Bridal Show

Yikes! Wrong day to have a show

Congratulations have been flying around like insects in winter, the honeymoon stage of the engagement is over. It makes me a little sad to know that my joy in celebrating and spreading the news has come to a rather surprisingly early halt.

Turns out most of the people I know knew about the engagement before I did. Not just my parents, but most, if not all of my close friends, co-workers, family members and even a handful of customers at the bank I work at. Huh? Anyway, it's strange to feel like I should conceal my excitement about my new found title of fiancée and the rock that comes with it, all because the excitement of, "Guess what? I'm engaged!" has been lost to the hours upon hours of planning Bryan did for his engagement.

At least I still have my silent moments to myself where I catch myself looking at the ring in the light. I may feel silly waving the ring in front of people exclaiming, "I'm engaged!" but at least I can still melt every time I look down at the gorgeous ring Bryan got and think to myself, "Damn I'm lucky." You know what I mean?



Now, onto my new adventure of the wedding planning process: bridal shows. I've been to a bridal show with one of my friends soon after she got engaged last year. It's so exciting; the drinks, the cakes, dresses, photographers, venues, flowers and by far my favorite... the food! I have close to nothing planned of envisioned for my wedding, so I was looking forward to the flocks of vendors gathered into a confined space, overloading me with options and inspiration.

Since I live in Illinois, most of the people I know are the people that Bryan or I work with. My girlfriend from work told me that the first bridal show of the season will be this Sunday just a few minutes from my house. I knew I wanted to ask Bryan's sister, Amy, to join me to partake in the delights that comes with being, or knowing, the bride. Little did I know this magnificent occasion that I had dreamed up in my mind of centerpieces and appetizers, would be interrupted by what could only be described as a once in a lifetime event: the Bear/ Packers playoff game. Dun dun dun!

Needless to say, Bears trump wedding show, let alone Bear vs Packers in the playoffs. Bryan's family is huge on Chicago sports. Since the whole family was raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, anything relating to Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox or Bulls (in the 90s) is law, not option. Bryan is a scientist so the immediate connection between testosterone-ridden sports is kind of blurry, but his introduction to mass-media sports lies in the Bears. Football is his gateway for his beer-drinking, chip-scarfing, chili-cooking, excited-yelling side and sports to cross paths.

I thought I would have a pantheon of people willing to participate in the complementary snacks and inspiration, but now Bears is law, there is not time for wedding, or anything not-Bears related.

Football, basketball and baseball run deep in my family's roots too. My mother actually got a Blackberry phone just to get MLB.com at a moments notice. So naturally I'm not blaming anyone for wanting to experience this earth-shattering event. I mean, it's the Bears and the Packers, I'm not even from Chicago and I'm pumped! But my inner bride is starting to feel ignored. Hopefully the Bears win and I will have many more delicious samplings await me in the future. GO BEARS!