THE Bridesmaid Dress

Bridesmaid dress shopping has been quite an ordeal, although I might be considered fortunate by some. The first time I went shopping with my three bridesmaids I couldn't decide on colour or whether I want all my bridesmaids to wear the same style or different. Finally I had chosen teal to be the colour of the dresses with my sister wearing a floor-length satin gown with a V neckline and one of my other bridesmaids (we couldn't find a suitable style for the other) wearing a cocktail length satin dress in a princess cut with a front and back V line. My girls look ravishing! Excited, I went home to show my grandmother and mother my girls' dresses.

My ideas bombed. Apparently, teal was too dark of a colour not only for a traditional Chinese wedding, but also for the summer. Says my soon-to-be mother-in-law, my girls "would disappear into the background if they stood in the shade at a park." Furthermore, the V necklines on both dresses might be too revealing. If my girls were to bend down to help fix my dress on the big day, their boobs might pop out! I don't want my bridesmaid to disappear and I certainly don't want a peepshow at my wedding. As well, I really want to please my female family folk. I was crestfallen.

My sister did the maid-of-honour duty. She sat me down, looked me in the eye, and said (maybe not in these exact words), "This is your wedding day; your special day. You should get to decide what you want and not listen to everyone else. Follow your heart's desire." It's true; I've usually looked to others' approval for who I am and what I do.

I was told that if I follow and obey God, my desires will be His desires. I believe that Jesus went through all human emotions in his lifetime to connect with us, but I'm not sure that Jesus went bridesmaid dress shopping.

Well, I guess He did feel the same kind of disappointment and internal conflict as I went through because He answered my prayers!

On Saturday, I went bridesmaid dress shopping with my girls. After going through some shops and searching through racks of plain dresses, gaudy dresses, tacky dresses, slutty dresses, expensive dresses, and fugly dresses, I finally found a style that all my girls could wear and that I was happy with. The funny part is that it came in the colour I have always made fun of ever since I saw a MasterCard commercial several years back: SEAFOAM GREEN! Who knew that the colour would be suitable, but we tried it and loved it. I absolutely adored the colour and the teal accent on the dress (yes, I snuck the teal in!). We all went into a giggle fest, even the saleslady who helped us, and excited jubilation over this choice. This is what the dress looks like:

I'm very grateful for bridesmaids who have a sense of humour, patience, understanding, and are beautiful enough to turn any dress (and colour) into something stylish and elegant.

Now we just have to find a city bus to ride to my wedding...