I....... "Monique.........it's..... perfect" J:'Mama you look so beautiful, Jared is gonna be speechless when he sees you walking down the aisle" Me:"You really think so mama?"J:"I know so, you look incredible" M:"It does look stunning on you Nina" Me:"Monique I don't know how to thank you" M:"Just say yes" I take one last look in the mirror and nod, we all giggle through our tears. Monique even has the perfect veil to match, a chapel length mantilla style veil that attaches to a swarovski comb at the back of my head it was the perfect complement to my gown, I can't wait for our wedding day.