The Opening Act (H.S) {Completed - Editing}

Fittings & Surprises

@MissAvaMae: cuddles w/ my one and only ♡ #thebetterstyles (edit: you guys, stop commenting that she's hugging me like this bc I'm pregnant. I'm not, I promise😂) (via instagram)

It took awhile, but I was able to get everybody in town all at once not too long after getting back to LA after being in New York. All together, it was the ultimate group of my favorite ladies; my mother, Anne, Gemma, Lacey, Rachel, Raina, and Grace. (Also known as the bride crew plus moms.) As soon as Anne and Gemma landed, we were off to meet the others at an empty studio in Los Angeles.

Today was the day of finding my dress. With the wedding in just a month and a half, everything planning wise had been slightly (majorly) stressing me out. So it would be nice to just be surrounded by all my friends and trying on really pretty designer dresses. My wardrobe stylist teamed up with the boys' stylist and were able to bring in dresses from all over for me to try on. There was a team of three people that sell the dresses for a living, there to help me find the perfect one and get it measured to get it fitted. Once I choose one, it will be customized for me. I thought about getting a high-fashion designer to design one for me, but not only does that not feel like something I would do to begin with, there also wasn't much time.

Grace was the last to arrive, apologizing immediately for being late because of traffic. I didn't really care at all that she was running behind, I was in wonderland as I was looking at all of the dresses. There's so many of them.

"Do you have any types in mind?" Gemma asks.

"I have no idea," I sigh. "I thought I did, but then I came in here and saw all of the possibilities and now I'm back to square one."

"Well, let's start you with two or three different kinds of dresses just to find the style you like, then we can go into further details," Gwen suggests. I nod in agreement, hoping that the idea makes this seem less overwhelming.

We find three different dresses, all just plain white with little design or detail. There's a princess like one, there's a mermaid style dress, and there's one thats a simple flowing gown. I knew I didn't want a short one, so that wasn't even a starting option.

I flip my hair up in a bun as I follow Gwen and one of the designers into the back room of the studio. I try on the mermaid style first and immediately don't like the way it looks. I'm not surprised, since I've never been a huge fan of them. From there, I try on the princess dress.

It was better, but I wasn't sure if it was what I really wanted. I felt like it was too big for me to be wearing it for as long as I will be. It felt restricting in a way.

The last dress is definitely my favorite style of the three, and I can tell by Gwen's expression that it's hers too. I hadn't been showing anybody the dresses since these weren't exactly what I had in mind, so she was all I had to go off of for a second opinion.

"I love this style," I smile. "I like the last one too, but maybe not as..."

"Big and poofy?" Gwen tries. I nod, completely agreeing with her words.

I take the dress off and the designer, who I learned was named Katie, took the three dresses out of the room while I slipped on a robe. When Gwen and I get out into the big room again, everybody is glancing at the dresses. They'd been informed by Katie which kind I wanted, so they were all hunting for ones for me to try on.

I start with a few and then slip back into the smaller room. The first one doesn't fit well, but I go out and show everybody anyway (holding onto it tightly to avoid any unnecessary wardrobe malfunctions). It's pretty much a no all around, which was my thought the moment I looked at myself in the mirror.

This process goes on for awhile - me putting on the dress and then getting more opinions from the girls. I'd kept a few held off to the side, labeling them as the "maybe pile." As I was pulling the last dress off the hanger from the new group of dresses I had been handed, I was honestly starting to get tired of this whole process. I was irritated that it was taking me so long to find one. I was blaming myself completely, nagging myself about being too picky.

Gwen fastens the buttons on the dress and I finally look up to look at my reflection in the mirror. I look back at Gwen's reflection and I can tell in her eyes that she was thinking the same thing. Without saying anything, I walk out to show everybody. From the look on their faces, I knew. This one was it. This was the one.

//

"Okay... hold on for a second."

I nod, staying exactly where I was since I had a blindfold tied across my face. Harry had pulled me aside as soon as I got home, telling me that he had a big surprise for me. I had just gotten home from an ice cream date with Lacey and Rachel before Rachel had to head to class. It was close to five, so I had been gone most of the day.

I feel Harry's hands on my arms from behind once again and he tells me to step forward until he says to stop. I really had no idea what was going on. I knew we were upstairs, but that was the only information I had.

His fingers fumble with the bandana that was around my eyes and he gently removes it from my face. As my eyes focused on what was in front of me, I was completely speechless.

Somehow, without me noticing at all, Harry had built an entire studio setup in one of the spare rooms in the house. It was exactly like a studio and had everything we could possibly need to record music. It was thoughtful, overwhelming, and absolutely perfect.

I spin around and wrap my arms around Harry in a hurry. He stumbles back a little from the sudden force, but catches me and wraps his arms tightly around my waist.

"I can't believe you did all of this," I mumble quietly. "Thank you a million times."

"I know we both agreed to slow down work until after we get back from our honeymoon, but I wanted us to have a place to write and work if we wanted to. I didn't put up any decorations in the room though, I figured you'd probably be a lot better at that than me."

"How about we do it together," I suggest with a smile. "But maybe... after the new year. When things are calm again."

He nods and moves my hair behind my ear. "Did you have fun today though?"

"Yeah," I fall forward against his chest again lean my head on his shoulder, hiding in the crook of his neck slightly. "I found a dress."

"That's good. What's it look like?"

"Nice try," I laugh lightly. "I'm not telling you anything."

He laughs and kisses my head. "Well, it was worth a shot. How about we go make some dinner and then we come back up here and test out the equipment?"

"Okie dokie," I nod, lifting my head. Before he can get away, I reach up and place my lips on his. "Thank you again," I mumble as I pull away.

"Of course," he smiles. "I love you, Ave."

"Love you too."

I follow him down the stairs and as we reach the base of them, the front door swings open. Anne, Gemma, and my mom all walk in. They've got a box filled with take out boxes, clearly meaning that Harry and I cooking wouldn't be happening tonight.

"Both of you, get in your pajamas, shut off your phones, and pick out a movie," Anne instructs. "We're all having a night in."

"You two work too much, you need to relax," my mom pipes in.

Harry and I look at each other and he shrugs. Clearly we were both on the same page: it would be dumb to try and disagree. And honestly, I don't think either one of us actually truly disagreed with them. We really did need a night away from wedding planning, work, and the world in general.