Why Won't You Love Me?: Sequel to Dazed & Confused

22

24th of July 2023
Home: Gabrielle Aplin
'They say home is where your heart is set in stone, is where you go when you're alone.'

'How are you feeling?' I asked Isla as her mum helped her put in her veil. It was the day of her wedding to Ashton, and I had never seen a bride as calm as Isla.

I was apart of the wedding party, a bridesmaid along with Olivia and Evie, Isla's younger sister Katrina her maid of honour. On the other side of the spectrum, Luke was Ashton's best man, whilst Calum, Michael and our cousin, Lachlan, was his groomsmen.

'I'm so excited, I can't wait to be married,' Isla grinned and her mum kissed the top of her hair, being careful not to ruin the veil that perfectly atop Isla's brown hair.

Isla looked like a legitimate princess, but I suppose taking inspiration from Grace Kelly's wedding dress will do that. Her dress was a white again long sleeve ball gown, with a modest neckline and 3D flowers placed beautifully all over the gown. She was wearing a tiara on her head, which the veil attached perfectly too, her brown hair in a low bun. Her makeup was natural as always, because Isla has, and always will be, a natural beauty.

'Well luckily for you, it's time for you walk down the aisle,' her wedding planner, Louisa said as she walked into the room, obviously hearing our conversation from outside the door.

'Yay! Thank goodness, I don't think I can wait any longer,' Isla said as she stood up from the chair she was sitting on, picking up her bouquet of red roses from the vase as we all grabbed our white roses, meaning it was time for us to go.

'Alright Sienna you go down first, then Olivia, Evie and Katrina, meet your partners and walk down the aisle on my queue when we are all ready,' Louisa said with a smile and I nodded as I lead the girls downstairs, passing Isla's dad, Flynn, on our way there.

They had chosen to get married in a church, as Isla's grandparents are quite religious and she wanted to honour that. The eight of us waited in the foyer together, Luke gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek as we waited in the foyer and watched the flower girls, Isla's younger cousins, and the ring boy, our younger cousin Jamie, walk down the aisle to soft piano music before Louisa came in to let us know that it was time for us to start walking.

I was paired with my cousin Lachlan, who looks exactly like Ashton, only younger. I linked arms with him as we both smiled at each other and walked on our queue, my lilac bridesmaid dress trailing softly behind me as I began to walk to the altar, Ashton standing there with a beaming smile on his face when he saw Lachlan and myself, although I'm sure the same smile had been on his face all day.

He looked very dapper in his black suit, with a black-tie to match, whilst the groomsmen we were wearing black bow ties, all of them looking very handsome and elated that another one of their best friends was getting married.

I shot Ashton a grin and a wink when I reached the altar, Ashton reciprocating my actions before I went and stood in my place on the steps, watching Olivia and Calum walk down together, the couple giggling about something before Calum kissed her cheek and she came and stood next to me.

The process was repeated until it was time for Isla and her dad to walk down the aisle and when she did, it was as time had stood still. A piano version of 'To Build A Home' by The Cinematic Orchestra was playing, Ashton's eyes lighting up when he saw his wife to be walking towards him. It was like Isla was the sun and Ashton was the Earth, they were drawn to each other, and Ashton needed Isla to breathe.