Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride...

Every story is loaded with more than a lot of dresses. It's believing in love when our time is filled with every reason not to believe. When we think that the game for us has changed, the one is there to prove I, forsaking all others, will be your forever. As bridesmaids, we witness. Some with hope. Others with the party. And the blessed honored one to whom is left with the task of picking up every piece and drying an eye before her presentation... I have seen these moments over and over as snapshots of the relationship between relatives and great friendships. With a precursor flower girl get up, I was entrusted with 10 weddings. Let’s count up.

The Country Wedding

So Cute. Okay, at least I thought that I at eight years old. Handmade with small shoulder ribbon. Neck donned with pearls. Small church for the Christian soul that still believed in old time religion. I slowly walked, one foot in front in front of the other, being sure not to lose beat. A nervous bride and a proud, assuming groom made for a special time for family.

The Dress: A virgin bride sparkled with the unthinkable, a happy life a ready for her purpose. Lots of Babies!

His Look: What God has brought Together, Let No Man put Asunder!

The Sister In-Law's Wedding

To begin, it went against all laws, but not so gently done in Sea foam. Yes, SEA FOAM! Beautiful wedding, but Sea foam. I can't believe that I had to wear seam-stressed Sea foam. I must really love my brother. But as a person, wife and mother, he could do no better than she. Too bad I had a faux flower dead center throat. If I could get passed the discomfort, I would have paid attention to the ceremony.

The Dress: Stunned transforming a fresh-faced home body into an eye-catching catch beyond any man's dream.

His Look: ‘Let’s see silver.’ And they did.

The Best Friend Church Wedding

…With all the Southern Black Christian fixings and the unimaginable thrill of my three-year-old friend being given away to another family. Funny, the wedding was in A-line wine. Let's call it the Sacrament. I promised to our heart of hearts that on the day, I would have called a getaway car if she did not want to do it. It was written all over her face, us being young; but God intervened at that moment with ‘I Dos' to follow. To the fortune of her now beloved son, the bells did ring.

The Dress: Made for a bride who in her breakout performance as wife got everything she wanted, ready to never look back.

His Look: I can't believe she wanted me.

The Ribbon in the Sky Wedding

Prepare for this... The bridesmaids were gilded in gold and garb, 10 and counting. Stevie Wonder didn’t have to wonder about this one... And the blind could see. Huge hair and beauty reigned. To a wanting bride, we did her bidding. Everything a Must. African dancers... with the drums. Nothing left to chance for the entrance but the oohs and aahs that left us tearful for the culmination of a long love affair and the joining of two that all of us loved so well as the solid couple that kept, at least me, solid.

The Dress: So ornate that I cannot honestly remember, it topped us with headpiece and Afrocentric flair. It embodied her with its poetic justice to a white wedding.

His Look: My Queen. My Soulmate

The Sorority Sister's Wedding

Deep in my heart, gotta love Texas. Ugandan so loads of food. Made me a little gaseous, but a big family is always fun. With food shoved in mouth, it was great to laugh with us girls right out of college. Seeing exactly what he desired in a mate. Sometimes cool, calm and nonchalant can do the trick. A groom with expectation to the mystery. Cocktails, pedicures and games after a convertible in Miami. Done in Champagne, great dresses. However, Mermaid. Off-the-Shoulder. Oh Yeah!

The Dress: Never more beautiful. Great Girls, Good Times. turned our nonchalant shy but closeted partyer into Belle of the Ball.

His Look: She’s mine.

The Catholic Wedding

Irish family so the engagement party was smoking! Done in Carnation for two adults ready for the world as budding attorneys. After the great party in summer dresses and laughs with family and friends, I became a breakthrough artist with Ave Maria in tow. Fireworks on the rooftop for her two best buds and wedding party... At least I thought so. However, many beers later, we toasted the nuptials with laughter that she did it first!

The Dress: Made for the girl who has always been the Allstar… Planning to attend their prospective jobs with the city's family known for community service. It was a match made in power couple.

His Look: Thrilled to the future.

The Vineyard Wedding

Second go at Ave Maria… This time not quite as great considering the engagement party the night before, but a guest recognized me from my opera days, so I left the phenom. A great wedding start to finish. Chicago bridal shower to a San Fran/Napa Bachelorette with Mang-Mosas! Brunch on Belvedere Island which is just speak for the area. Verifiable directions. You can only get there and back by ferry including car before dusk. Red Ferrari F355 in the driveway. Beautifully done in Canary with ribbon in Naples, FL.

The Dress: Dueling families as formidable opponents and a bride tough on the pocketbook made for money to spare. Breathtaking. The Win!

His Look: We got through it together. I love you.

The Best Bridesmaids Dress Ever Wedding

My close cousin's wife was a great talk ending with a question and shot of vodka. “Well, is she the One?” So exciting! Done in Ruby, it was my pick. Not quite the one of honor, but I took the pass when in a clutch. First boutique luck. Red can go both ways. However, straight, floor-length, satin halter. Caught ever perfection of her thin bridesmaids. Just before dusk, it was the love of his deceased that created beauty. Two lovers and the love of a child and her new Pop. This was a favorite.

The Dress: An appreciative bride to the groom’s mother happy to join a great family who welcomed her and the little one

His Look: ‘I get to have the life I want.’ And… they actually do.

Love Eternal. The Second Bestie Wedding

In short, the love of her life sealed in one year. Honestly, the love won the wedding. My great Maid-of-Honor delivery. Nailed the speech. I found that your only real duty comes when you are keeping the bride hinged. The great kind. From bursting into tears thinking the day won’t be perfect; all well knowing that the vows to and from her are the most important will be. Your job is to follow instruction and spend dough. We both know that all she wants to do is say ‘I Do.’ I will keep the Bachelorette party under wraps not to defeat love's goal with a stack of ones. Keeping separates separate in Wine were fun fitted.

The Dress: All the way from Texas (again, Texas) to North Carolina made for seemingly in control bride’s lose great. Bridesmaids finally had the opportunity to be dutiful. Each having their task and willing to help while one honored her daily as her lady’s maid.

His Look: ‘This woman loves me so much; she will forever be the one. Whatever I must do.’

The Magazine Wedding

Last, and hopefully final (Truth: I will do it again). Young beautiful, chaste couple in their twenties so beautiful that the mag found them. Knowing her, the new family may have made it news. A little pudgy at the time, I was rudely awakened to the consequence of the extras involved to ladies not of a certain age, but of two sizes beyond the cusp of life in formal wear. However, stunning from head to toe, she won the day!

The Dress: In a word, young and fab gorgeous!

His Look: I am marrying the Homecoming Queen. I was the one that got her.

Unmarried myself, I fiancee'd once. But, the dress was fabulous proving that wedding tears are real. Perhaps, the only thing in humor to which I said 'Yes!'