"We're Getting Married!"

My sister and her boyfriend of eight years announced their engagement over the Easter weekend. As soon as I heard the words, a shrill of fear ran through my bones, I was speechless, not worrying about my own un-engaged self, but of the loss of my do-everything-with sister. Even though I'm not one who's great with the idea of change, I tried to push my anxious What about me? feelings aside and hurl myself into the excitement of it all: the jumping up and down hugs, shrieks of joy, and the all important dream-gazing at the new bling. Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited for my sis, couldn't be happier, but there's so much that's going to happen over this year, and at my ripe old age of 25, strangely, I'm tired already!

Perhaps the exhaustion comes from watching all of the Slice Network's wedding shows each week, or the years I spent singing at weddings in a band, or my inherent melancholybut what worries me most of all, is the title that I've been given. My sweet sis has voted me her Maid of Honour. Before I carry on, let me explain a bit about myself. I'm not really MOH material. I'm forgetful, unorganized, and usually a push over. Though I've been pouring over all the new age self-esteem boosting material I've been able to get my hands on (part of a new year's resolution to get my act together) I've come to grips with the fact that I've been like this all my life. And perhaps that in itself means something. Maybe some people are meant to be happy messes. It's got to be better than being a miserable one, no?

Anyway, back to my story. So she asks me to be her MOH, and I say yes. I hit Chapters today and bought her the works, my first gesture of maid-liness: magazines, a deluxe planner, a small notebook to carry in her purse as she searches for vendors. While she's covered, according to pink how-to books, I was rather unimpressed with the selection for myself. I've never done this before and I don't have a handbook. There seems to be an online handbook for just about everything, but according to Amazon there's only one MOH book, and it's from 2004! Might as well be from the 80s.

So over the next year I plan to chronicle all of the highs and lows of being a Maid of Honour, hoping that I can help someone in my shoes out there. First up, the Vaughan Wedding show. I'll keep you posted.

By Melina De Guglielmo

xoxo

M