Greetings, WordPress Universe! It’s been a hot second since I’ve posted anything (or more like a “hot mess” of a year and a half since I blogged about my trip to Australia). Thanks for sticking around, though, and thank goodness “auto-renew” is a thing.
Since my trip to Australia, I left my job as a junior art director and have been serving that life changing, morning elixir of life: coffee/any other handcrafted beverage of your choosing, at my friendly neighborhood ‘bucks in the Mile High City. It has been a change in a lot of ways, but one of the biggest perks of answering the Starbucks Siren call has been the flexibility it gives me to travel a bit more, and spend time with friends near and far.
To recap a bit of my 2018, it was a whirlwind year of weddings (for friends, not me). Trust me, I would have blogged about that in a timely manner!!! But anyways, I was in four weddings. No, I didn’t just go as a guest. I was in four bridal parties last year. One of which I was the Maid of Honor in, and another which was held in England. None of them happened to be in Colorado, of course, but all of which were a complete and total blast.
Weddings are such a great time. Despite the travel time, and flurry of bridal party-related activities, it is such a beautiful way to reunite friends and fam from all over, and to dance the night away. Not to mention a solid excuse to get out of town, or the country. ^_^
My trip to England for my friends, Chris & Amanda’s wedding, all too conveniently allowed me to cross another country and continent off my bucket list: Morocco. Can’t wait to work on that post! New year, new… slightly more active blogger??? I guess we’ll see, 2019~~
Dear everyone/anyone/whoever stumbles upon this blog,
On the off-chance that you’re a bridesmaid or maid of honor for an upcoming wedding and you’re looking for some inspiration, look no further. Below you will find my incredibly embarrassing-but-for-all-the-right-reasons-speech I presented for my best friend’s wedding last summer.
If my speech eases your burden of one of the most dreaded wedding party duties in some way (maybe you needed a reference, or what’s more likely, reading my speech has made you ten times more confident about yours because you think mine sucks), please do share!
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Good evening everyone.*
For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet tonight, I’m Jackie, Kim’s right hand lady. And on behalf of the Bride and Groom, thank you all so, so much for coming out to celebrate their special day.
Now, once upon a time, Kim and I both ended up in Ms. Noel’s 9th grade English Class. And in class, you know, we were assigned some really wonderful, classic texts to read. But in our freetime, we liked to enjoy our own books.
One of the series we got into, which you may have heard of, goes by the name of Twilight. I’m sure some of you are familiar with the story, don’t be ashamed! But for those of you who aren’t – it’s a love story between a girl who falls in love with a guy who ends up being a vampire.
And we loved this series to pieces. We memorized quotes, dreamcasted our own characters for the movies, and when the cast of the film was announced, don’t even get me started. We may have gone to every. single. midnight. premiere. It’s safe to say we were obsessed.
We became one with the characters, the plot line, the passionate and forbidden love between Edward and Bella, forever cheering them on. The only time Alex, Kim and I ever played hooky in high school, we ended up at Target where we bought matching Team Cullen T-shirts. Yup, that was thing. It was ridiculous how crazy we were about the characters in a novel. Looking back, it’s downright embarrassing – but I’m proud to say it was all just a phase. As obsessed as we were with this series, we couldn’t help but wonder about our “Edwards.” Kim got so depressed after reading the second book that she died her hair black as an act of mourning!
She was so worried that no one would love her the way Edward loved Bella and she’d end up much like Jane Austen who we learned about when we were assigned to read Pride and Prejudice for class. But as her best friend, I knew she was being silly. She’s beautiful, talented in so many ways, and has one of the biggest hearts out there. All the guys we went to high school with – they just really sucked (no offense to Henrique). They just didn’t stand a chance to our Edward Expectations.
Enter David. You should be really proud of yourself, sir, for sweeping Kim off her feet. But it’s not like you had to try so hard since you’re just so naturally dashing, charming, and most of all, have such heartfelt affection for Kim. You two are truly meant to be.
I only wish you guys the most dazzling future – an eternity of happiness, love, and adventure – strength to overcome whatever hurdles test your relationship, and everlasting joy in each other’s company. I adore you two. Here’s to Kim and David’s Happy Ever After ~
*Disclaimer: I have never been comfortable about public speaking. Of all the duties being a maid of honor requires you to fulfill, I was dreading completing this one the most. The struggle was REAL. But I did it. It happened. I know I talked way too fast because I was so nervous and just wanted to get it over with. And then I burst into tears afterwards. And that was that. So if you’re nervous, from one incredibly anxious public speaker to another: you. can. do. this!!!
POW! is right. Despite my nerves and feels, I think I did a pretty decent job. Anything for this gal. ♥
People my age (and younger) are getting married. That’s a thing. It’s always been a thing. My mother got married at 23. As did my Lola, my father’s mother. At 23, my Nana, my mother’s mother had been married to my Tata for a year. My best friend Kimberly (Kim, Kimy, Kimy-Dee-Dah), also 23, has been married for a year, and today is her wedding anniversary.
First off, congratulations to the Joys! I can’t believe it’s been a year since your wedding, Kimy! It’s been a year since all of us ladies in your wedding party sat and ate pizza around your parents’ dining room table before church, a year since I realized your ceremony was *surprise!* entirely in Spanish, and a year since I assumed the role of your maid of honor and all the responsibilities that came with it.
•••
Two of many weddings where I was the best flower girl ever.
Being a maid of honor was such a special, well, honor. Especially to be Kim’s maid of honor, my best friend since high school. It’s funny, because my parents were among the first of their families and friends to get married and have a daughter. So by default, I was everyone’s flower girl as a youngin’. Fast forward and I was a junior bridesmaid once, and fast forward a little bit more, and boom! I was a maid of honor (because I mean, once you’re a maid of honor, being a bridesmaid is a breeze, right?)
For the most part, I have to say that I enjoyed being a maid of honor. I enjoy planning things. When it comes to projects, I’m an Executor. I know how to make things happen. Also, what girl doesn’t like working on Pinterest projects?? Being a maid of honor was a *little* stressful at times, sure, but it was all part of the experience, and I definitely learned a lot.
I mean, before Kimy’s wedding, the only things I really knew about being a maid a honor I knew from a favorite childhood movie of mine, My Best Friend’s Wedding and the 2011 classic film, Bridesmaids. Needless to say, I referenced a few other sources to make sure I fulfilled this role as best as I could, and I think I made a pretty darn good maid of honor, if I do say so myself.
Bachelorette Party Shenanigans ♥
As a maid of honor, the most important lesson I learned was to be prepared for anything, including:
the groom crashing the bachelorette party
splurging on a room in the most expensive hotel in the city for bachelorette party fun, because how many times does your best friend get married?
the week leading up to the wedding being a lot like finals week: no sleep and lots and lots of coffee
getting hit on by the bride’s teenage relative
a torrential downpour the evening of the outdoor rehearsal dinner
having to write thank you letters, pack the bride’s suitcase for the honeymoon, and create the playlist for the reception
stepping in to be the DJ and MC for the wedding reception (“I need all the single ladies on the dance floor for the bride’s bouquet toss!!!”)
trying not to cry every five seconds throughout the day so instead, absolutely losing it after your speech at the reception in front of 150+ guests
feeling overwhelmingly happy, sad, sentimental, joyful, and so much love all at once for the bride, groom, the whole wedding party… weddings just give ya all the feels.
So all in all, I’d say my best friend’s wedding was one for the books. To play such a meaningful part in their wedding was really special.
JACKIEXPLORES 