Hey Blooms,
My curiosity got the better of me.
I was just closing down my computer when a message popped up.
..."Hi! I'm Sarah, and I need eight bridesmaid gifts that are more beautiful than my engagement ring."
Something I felt deserved a FaceTime, rather than a simple email chain.
Sarah was a vibrant whirlwind of a person who filled any space with infectious energy – the type of beautiful, kind person that I couldn’t help but agree with and love every tiny thing she said.
She had a bold, yet quiet confidence that I admired the most. Something I wished I could have more of too.
"This is Dave, my fiancé, who believes in 'financial responsibility.'" She made exaggerated air quotes with her fingers. A small giggle came from both of them, to show that this was simply the kind of relationship they had. She flung her hand over the camera, a modest and utterly elegant ring.
Dave simply nodded, a knowing smile on his face.
"You see...", Sarah continued, perching a hand on her chin, "my bridesmaids deserve the absolute best.
...Do you know what these women have been through with me?"
I couldn't yet answer - the stories came thick and fast. A million moments that she wanted to commemorate with a gift.
"Last year, I decided I wanted to join the circus. Not just any circus act – I wanted to be a fire-breathing trapeze artist. My bridesmaids? They showed up to every practice session with fire extinguishers and first aid kits. And don't even get me started on the Hot Sauce Incident of 2023!" She sniggered.
Dave chimed in, "I still find hot sauce bottles hidden around the house."
"Oh! And remember when I went through three different hair colours in one month?"
Sarah turned to Dave, who was behind her making a cup of tea, looking both amused and proud. "The bridesmaids helped me fix it each time, even when my hair started falling out!"
"Don't forget the wedding colour scheme changes," Dave added.
"Fifteen times!" Sarah exclaimed. "And they created new Pinterest boards for each one!
And that whole month where I only spoke in movie quotes? They learned all the responses just to keep conversations going!"
We started looking at different styles - some heart earrings, gold necklaces, silver bracelets…
"Actually," she leaned in conspiratorially, "I'm planning to put it in my wedding vows that they mean more to me than Dave does."
Dave, still moseying around in the background called out, "I'm completely at peace with being second to the bridesmaids' squad!"
"See?" Sarah beamed. "He knows what's important... Oh! And one more thing..." She lowered her voice to a stage whisper, "Can we get 'Partners in Poor Life Choices - but at least we're Doing it Together' written on the gift notes?"
As I began showing them the options, Dave put his hand on Sarah's shoulders and interjected with the practised motion of a man who had long since learned to embrace the chaos he'd signed up for.
"Just make sure they're all matching," he said with a wink. "We wouldn't want to start World War III among the bridesmaids' squad."
Sarah threw her arms around his. "This is exactly why I'm marrying you," she declared, before turning back to me. "Now, about those gift notes…”
With love…
