Profession

Wedding plans

"Yes!" I exclaimed hastily, beaming. His face was relieved, and he slipped the ring onto my finger. The server came over with Champagne and congratulations, and I dabbed at my happy tears, turning my hand to look at the ring. I sucked in my breath. "It's so beautiful, Jon!"

It was, too. The diamond was an oval, set into a halo, with a white gold leaf-inspired band set with more tiny diamonds. The little ones were sparkly white ones, but the center one was a beautiful lavender. "I thought you'd like something a little different, but we can replace it with a white diamond if you'd prefer."

"No!" I exclaimed, trying to tug my hand free. He grinned and lifted my hand to kiss it. "It's so perfect."

"It's so you," he said. "Thank you, honey. You've made me the happiest man on the planet."

"I'm so in love with you, Jon." I had to dab my eyes again, then smiled. "And fortunately, you won't have to wear the bracelet at all."

"The thorns look wicked," he agreed. "I'm not worried for myself, but my clothes, you... it's for the best, really." We finished our wine and went home.

We ended up not telling anybody for a couple of days, just enjoying being in our own little world. We started to make plans for the wedding, and the first person we actually called was Z. She was thrilled and promised a couple of idea boards based on the thoughts we'd had in a week. The first family member we actually called was Arielle, getting her just as she got home from school. She was excited by the news and kind of smug about being one up on her parents. We talked with them when they got home for dinner, and they couldn't have made me feel more welcome to their family. ""I don't think my parents will be as gracious," I warned, and he shrugged. He knew, pretty much, what to expect. We girded our loins, metaphorically, and went out to the estate. My parents congratulated us but weren't overly welcoming, so we skedaddled. We had to go out to the lab to find Uncle Tony and Aunt Ann, who were a great deal more enthusiastic. So were Grandma Alex, Grandpa Damian, and Alfred. It made up the sting from my parental reception. After that, we went home, recorded a message, and sent it out to the other family and friends. The responses, when the recipients opened them, were effusive and joyous, and everybody seemed genuinely happy for us.

Making the wedding plans turned out to be pretty easy, overall. We chose the place for the wedding and the reception, and started to work with the hotel's catering. We were making it easy on Z, because I wanted her to attend as a friend. We had a few surprises planned, and we had to get hopping, because we wanted to do it in October, when the leaves began to turn.  It meant that I had to get my dress tout de suite, so I did some initial scouting on my own.

"How did it go, honey?" Jon asked that evening.

"Oh, god," I said, rubbing my forehead. "They all seem really ornate, like Derinoe's, or traditional like Diana's, or like negligees, or like evening gowns or prom dresses or pageant gowns. I don't even think I look good in white." He pulled my onto his lap so we could snuggle.

"Honey, I don't care what you wear. Wear a pantsuit if you want, or a dress, whatever length, whatever color. All I care about is seeing you in a dress you love as we mark the formal beginning of our lives together. Something you picked out, specially for the occasion." And so we held off choosing colors for a bit, and I asked Lois and Arielle to come up and join the party to help me pick out the dress; Grandma Alex, Aunt Ann, of course. Aunt Amy. Justine and Imogen, Z, and Tabby. Carolyn and Iris were invited, but Iris was away on business, and Carolyn just declined, as I'd half-expected. She's just not that into clothes, and I wasn't sure she'd have been terribly helpful anyway, but I'd wanted to ask her. But this was the perfect group, and ten days later, I met them at the biggest bridal salon in the state for the early appointment. I'd told them what my problem was when I made the appointment, and they assured me that they had a dress I'd love.