I was once a bride..
I WAS ONCE A BRIDE..
December 22, 2008 marked a milestone in my life. I have married a great man, a long-time boyfriend of 8 years and the person that I have prayed for and asked from the Lord for the past 10 years.
She will never get married… uttered my Maid of Honor, who happens to be my beloved sister during her speech for the Ceremonial Toast on the reception. Well, she was so right! I have never thought of marriage, I was not the typical girl who had a “dream wedding” secretly planned on her mind. I was married to my career, to my targets and KRA’s at the office and that I have never thought of actually settling down. But the Lord works His miracles impeccably… After meeting Joe at a common friends’ party, he never paid attention to me and snubbed me for the next 6 months… Finally after sometime, we started hanging out; he became a confidant, an adviser, a sounding board, coffee buddy and a movie mate. Our constant togetherness started a beautiful relationship which evolved into a very meaningful and serious commitment to each other.
The proposal was unexpected, it didn’t have the usual flair and drama to it. It happened on those usual after dinner conversations that Joe and I would normally have every night. After 6 years, Joe just let it out with no opulence; he said that it’s about time that he gives me a RING! Just like that, it didn’t have any spectacle, quite indirect but we both understood where that was going. He proposed and I just knew that it was the right time, he was the right man and that was the perfect moment. All my inhibitions and aversions about being married suddenly flew out in the air.
Preparing for a wedding is like preparing for your debut 10times! It was such a roller coaster experience, you get excited, anxious, fearful, happy etc. It was one hell of a ride; the anticipation and chaos were constant elements during the preps. But nothing beats it, all the hard work and pressures were all really worth it! I have been a very hands-on Bride, managing everything from scouting suppliers to meeting each one of them, from developing a theme to paying attention to all the details etc. I wanted our wedding to be well-planned and polished, it was our way of showing our families, friends and of course the Lord how we value the gift of love and commitment that we were blessed with. That day was actually a thanksgiving for Joe and me.
Then came the day, after a year of planning & anticipation it finally came. Everything turned out immaculately beautiful! The flowers, the cake, the food, the band, the fireworks etc. it was all perfect! Above all, I was the happiest, most beautiful and most radiant Bride on that day! Since I am a Make-up Artist myself, I paid so much attention to my look- the shades of my make-up, my hairstyle, my accessories, and my bouquet. All of which were a product of my research, creativity and collaboration with my Make-up Team, my Designers and my Florist. I painstakingly put so much detail on my look. I may not have a “dream wedding” but I had my “dream look”-old world elegance. I wanted to look stunning, luxurious and gorgeous on my wedding day!
My guiding principle was, years from now I would not be able to remember the other details of the wedding but certainly I would be looking at my photos and showing those pictures to my future kids and I would be so proud that I was a breathtakingly beautiful Bride! But preparing me to be such a glowing Bride did not happened overnight. I took good care of myself and now I could say that getting married is actually a perfect excuse to be super vain! I had enrolled myself to a Latin & hip-hop dance classes and became a Yoga enthusiast. I had several visits with my Dermatologist not to mention my monthly facial sessions. I also had regular spa services massage for relaxation, body scrubs and polishing. The goal is to look my best not only on the outside but of course from within. I have always been an advocate of Beauty and I have always believed that when a woman feels good, she will look good and her confidence will be boosts and she will look spectacular on that very special day- her WEDDING DAY!
My wedding may be over by now but the joy and fulfillment that I felt during that day will never fade away. All the great memories on that day were embedded on my mind and were all captured in the lens of our photographers. I am confident that 10 or 20 years from now, our kids will be proud that I was indeed the most beautiful Bride ever on my wedding day!