Eight days ago, I got married. Now the wedding is over, the thank you notes are being written and the spectacular dress is at the cleaners soon to be packed away in acid free tissue paper (sniff, sniff). So now what?
For the past six months, I planned the biggest day of my life followed by the best vacation of my life—which included record-setting poolside lounging stints that included many umbrella-adorned drinks and a lot of reading (not necessarily in that order). When my matron of honor, Liz, wouldn’t give up her nook (my bridal party gift to her) that, in her defense, I’d only given her the day before, I happily packed and read two very different but equally entertaining books. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (better than the hype!) and The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen (great even the second time).
Oh, and btw, remember my last post, The Great Honeymoon Debate?, Well, my poolside activity did end up including some expertly negotiated Facebook time. (Thanks, hubby!) But now I’m back to reality. And no one talks about what to do when the bride high wears off. Hey Barnes and Noble, is there a book for that?
When you’ve floated down from cloud nine and find that you can no longer get whatever you want, whenever you want it simply because you are “the bride.” When you can no longer walk into the room and have all eyes on you, have everyone want to talk to you and take photos with you simply because you’re wearing a white dress and a veil. Where you’re not automatically *insert dramatic sigh* the center of attention!
Okay, so maybe I’m being just a tad melodramatic. But being the bride gives you so much power and free reign of emotions (like when I cried because Liz didn’t want to listen to me practice my vows for the tenth time), it’s hard to come down from that!
Although the high may be wearing off, I am thankful that my wedding day was the best day of my life. Rain had hit southern California the day before, but on my big day, I woke to blue skies and warm sun. I’d like to give a shout-out to the authors of the book Ask and it is Given, Learning to Manifest Your Desires for teaching me about the power of positive thought!
And I’m also happy that I took the advice of several people who said I shouldn’t let the day pass me by without taking a moment to step out of it and observe. Well, I definitely did that! Like when I caught sight of myself in the mirror and cried a little because I loved my dress so much or when I rose above my body during the ceremony and thought, this is a damn. Good. Show.
Yes, maybe I’m a little cocky about how awesome I think my wedding dress and my wedding day was. But don’t I have that right? You spend so much energy and effort putting the day together that shouldn’t you be afforded the right to relish in a job well done?
I guess now the question is: How long can I milk this whole bride thing? I know I can’t really play the bride card anymore (but oh that was sooo much fun!), but maybe there’s a newlywed card? Can I walk into a restaurant and say “table for two newlyweds” and hope to get better service? Or check into a hotel and casually mention I just got married in hopes of receiving a room upgrade? Well, I just ordered The Nest Newlywed Handbook: An Owners Manual to Married Life. Maybe there are some answers in there?
But here’s the thing. Even though I’m back in the real world full of traffic, bills and deadlines, I couldn’t be happier because my wedding brought together the people I love most in the world and bonded me with the man I love most in the world (cue violins). But I do have to confess that I am wondering: How soon is too soon to renew our vows?
Do all recent brides feel this way? How long does it take to come down from the bride high?
Lisa Steinke, along with her best friend Liz Fenton, co-authored the chick lit novel I’ll Have Who She’s Having and co-created the popular Chick Lit blog, Chick Lit is Not Dead.
Liz, I'm happy for you and your new hubby, and you SHOULD enjoy that high. Everything is right with that! Nothing is wrong with it. Yes, go into a restaurant (or wherever) and announce: We just got married! And show everyone just how happy you are! Your wedding day sounded so perfectly nice. Why end it? It rained on my weding, here in So.Cal, where it never rains! Ha!
I guess you can stay up on cloud nine, as long as you want. Nothing says you can't. Do we get to see pictures? 
This is all I could get off of your facebook. I just requested you as a friend, so if you have more pictures I can then get them if you want me to. That's a gorgeous dress, btw. Did you by any chance catch the wedding of Molly and.....gads, I can't remember his name. Anyway the "emotional bachelor", last night? It was pouring buckets, and the rainbow was beautiful! And Chris mentioned it meant good luck! I'd never heard that saying before you said it.
