When Sharon and I talked more and more about the wedding, she could see that I was getting very excited at all of the preparations for the wedding, and when I saw that there was going to be a "Welcome Wagon" bridal party, in October, I knew that Sharon would love to take me there.
I first started by calling the number that was in the newspaper around the middle of August, and it was placed in the ad that I should be talking to "Sandra", and when I called her, she went on and on about the location of the party, and how wonderful it was, and what was going to be there. I really found out what these bridal parties were all about when she asked me what the date of my wedding was. When I told her that it was for November 17th, she sighed and informed me that my date was too close for me to be invited to the party. I was quick thinking and informed her that due to many circumstances that it may change, and she told me that if that was the case, to call her and she would put my name on the list.
Well it was only about two weeks later that I called Sandra and told her that my plans did change to the summer of 1991, and she informed me that she would look forward to seeing me at the party, and I told her that I would too. So with the hanging up of the phone I smiled and knew that this was going to be an experience that I would never forget.
As the days approached to the big event, I started talking with Sharon about what I should be wearing on this occasion, dressy?, casual?, formal?, or what?, and she informed me that it was like going to any shopping trip to a store that you wanted to be noticed at, to dress in something other than jeans and a T-shirt. The party was set for 6:45pm start, and with Sharon coming home from work only about 45 minutes before that she told me that she was going to be wearing her work clothes to the party, and suggested that I dress in business attire as well. So with that in mind I had my work cut out for me, and started thinking about what to wear.
I was left undecided up until the day of the party itself, and when that day came, I took off work early and went home and started to get ready for the adventure I would never forget. After leaving the bathroom completing all of the duties to get ready in there, I made my way to my bedroom and started getting dressed for the evening. I decided that even though I could not decide on my outfit for the evening, I would at least choose my lingerie for the evening and decided that I would play it conservative with nude coloured pantyhose, lacy red panties, my padded bra and finally a creamy white lacy camisole.
I then started going through my closet and started pulling out outfits that I thought would be perfect for the day. I started with an outfit that Sharon and I had been sharing, it actually belongs in Sharon's wardrobe, but I thought it might look perfect. The outfit features a long winter white wool knit skirt, below the knees and it is very business looking. The top for the outfit had shoulder pads and was a turtleneck and the whole outfit was very figure flattering, but when I looked at myself in the mirror, I did not think that it projected the image I wanted on the outing, and decided to keep on looking.
The next outfit I found was a combination of a white loose knit turtleneck with a brown suede skirt, and when I put it on, I looked at myself in the mirror and decided that the look was too casual and not the business look that I was going for and I kept on looking through my wardrobe. My eyes kept on coming back to the outfit I wore the last time out, and that was Sharon's wool knit green and black long skirt and wide necked top. I slipped it on, and knew that it would be the perfect outfit, as it was conservative, yet figure flattering and more importantly, it was a very smart business look.
I made my way to the bathroom to apply my makeup for the evening, and to keep with the business look, I applied my makeup in kind. I stuck with basic black mascara and eyeliner, and did my eyes in my usual manner, light pink shades on the upper lids, and purple on the lower lids. My blush was applied a little heavier than if I was going to the office, but not dark enough to be considered evening. I finished the look off with my favorite light pink lipstick, and when I was done, I looked at myself in the mirror and knew that I had done a very good job, and liked it very much.
I went back to my bedroom and started finished off my look, I decided to accessories my outfit with my new gold watch that I got for my birthday, my gold bracelet, anklet, and short gold dangly earrings. I completed the look of with a spritz of Sharon's Halston's perfume and decided on my black 3" heels. By this time Sharon was home and I made my way downstairs to meet Sharon.
Sharon looked me over and smiled and said that I looked perfect, and after she brushed my hair out, she looked at the clock and told me that it was about time to get going. Sharon helped me into my light spring cost, and opened the door for us. The car was parked in the driveway, and in order to get to it, we had to walk by one of the neighbors children. I was nervous and did not know what to do or think, but I simply walked by her, and she said "hi", and I said "hi" back, and that was about it. Sharon drove to the place the party was being held parked the car near the entrance.
It was warm enough that I could leave my coat in the car, and after slinging my purse over my shoulder I was ready for the party. Sharon let me lead into the front door of the gardens were the party was being held.
