Who+am+I-Brette

Everyone keeps telling me that it is normal for a bride to develop cold feet. Today however, I woke up more sure of my decision to marry JD than ever. I met my future husband in fourth grade at Leola Elementary School. He was always thought of as the class clown and I was “the new girl.” After only a few months at Leola I moved into another school in the CV school district to finish out my elementry years. When I went to middle school, JD and I became friends again and even started dating--as much as middle-school students can date--during our eighth grade year. Like most middle school relationships however, we broke up and headed into high school as friends. An occasional “hello” was exchanged between the two of us in the halls, yet we were still just friends until fall of our junior year. The homecoming dance was coming up and JD, out of the blue, had asked me to be his date. He had also invited me to go to the New Holland Fair with him that saturday. Our first date was amazing. JD was nothing like I had expeted; He was still his joking self, yet he was sweet and down-to-earth. Usually first dates can tend to be akward, but our date was prefect. After than night we have been inseparable. Our relationship was perfect and still is: we never fight; we always have the best times together; we are always honest with one another, and trust each other completely. Our relationship was tested when we went our separate ways and left home for college. JD attended Lebanon Valley where he played football and majored in Criminal Justice, and I had gone to Elizabethtown College where I majored in Communications and played lacrosse. Everyone kept telling us that our relationship would not last throughout college, and that it was inevitable that someone else would come along and break us up or we would just grow apart, but that did not happen. Our strong bond kept us faithful to one another throughout our college careers and we were happier than ever. So when JD finally popped the question the summer after graduation, I did not hesitate to say “of course.” We had made it so far together and I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man who I was so madly in love with. After two years of planning, it is finally here, the day I have been patiently awaiting for the past twenty-four months. Chaos breaks out my five bridesmaids hustle around the room to get ready. All of them slip their short, red, matching, summer dresses on. I can see their nerves are getting to them, but I was more worried about my nerves. I look in the mirror and it was perfect, like I had always pictured. The silky, off-white, mermaid gown fits like a glove to my body, and the train of the dress drags loosely behind me. My mother’s reflection appears in the gold, full-length mirror. She is standing directly behind me smiling as little droplets of water begin to form in her eyes. She brushes my long, dirty-blonde curls to the side of my neck to make it easier to clasp together her grandmother's pearls. I take a deep breath as I hear someone in all of the confusion call out “ten minutes.” I grab my bouquet of white roses and make my way towards the church entrance.  The doors open, and I can barely hold still as the flower girl enters the chapel followed by the bride’s maids. It’s my turn. I look at my father beside me and try to hold back my tears. I know that to him I will always be his little girl, but to me, I am a grown woman leaving my childhood behind me. I take my first step towards JD and I feel nervous, yet surprisingly calm. Everyone is gawking as I walk anxiously towards my fiancé; however, all I can see are his big blue eyes and goofy smile staring straight at me. My father kisses my cheek and takes his seat in the front row. I take JD’s hand and the minister begins the ceremony. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”
 * My Wedding Day**