Wednesday, January 9, 2013 —
I am getting married this June.
Typing those words makes it seem even more real.
This year is going to be a very busy one, but I’ve already completed one major step of wedding preparation: I have chosen and purchased my wedding dress.
I knew the dress was the one as soon as I pulled it over my head and it fluttered to the floor around me, all light and crisp, not heavy and itchy like some of the other dresses I’d tried on. I stepped out of the dressing room, and my mom and future mother-in-law smiled at me, and I think they knew it was the one, too. Once I was in that dress, I didn’t want to take it off. I wandered around the bridal store, picking out my veils, my shoes and my jewelry, wearing my dress.
I think my groom will like it. He said he had only one stipulation about the dress: nothing too poofy … and I whole-heartedly agreed!
The dress I tried on in the store was a bit too big, so I ordered a smaller size. I went back to pick up my dress, accompanied by a bridesmaid, and it fit perfectly. Wendy and I giggled as we snuck out of the bridal shop with my dress before a seamstress could get to us. They’re always trying to convince you to buy more alterations and accessories.
I purchased and brought home my wedding dress a few months ago, and since then, I’ve also gone on a shopping spree for wedding decorations, looking for eye-catching items in my chosen colors: green and purple.
My mom later pointed out that these colors are especially suitable because they were the favorite colors of my two grandparents who will not be watching the wedding from an Earthly pew.
Green was my late grandfather Frank Richardson’s favorite color, and purple was the favorite color of my late grandmother Pam Jones.
They would have heartily approved of the two buggies full of green and purple decorations I bought on that shopping spree. Aided by Mom and my sister (and maid of honor) Kayleigh, I picked out greenery, ribbons, lanterns, silk flowers and other decorations that will be used in the wedding and reception. When the cashier rang up the purchases and I saw the price, I think my heart stopped for a minute. I’d never spent that much money at one time in my whole life.
My mom saw the look on my face and patted my shoulder. “It’s OK. This is your wedding,” she said.
Yes, this is my wedding. This is Daniel’s wedding, too, and I’ve tried to give him say-so whenever possible … which is why our cake topper is going to feature a super-spy bride and groom, complete with pistols and a cool back-to-back pose.
We also cooperated on our first wedding registration, which took place at Target a few days ago. At first, Daniel seemed reluctant to register for things, but he soon got into the spirit of it and registered for lots of black and gray and metallic stuff and a “rusty gear wall clock” and a “captain’s mirror.”
I do believe the inside of our house is going to look like the inside of a battleship, which is actually kind of neat.
My name is Marina, and I do love the ocean, so I don’t think I’ll mind coming home from work to a house that makes me feel like I’m on a ship … especially not if Daniel is coming home to that house, too.
And I can always add flowers to brighten up the place. We registered for a terrarium, too.
Marina Richardson is a former staff writer for The Stanly News & Press. She will be writing a regular column leading up to her wedding.
Opinion & Letters to the Editor
Related Photos
-
Marina Richardson
Discussion
Got the groom, the dress, what’s next?
- Opinion & Letters to the Editor
-
-
We are Uniquely Made
Earlier this week the seniors at our school had one final hurdle to jump before graduation. They had to present their senior projects before panels of community members. Each room had four adults: the moderator and the three judges. You can be sure the students were quite nervous, but they usually do a great job. If they have practiced and prepared then they should experience success.
-
Ronald McDonald House of benefit to us all
On Tuesday, Stanly County Managers Association members heard a presentation concerning the Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte.
-
Celebrating small businesses and continuing new ways of communicating
Some stories are worth mentioning again.
-
Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
-
Google shuts down SMS search, angers people who had forgotten it existed
Instead of texting back search results, Google responds with a short message noting that the service "has been shutdown" (sic) and that you can continue to search the Web by visiting google.com (duh).
-
Walking by Faith
Last week I wrote about waiting on the Lord. I really needed to hear from the Lord, but all I was receiving was “wait.” I really don’t like to wait, but it is important to give God the opportunity to work things out before we proceed. After we wait on God, the next thing we are going to be asked to do is to walk by faith. That means that God is only going to reveal one step at a time, which is almost as much fun as “wait.”
-
Jettie Parker
Jettie Frick Parker, 89, of Albemarle died at 2 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2013, in Trinity Place, Albemarle.
-
Always Learning
I am teaching a class this semester that I haven’t taught in over a dozen years. Although I have taught it before, it still has a feeling of being new. The curriculum has been updated, and I must spend a good bit of time reviewing and preparing for the lesson each day. It doesn’t surprise me that often that I will come across something I didn’t know. The other day I made a big fuss about learning something new. The kids had a good time with that; their teacher learned something new.
-
West of Memphis: My Favorite Documentary Gets a New Partner
I saw “Paradise Lost: The Child Murders of Robin Hood Hills” when it played in theaters in 1996. At some point during the viewing, it became my favorite documentary. A position it has held for nearly 20 years. I own a copy of it, along with the two sequels “(Paradise Lost 2: Revelations” and “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory).” Many know part of the story told in the films; it is a story that everyone should witness.
-
Childhood bullying linked to adult psychological disorders
A significant study from Duke provides the best evidence we’ve had thus far that bullying in childhood is linked to a higher risk of psychological disorders in adulthood. The results came as a surprise to the research team.
- More Opinion & Letters to the Editor Headlines
-
