Wedding on the Wrong Day

Date: 9/11/2022

It’s my wedding day and I’m by myself, possibly in Delray. I park my car on a narrow street. When I get out, a tall ginger guy calls over to me from across the street. I walk over and we make small talk. I can’t tell whether he’s flirting with me or just being nice. He walks up a flight of stairs nearby and I follow. We walk into a familiar-looking apartment for just a minute and then he leads me back out to the hallway, which is wide enough to fit a reception desk in the middle of it. The lady sitting at the desk looks familiar to me as well. I finally remember that I had toured an apartment in this building (not really). The ginger guy walks me back to the stairwell and asks me if I have any plans later. I laugh and show him my ring and say “I’m actually getting married tonight.” He looks surprised… It’s dark out now and I’ve just arrived to my wedding venue (not the one in real life). I rush through a large group of people—some that I know and some that I don’t. As I shove myself through, I try to ignore them so they don’t stop me to talk and make me even later than I already am. I walk into a room that looks like the backstage of a school. Nicole (Somero) tells me that she’s so relieved to see me and that she’s worried about the lighting for our wedding photos. I walk into another room, which is supposed to be the bridal suite and some Hispanic ladies begin filing through a bunch of ball gowns to find my wedding dress. They tell me that they can’t find it and I can practically feel my heart sink to the floor. They wind up sticking me in a navy dress with eyelet material, which reveals a teal underskirt beneath the dress. I think this dress is hideous, but it seems to be my only option. I start thinking about my wedding band and then it hits me that I don’t have it with me. I grab my phone to text Alex, my mom and my dad in a groupchat to see if anyone happened to bring it. Nicole is in the suite with me now and I want to ask her so many questions, but I don’t want to put all of my stress onto her. I suddenly remember that I never gave Morgan a time to come, so now I’m worried that she won’t show up to do makeup. I think about Mrs. Rachel possibly doing it instead, but I don’t think she’ll have time to after she does everyone’s hair. During this entire thought process, Morgan walks into the room and I immediately run over and hug her. I’m so relieved to see her that I actually start tearing up. I tell her and Nicole about my mistake and how I figured she wouldn’t be coming, to which Morgan replied “Oh, I got you, girl.” As I continue to get ready, I think about more details and realize how many I forgot. I can’t believe it’s already January and ask out loud (to no one in particular) “What’s the date today?” Someone said that it’s November-something and I start laughing. I tell everyone in the room “Today don’t our wedding date! What the heck is happening??” I’m confused, but so relieved that I’ll get a chance to make the real day right. I wonder how so many people showed up for the wrong day. I go out to everyone waiting for ceremony to begin, which looks to be way more people than we actually invited in real life), and I announce “There’s been a mistake! Today’s not the actual wedding!” I say my goodbyes to everyone as they leave the venue. I hug Aunt Bug (who’s not actually invited) and I thank her for coming. Before she walks away, I add “I hope you can make it to the next one!” and she says “Of course! I love 15 minutes away!” I continue saying my goodbyes at the crowd of guests shuffles out. I smile and excitedly wave at Sarah Shifflett. She’s in a dark navy, almost black, pantsuit. I think about how many bridesmaid dresses she’s been in and I wonder if it’s a relief for her to not wear one for once. I go to the venue’s reception area to get something to eat. Jacob Stefanescu is in here, along with a bunch of other people. He comes over to congratulate me, but I awkwardly remind him that I’m not married yet.