The entrance of the gardens was a large foyer that had a number of women standing around chatting and waiting for something or other. At the end opposite the front doors was a large desk, and Sharon suggested that we make our way to the front table to check in. Once at the front counter I announced who I was and the woman searched around the table she was sitting behind and produced a name tag with the name "Jennifer" on it, and asked me to put it on. As I was putting on my name tag, she introduced herself as Sandra, and told me that it was going to be a great show, and handed me a bag of goodies.
Before entering the show, Sharon had to use the ladies room, so we both went in and used the facilities, and when I came out of the stall, I met Sharon who was checking her hair, and as I touched up my lipstick, Sharon came close to me and whispered, "if anyone asks, the name of your finance.", I stopped her and said that everything was under control, and that my finance for the evening was going to be "Mike Johns".
Sharon and I left the washroom and headed for the exhibits, and I could not believe how wonderful I felt as I went from booth to booth, looking at everything from vacation packages to makeup to perfume. As I went from booth to booth, I was greeted with people behind the booths who looked at my name tag and called me by name, and after a while, I could really see what these bridal parties were all about, they were basically parties that enticed in brides-to-be and bring them into a captive surroundings, and pitch their sales to you. I entered a number of contests, and put my name in a number of booth's for draws. The one booth that I will always remember is one that was handing out roses to all of the brides, and I can remember getting my yellow rose, and how special I felt.
After a woman came on the stage to announce the fashion show, Sharon and I found seats in front of the stage and settled in for the show. One of the things that I noticed as I sat in my seat for the fashion show was how the other women were dressed for the party. I noted that Sharon was right, most of the girls were dressed for business, but a few were dressed in very sexy outfits, one in particular had on heels the same height as mine except she was several inches taller and had on a black leather miniskirt, and I did take note of that!.
The show began and I was in awe at all of the dresses that were being modeled, there were wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, mother of the brides dresses, and they were all modeled by stunning women. As the brides dresses were being modeled, some of the brides to be came up and took pictures, while others whispered amongst the people they were with, and Sharon and I found ourselves commenting on the dresses as they came down the runway. At the halfway point in the show, the master of ceremonies came out and announce that it was the intermission, and they were going to be handing out door prizes, to all of the brides to be at the party.
At first I was really nervous as the different vendors starting to hand out their door prizes, as they did and heard the names of other brides to be being called out, and they were being asked to stand. But as the names continued to be called, I started thinking tat it would be really nice to hear my own name called, and before I knew it, I heard, and the name is, "Jennifer.......Richards", and I cannot describe the feelings that ran through me, I remembered a chill run down my spine and Sharon nudging my arm as I was asked to stand.
I stood up in my chair and could feel all of the eyes in the room looking at me, and I was in awe once again, I think that I was frozen for a second, smiling and looking around, and I felt Sharon tugging me back down. Shortly after the prizes were given out there was a break for a few minutes before the last part of the fashion show. I took this opportunity to take a trip to the ladies room, and left Sharon sitting at the seats that we were sitting at during the fashion show. The trip was really uneventful, I did my business and went to the mirror to touch up my appearance and saw no others worth noting while I was there.
On the way back to the my seat for the fashion show, I did pass by the table that had my prize at it, and she addressed me by name and asked if I wanted to take my prize then, but I told her that I would be back after the fashion show to pick it up. The prize was a series of kitchen aids, i.e., measuring cups etc., all wrapped in plastic, and had a three helium balloons hanging off of it, it was quite the cute gift.
After joining Sharon at the seats, we saw the second part of the bridal fashion show, and it no less spectacular than the first, we saw many more bridal gowns, bridesmaids gowns, and mother of the brides dresses. The end of the show was climaxed with a model that came down the runway in a very spectacular dress, and at the end of the runway, she spun around and flung the bouquet that she was carrying right towards Sharon and I. Sharon and I both sprung up, to catch the bouquet, but it fell a little short and the girl right in front of me caught it, and I was a little dissapointed.
Right after that, the master of ceremonies came up to the podium, and inform the audience that upon exiting the room, that all of the brides were welcome to pick up a free garter from the table near the door. Sharon and I made our way to the table that had my prize and when I got there, the woman handed me my prize and wished me good luck on my wedding day.
Sharon and I left the party and headed for home, and I was very happy about the whole experience. Once at home, Sharon took some pictures of me and my prize, and we talked about the next trip out for my final fitting, and a chance for me to shop for my wedding night lingerie, and that was something that I was looking forward to.